Distance covered : 24km from Mulu National Park to Summit (48km return)
Terrain:
Day 1 - 12km 9 hours (Started at 0945, arrived at Camp 3 at 1830)
National Park to Camp 1 : 5.5km 3 hours + 1/2 hour durian stop if you like durian and it is in season + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Cross 2 major rivers with 2 more small ones if its rainy season) 95% flat
Camp 1 to Camp 3 : 6.5km 5 hours 60% gradient all the way
(Note there is no Camp 2 it is only a 7.5km mark and there is no hut.)
Day 2 - 7km 5 hours + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Started at 1000, arrived at Camp 4 at 1530)
Camp 3 to Camp 4 - first 2 km 60% gradient, balance 5km takes you up and down with false peaks
Day 3 - 10km 6 hours + 1 hour rest at the peak (Started at 0710, arrived back at Camp 4 at 1415)
Camp 4 to Summit - 5km 3 hours terrain goes up and down and at some parts 80% gradient and there are about 5 "danger zones"
Summit return to Camp 4 - 5km 3 hours (no savings in terms of return trip)
Day 4 - 13.5km 7.5 hours + 1/2 hour lunch stop (Started at 0730, arrived at Camp 1 at 1540)
Camp 4 to Camp 3 - 4.5 hours
Camp 3 to Camp 1 - 3 hours (down hill all the way!)
Day 5 - 5.5km 2.5 hours + 1/2 hour stop for "jumping session" (Started at 1000, arrived at National Park at 1300)
Options :
On Day 3 after Summit climb, can descend to Camp 3 then in Day 4 from Camp3 to National Park
OR on Day 4 from Camp 4 all the way down to National Park
Both options are also workable to save one day.
Description of "Camping Site"
Its not a camping site per se as the trail has jungle huts along the way.
Camp 1 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Next to a river. Cool weather... Sleeping bag with normal clothes will be sufficient
Camp 2 - No hut, just camping ground. Can fit 2 tents with a river nearby. No one sleeps here usually
Camp 3 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Water source : Rain water. 4 storage tanks. Sufficient for cooking / shower / washing etc. Sleeping bag with a jacket (wind breaker) + socks is sufficient
Camp 4 - Sleeping and Toilet facilities available with a Kitchen. Water source : Rain water. 4 storage tanks. Sufficient for cooking / shower / washing etc. Sleeping bag with thermal wear, fleece, a jacket (wind breaker) and thermal socks. Emergency blanket and hand warmers are good options to have. When it rains, its VERY cold.
As the water source is rain water collection, it will be tough to do this trek in dry season. For us, the 4 storage tanks was sufficient for about 1.5 days. Our group was 11 pax in total.
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| These can be eaten - the jungle apples |
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| Paku Waterfall |
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| Durians on the way in |
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| River crossing near Camp 1 |
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| Camp3 |
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| Lowii |
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| Camp4 |
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| Summit |
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| Camp1 |
It was a good trip for me and a satisfying one for having conquered the Mulu Summit. This is my first time being in the jungle for so many days. Most of the time, our camping trips lasts at max 2 nights. Its a great experience for me! (and a tough one too!)
Thanks for the write-up! Was the summit push challenging? What do you mean by '5 danger zone?'
ReplyDeleteHi Peter, the summit is not too bad. Steep but bearable. Danger zones means in these areas please hold on tight as it is a steep drop if anything happens. These are the areas that one has to be very very careful.
ReplyDeleteWhen are you going? Its a nice place. Normally you be the only ones in there as not many people climb G Mulu :)
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