Climbing Mount Kinabalu

At 4095m, Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in SE Asia. It repesented quite a challenge to climb. Seeing as my Brother, Joss, had already climbed Cotopaxi in S America, I also wanted to claim my peak.....and great also for Suvi that she could come with and finally conquer her fear or heights....NOT :-)


Our first glimps of the peak...the first challenge was to climb 1300m to our overnight accommodation at 3200m high (white dot near the cloud).


Our spirits remained high at this point.....we could still talk.


One of the many rest stops on the way up....Squirrels were abit quick for us at first.....

...until we realised our bribary skills.

We were knackered at this point....then these women passed us carrying 15-20KG luggage each....that made us feel even more unfit! At least the Tiger Beer would arrive at the bar before us!

Interesting plants on the mountain side.

...No mercy! More than 5hrs climbing these huge stairs.

...passing orchid groves...

....getting the chocolate on board.

Waahoo - a relatively flat bit....not for long though!

...into the clouds.

At last, the first stage of the climb was complete.....we had made it to our 'luxury' cabin dorm at 3200m. No heating of course as we had booked the cheapest lodge. Exhausted, we immediately grabbed 2 hours sleep under 4 blankets.....not used to the cold...15 degrees during the afternoon.

We awoke for sunset above the clouds.....amazing.

Our dinner vista. We headed to bed at 8pm.

Tekstiiliurheilija Suvi at 2.27am.....supper already eaten.....Suvi with stick and polythene bag ready for the final 800m ascent to the summit. We proved that you dont need performance equipment & clothes to tackle the mountain :-)

This is what most of the final 800m looked like....pitch black. After climbing until 3.30am and 3500m, Suvi unfortunately turned back. Apparently no one had told her that mountains were quite high places. Still, a gallant effort though.

A much needed moral boost....only 1.5km to go (approx 450m up)

Finally the summit....last 800m took me 3 hours. Well worth the effort for day break at 5.30am.

I had never seen anything like this.....well, only from an aeroplane window.

....5.45am...getting lighter. Good job cos my head torch had run out of batteries.

Other peaks appearing in the morning gloom.

Lunar landscape up there!

The decent.

Spectacular!

Lonely peak in the distance. Is that Suvi on top......Naaaaaa!

Me, sporting a fishing hat and womens coat (hired) also proving that you dont need 'all the gear' to scale this peak.

Donkey Peak shrouded in morning mist!

Looking back at where I'd been - Lows Peak.

Registration hut....you cant scale the summit without checking in here first!

Our guide, Dana, showing where Suvi had turned back....fair enough....quite a drop.

Suvi back at base 'snapping' the sunrise from 3200m.

Wow.

Here comes the sun.....good job too as the temperature in the cabin had fallen to 8 degs in the night and Suvi was frozen. It was probably close to freezing at the summit before dawn....thank god for my ladies jacket :-)

Laban Rata base camp at 3200m. Donkey Peak in the background.

All smiles and with the prospect of soon breathing thicker air, we head down again staring at 8.45am.

A few hours descent later....somehow thicker air just does not satisfy....the climb down seemed endless....it took 4 hours to get back to the start at 1900m.

I write this blog 2 days on....we still cannot walk properly :-)

For my next mountain climb Suvi says she's gonna remain in the pool.