Here's my first post for the year - Climbing Gunung Mulu (2376m)

Date climbed : 26-30 January 2012
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.

These can be eaten - the jungle apples

Paku Waterfall

Durians on the way in

River crossing near Camp 1

Camp3

Lowii

Camp4

Summit

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!)

Camping at Gunung Yellow - 1667m

Date : 30 & 31 July 2011

The is my first time since school days on a proper camping trip ie, need to hike in. Most of my camping trips previously require very little or no trekking at all. Gunung Yellow at 1667m can be accessed through Gunung Irau to Yellow OR like what we did, start from the highway heading to Cameron Highlands via Simpang Pulai. As it is only a small campsite, hence we limited the number of people for this trip to 10 pax.

4 of us spent the night before in Ipoh at Aileen's place and the next day went for a nice breakfast in Ipoh and to the market to pack some food. We met the rest at about 9am at the starting point of the trek. We started trekking about 9.45am and the fast ones (for sure its not me) arrived at the campsite in about 4 hours. I managed to "scramble" all the way in 5 hours :) with a 14kg backpack together with Aileen and Barry who accompanied me all the way. (Thank you very much)

Trekking time and terrain :

On moderate speed with some photography - 4.5 hours.
Basically one way with no major forks.
1. At the Gunung Pass peak, take the left fork
2. At the first false peak of Gunung Yellow, take the left fork
3. At the second false peak of Gunung Yellow, go straight
Some uphill climb with adequate resting/recovery time. The last stretch of uphill is about 10 mins at 70 degrees gradient.
Overall a hike that can be attempted but the major setback is that it is only a small campsite. You need to be there early to "book it". Campsite can fit 5 2-men tents comfortably.
Water source available about 30 mins away from campsite. Small stream.

The starting point of the trek. When you see the notice on the left as you are driving towards Cameron, the trek starts directly opposite it

First viewpoint

At Gunung Pass fork

View at False Peak 1

Have only seen this in Irau before

The group

Food food food

At the peak

The campsite

Mossy forest like Irau

I had an enjoyable weekend - not the usual 20/30 people wherever we go. Small group is fun and I had time to catch up with everyone. Alan and Tony cooked for us to eat, prepared dinner and breakfast too.... thanks so much. We packed up at about 9am to descend as Chelik Waterfalls was also in the itinerary (though I did not go) By the end of the trek my energy level is fully depleted! Thankfully I did not have to drive.