Gunung Tahan  via Merapoh/Sungai Relau

 

Climbing package to Gunong Tahan, team building, 4 x 4 off road adventure

 

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Formula 1 Petronas GP 2006 - 17th to 19thMarch 2006

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Gunung Tahan packages starting from Merapoh / Sungai Relau 4D 3N package
  Itineraries and rates for packages beginning from Kuala Tahan
Guide Notes to Trekkers and Campers including check list for things to bring
Link to  images of Gunong Tahan-  route beginning at Kuala Tahan
Team Building and Leadership Training
Trekking Gunung Tahan: A climber's journal

byNorimah Musa

 

A signboard with the words "GUNUNG TAHAN" and the figures – 2,187m -- written on it confirmed that I was standing on the highest peak in Peninsula Malaysia.

"On top of the world!"

Koo, another successful member, yelled for joy as he bend his head to pass below the signboard like a runner crossing the finishing line. Out of seven members, only two of us arrived at the peak with a nature guide early that Tuesday morning.

Visibility was poor at the peak due to bad weather. The hills surrounding the area disappeared into the mist.

"It is actually beautiful during a fine day,’’ says the guide, "We can even see Kenyir Lake from here."

At that moment, all I could see was a white background. No colours, no breathtaking scenery. I had imagined sitting on the peak, looking down below at the magnificent blue and green hills. I wanted to admire the sunrise and then raise up my hands to reach for the open skies.

On that bleak dawn when I stood on top of Gunung Tahan, there was no way to avoid the feeling of disappointment.

But as I recalled the many things that happened along the way, the disappointment simply faded away.

The start of an unforgettable journey

I am a very slow climber indeed. Throughout the journey, I’m always way behind the trip organizer, who at 50-years-old, is old enough to be my mother.

As this is my first outing in mountain climbing, every single step is a big deal and a major struggle. It would’ve been a different situation if I did not have to carry a heavy rucksack all the time. But then again, I didn’t train enough so now this is turning out to be one ‘tiring vacation’.

Most of the time, I need a ‘take five’ to catch my breath. The others stride along and it is impossible to follow their rhythm. So, I take it easy. After all, this is not some sort of marathon competition. The whole purpose of the trip is to enjoy nature besides reaching the peak.

The trail we are gliding through, widely known as the Merapoh trail, starts from Sungai Relau, Merapoh, in Pahang. It is an alternative route for mountain climbers to Gunung Tahan. This shorter trail (two days) to the peak which is located on the western side of the National Park has been accessible to the public since August 1993.

At the early stage, there are several river crossings. Though only knee-deep, careless mistakes can cause one to slip and fall. Plants called "Kor" are the main attraction here. The shape of the leaf reminds me of a hand fan. One of the campsites, Kem Kor is named after this plant. The other seven are Kuala Luis, Lata Luis, Permatang, Kubang, Belumut, Bonsai and Bukit Botak.

As it goes higher, the trail becomes steeper. At some slopes, ropes have been prepared to assist climbers. Tropical trees stand tall on both sides of the path. I had a wonderful time just sitting on the ground looking up. The tree tops sway to the left and right, like a row of choir singers, singing their nature songs. Ahh, what are the twin towers compared to nature’s splendour?

At one spot, the nature guide hands us the bark of a tree. "Ini boleh buat air sarsi," he says. (This can be used to make sarsi drink). I sniff the bark and hmm…it has a strong, sweet smell. This could be an interesting souvenir to bring home, but hey, in the National Park we should remember this motto -- "take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.’’

Water, water everywhere …

We head towards Kubang campsite but poor water resources force us to move to the next campsite. It is getting colder and damper. Trees, roots and the jungle fringes are covered with moss. To my surprise, ‘Mengkuang’, a type of plant which can be weaved into mats, is able to survive at this high altitude. Before this, I only used to see them growing near rivers.

More bad news await us when we reach Belumut campsite. No water again. There is tension in the air as one of the team members complains to the nature guide, saying that the latter should’ve been fully aware of the mountain conditions.

I stare at my half-full 500ml bottle. Yes, I am the optimistic type, the bottle is not half-empty! At this stage, each drop of the water is crucial to me but as I found out later, sharing those precious drops with others is even more important.

It is 9.30pm when we finally show up at Bukit Botak. Water we have been seeking the whole day flows freely here. There are no climbers behind me. Exhausted and depressed, after a long day of walking, I lie down to sleep.

Unpredictable as …

I awake the next morning to unexpected but welcome sounds. Raindrops are falling on my tent. Now available are gallons of water around us.

The weather has changed drastically. So too the human beings. Three members of the expedition, without anyone’s knowledge, decided to make their own way to the peak. Apparently the weather is too chilly to stay put and they decide to continue the trek up Gunung Tahan. Not a smart move, I thought. Not a worthwhile effort too because they did not bring along a guide, which is part of a National Park endorsement for any successful attempts.

After a while, the trio returns. The trip organiser advises them to stick with the group’s schedule, hoping that the weather would improve. After an intense discussion, the trio once again go their separate ways. Split up and walk away. Sigh.

As the saying goes, it takes all kinds to make the world. Even though there are fewer members left behind, each of us plays our parts quite well. It is not easy to cook and mind the tents in the middle of strong winds that blow at very high speeds from the mountain tops.

After more than 24 hours being tortured byextremely cold temperatures (so cold the cooking oil coagulated), another two members decided to give up. Chattering and shivering, they decided not to tackle the last 2.4km trail to the peak which would have taken them only 45 minutes.

Pride at the peak

I give a very broad smile when my photo is taken with the nature guide beside me. Before the trip, most of the people I had spoken to gave me the impression that scaling Gunung Tahan via the Merapoh trail was easy-going. Now that I have gone up, my perceptions have changed.

This trail can be quite a challenge. One of the place where you could test your endurance and have some knowledge of your limits.

At some other time, I could always come back and visit the peak to enjoy a better view. But the experience throughout the journey would never be the same as this one.

Each and every climber would definitely bring back their own story.

These are mine.

 

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