It’s 2 weeks before I head for Mt Kinabalu and my nerves are already creeping in.
Despite some recent training.. I still can’t finish a 1km jog in one shot, a 15 storeys of staircase walk can almost kill me and I probably can’t even walk for 1 hour without sitting down.
Yes I know how poor is my fitness, for the past 2 years I’d been in really bad shape and without adequate exercise. Who to blame for? Blame it on the government.. sure it is lol.
I did some research yesterday, and seems like the general comments are that hiking Mount Kinabalu is not as easy as it seems to be. People need good stamina and fitness, and pray that they don’t get altitude sickness.
There are cases where people gave up half way through, which worries me a bit. My trip buddy tried to comfort me and ended up getting himself worried as well lol.
So with 14 days to go, I decided to intensify my training for the next few days, which I should’ve done since weeks ago. And with only 2 weeks I have to be careful not to overload my body and not to overstrain myself as well.. headache.
Is there anyone that can offer me some wise words? Or even better any season climbers that can offer me some tips?
March 10th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
don’t worry….just make sure you have a spare 2 to 3 hundred ringgit or so. If you can’t make it, you can pay the porters to bring you down
Those guys carry huge weights up and down the mountain for a living (e.g., gas tanks etc) o_O
March 10th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
good luck and take care! you can make it!
March 11th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
ganchan.. lol are you sure the porters can carry a 78kg man without problem?
Seriously I am not worried about fainting or exhaustion, I won’t overstrech myself to the extension of needed to be carried. Just that it would be pity if I can’t make it to the sunrise of Mt Kinabalu with the fact that I will be so close to it.
Thanks ade..
March 11th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
yes, apparently that is a lucrative sideline for them. That’s what my friends who have climbed Kinabalu tell me. Furthermore, the climb up is one thing; the climb down is another. When you look down after you reach the peak you’re gonna look down and say “I’m gonna climb down that!?” You don’t really notice how steep it is going up because you’re always looking up. Going down may give you a case of vertigo. Stamina is one thing, how fast your body adjusts to the thin oxygen is another. There are cases where guys who are triathletes but fail to complete the climb and yet skinny girls like some of my friends who hardly exercise but are able to do so. One thing is for sure: get some decent shoes with solid grip, but don’t cry if it is damaged by the end of the trip. There is a chance that that will happen (because of the rough terrain).
March 12th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
The altitude is what I am really concerned about. I think I can manage a few hours of hiking if there’s no issue of thin air.. wonder if people are selling oxygen tank at the mountain or not lol.
I has some dilemma on my shoes too, my jogging shoe is working fine when going up (I did some training) but when going down steeps it doesn’t grips as well.. but getting a good hiking boot would cost me some RM200 and it’s probably not worth if I’m using it ever so rarely.. worse case as you said the boot might just torned in one trip..
March 13th, 2006 at 8:57 am
abang jee.. i heard it’s veri cold.. make sure that u keep urself warm with sweaters n stuffs..
March 13th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
alicia.. I am aware of that, thanks for the reminder.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:26 am
advice : walk like a old man when u ascent on the 2nd day early morning ! Need more advice ? add me in your MSN IM : D , my trip to Mt KK is 1 month from now ! This is my 3rd trip to Mt KK !
March 16th, 2006 at 2:11 am
WoW.. 3rd trip to Mt KK.. you must love it a lot CK. Well that’s a good news, at least it means it is a beautiful place worth visiting again and again.
Thanks for the tips.. ehh but what’s your MSN arh?
March 16th, 2006 at 11:23 am
it’s nothing, my friend climb MT.KK 7th times, sometime done it by himself alone ! My MSN instante messenger id : [edited to avoid spam]. add me in , then we chat about the Mt.KK !
March 17th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
Added you CK..
March 19th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Looks like you need some motivation. Well like Kenny, all you need is the right amount of willpower. N some chocolates n lotsa water. Be sure to take lotsa pictures!
March 20th, 2006 at 3:11 am
Yupe I read Kenny’s marathon story, hilariously unbelievable. Challenge is, compared to me Kenny is actually in quite a good shape and figure.
Well it’s more than a week ago since I felt the ‘fear’ but it’s getting better every now and then, knowing myself is improving after some training.
Thanks for all the comments and support, appreciated
March 20th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
Well, my friend ! no worry, just keep walking and you will reach the peak ! Some advice for you: 1. start trekking as early as posibble (7AM) 2. try reach Laban Rata before 4PM 3. Look around the environment not just look at the ground!
March 21st, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Look at the environment.. nice saying
We will be hiking around 9am, it’s already scheduled.. should be early enough I guess.
March 24th, 2006 at 1:37 am
Thanks for all the tips and encouragement.. leaving soon, see you all later.
April 1st, 2006 at 4:48 pm
i wonder did u climbed to the top?
i did it laz year during may, raining season… and totally not a good time to go on april & may… i only go for those slunt walk, no jog at all, as i hate running, mount kk was my first and my last time in hiking…~
i did went to the top, but when i came back… i walk like penguin… :p
April 2nd, 2006 at 3:13 am
Well hoyoyi.. simple saying it’s no, I didn’t made it.. but long story before and after.
Congrats on making to the top, it should makes everything worth it even if walking like a penguin for months lol.
April 22nd, 2006 at 1:38 pm
I just started my trainning yesterday,playing badminton and staircase walk at my apartment 7 storey,it’s all about hiking to mt.KK,my friend also grumbled that I used to make a dream and won’t make it real, as from yesterday I started my trainning,I wish,Iwill conquer the Mt.KK next year July.Our case not much different,only what we can say,if they can do why not us?!I need to reduce my weight and build up stamina,any vitamin to increse metabolism? Now i’m 86kg with my height 153cm,over weight,worse,but I must go for trainning,by hook or by crook I must conquer the peak of mt Kinabalu.MUST!
April 22nd, 2006 at 2:41 pm
One year of training is definitely enough. I am a bit ‘thinner’ than you Sarip.. with around one month of training I can make it to Laban Rata, more than half way to the peak.
I would have made it if I trained a bit earlier on my stamina and more prepared with the altitude problem.
So if you have the determination to train on for a year, that’s no reason why you can’t make it.. it’s not that tough really.
I am not a training expert, dare not share much tips of fitness training for you.. it’s the determination that matter the most perhaps.
Good luck and all the best Sarip
April 27th, 2006 at 10:43 am
hi everyone! Im angel…im planning to go to Mt KK next month..any advise?
April 27th, 2006 at 10:48 am
this will be my first trip to Sabah & Im planning to climb the mountain.Can anyone let me know where is the new long-distance bus station located? I heard it has moved.
April 27th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Well angel.. I am probably not the best one to give you advice lol. One thing for sure.. have fun.
Which bus station r u talkin about by the way? The one in KK or what?
April 28th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I mean the bus station in KK. The one to take to the Kinabalu Park.
April 29th, 2006 at 7:11 am
angel.. I can’t confirm things for you, but as far as I know, there’s a big bus station near city center, and it’s easily reached by taxi from airport or from anyway in city.
July 11th, 2006 at 1:46 am
This is not a place for business promotion.. sorry.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:30 am
I could never make it to the top with just two weeks of intense training. I would probably need at least a month or two to really get in shape so that I would have no worries about not making it. Proper nutrition, before and during the journey, is crucial as well.