Current Challenges of Trekking Mt.Kinabalu

Mt. Kinabalu is a crown jewel of all Malaysians who love hiking. In other words, it is the pride of each Malaysian.

As such, most Malaysians are keen to trek up this high altitude mountain once in their lifetime as their achievement and a pride to them as a Malaysian.

However, they think, it is like any other hills that they are training within the little time which they can spare in their busy work schedule; to attempt the mountain.

Let me alert those who are going to attempt Mt.Kinabalu.

It is no more as hikers were thinking like many years ago.Where they can take any amount of time to ascend and descend this mountain. The park rangers and the guide were very accommodating and encouraging to enjoy the hike during that years. In spite of all the late hikers,not trained hikers and injured hikers.

I had gone up Mt.Kinabalu more than 14 times in 2 decades for the love of Mt.Kinabalu.

Recently, I found out there is a cut of time to reach the Sayap Sayap that is by 5.30 am. If not, the hikers are not allowed to hike further.

The hiker must reach by 7.30 am at the peak.If not,the rangers would advise  hikers to turn back.

On completion of the hike to the peak ,one is anticipated to reach the Timponan Gate by 4pm.If not every one hour delayed beyond 4pm.The trekkers will have to pay 15rgt per hour.

Since there is a cut of time to each checkpoint and completing the hike.

I opine it is not easy for most Malaysians who haven't trained vigorously for trekking this mountain to have enough stamina,endurance, and mental strength.

The one who can complete it without coughing out any payment, for not going beyond cut of time, having to fly back on same day of descend  but can't reach in time at Timponan Gate or mildly injured but still can trek down.

This percentage of hikers who will go up Mt Kinabalu is less than 40%.

However, 60% of the hikers who trekking up Mt.Kinabalu are from the rat chase rat world with little time in hand for training, other than young age to help them up the Mt.Kinabalu and most of them are caught in the technical difficulties of this rough terrain and high altitude mountain.

They could not finish due to no stamina, muscle, or mental strength. 

They are very slow or need to descend down fast as their flight is in the evening, mild injury  leading to slow down and can't come in  within the cut-off time. 

This category of trekkers will invariably have to cough out a few hundreds to almost more than 1k to help them bring down the mountain by the rangers.

In view of the above situations, I would seriously advise every future hikers, who plans to trek up Mt.Kinabalu to find time for training vigorously to level of endurance sports, or prepare lots of cash to pay the rangers and porters to bring one down the Mt.Kinabalu.

Wishing those who are planning to trek up Mt.Kinabalu all the best with your extreme training prior to attempting this mountain, which is the pride of each Malaysian.