the viewing deck: Mt. Kinabalu Solo Hike 2nd part; Trail to Summit

Monday, October 07, 2013

Mt. Kinabalu Solo Hike 2nd part; Trail to Summit

Kota Kinabalu Trekking and Solo Tours
May 25 to 27, 2013 Saturday to Tuesday

Mt. Kinabalu solo hike 1st part (from airport to laban rata)

As per advised by my dedicated guide and other guides to their respective groups, all climbers should leave Laban Rata Dormitory camp site at 0230H to reach the summit during sunrise. From Laban Rata, the summit has a distance of 2.7km that divides the trail into two parts; initial 700 meters for a dark, slippery and muddy trail while for the remaining 2km to summit is a slippery and a ropeway guided trail. Please be noted that eventhough Mt. Kinabalu trail is tagged as one of the easiest trail to climb, do not expect to climb it like as there is no danger at all. Be warned that as a fun-climber, it is not usual to trek and depend my weight and safety using a rope.

Anyways, the following are the set of peaks to be found once reached the 7.0km marker (around 1.7km left going to the summit);

1. South peak - seen at 7.0km mark at 3,933m elevation
2. Tunku abdul rahman peak - seen at 7.5km mark
3. Donkey ear's peak - seen at 8.0km mark at 4,054m elevation
4. St. john's peak (the famous & most picturesque) - seen at 8.0km mark at 4,091m elevation
5. Ugly sister's peak - seen at 8.0km mark at 4,032m elevation
6. King edward's peak - seen at 8.5km mark
7. Alexandra peak - seen at 8.5km mark at 4,003m elevation
8. Low's peak - Mt. Kinabalu's summit at 4,095 meter elevation for 8.7km journey starting from 1,866m elevation from Timpohon gate

ugly sister's peak at Mt. Kinabalu

initial 700m trail going to Mt. Kinabalu's peak

start of the remaining 2km ropeway to Mt. Kinabalu summit

MT. KINABALU HIKE SUMMIT ITINERARY

0130H wake-up time & early breakfast
0230H ETD Laban Rata campsite
0345H 7th kilometer marker reached
0530H 8th kilometer marker reached
0645H 8.7 kilometer marker reached
4.25 hours journey for 2.7km trail from 3,273m to 4,095m elevation
Low's Peak, Mt. Kinabalu's summit at 4,095 meter height
0700H ETD summit

note: most of the climbers reached Low's Peak around 0530H-0630H (around 3-4 hours journey). Thus, it was obvious that my fun-climbing capability was way below an average trekker, a symptom of aging average traveler.

Mt. Kinabalu (4,095m) is 38.63% (1,141m) higher than Mt. Apo (2,954m), tallest mountain in the Philippines and 116.07% (4,753m) lower than Mt. Everest (8,848m), tallest mountain in the world.