trusmadi & tambuyukon

Move over Kinabalu. You may be the tallest mountain in Malaysia (and reputably) one of the highest in South East Asia, but both Mount Trusmadi and Mount Tambuyukon in their own respect are definitely tougher to climb and scale than you.

For most people, many probably have never heard of these 2 mountains - even most Malaysians. Mount Trusmadi is Malaysia's second highest mountain, then followed by Mount Tambuyukon, at 8,669' and 8,462 feet above sea level, respectively.

Between 6 to 12 August 2008, me together with Telal and 15 other OGKL members scaled these 2 mountains - at one go. Deeno, the club president and organizer of this trip warned us prior to committing to sign for it - he promised that it would be hardcore... and he kept his promise.

I've made many firsts in this trip:
1. My first ever AirAsia flight. Not bad, actually.

2. First time climbed 2 gigantic mountains back-to-back. Didn't manage to recover fully from the Trusmadi climb but then attempted to climb Tambuyukon anyway.

3. First time very dehydrated during a mountain climb - was literally a hiking 'zombie' at about kilometer 13 in Mount Tambuyukon. Thank Allah my dear cousin Dr. Telal waited for me and shared his water and power gel. I could've blacked out without his assistance.

4. Drank (insect filled) water from pitcher plants 3 times to quench my thirst and dehydration.

5. Rode the 4WD pick-up trucks at the back 8 times within a span of 5 days (with 4 occassions having to sit on its metal cargo rims and getting my bum very sore).

6. I saw some 'mysterious' beings (together with Telal and Muzammil who also saw them) which dissappeared into thin air as we approached them. I thought I was hallucinating due to the extreme fatigue but 3 people hallucinating the same thing? Is that possible?

7. Climbed the second and third highest mountains in Malaysia, du-uh.


What made this trip hardcore :
1. The gruelling terrain and the physical demands.

2. The compressed schedule where usually climbers don't climb 2 very tough and challenging mountains back-to-back. There were minimal resting time between climbs.

3. The Tambuyukon climb would normally take 4-5 days to summit and return but we did it in 3 days flat (in and back out) because we managed to jumped camps and walked in the dark (night and early morning).

Just so that I can reminisce back how hectic the schedule was, I'm penning it here:
5 Aug (930pm - 1130pm) : 2 hour AirAsia flight from KL to KK, Sabah.
6 Aug (12am) : 2 hour taxi van ride to Tambunan from KK. Upon arrival slept in a deserted hall in Tambunan Village Resort. Breakfast of nasi lemak was excellent, nevertheless.
6 Aug (7am) : 2 hour pick-up truck ride to the foothill of Mount Trusmadi. Started climbing. Lunched with nasi himpit and tasty serunding daging mid-way.
6 Aug (4pm) : Reached cabin at 1400m from peak. Camped here. Dinner. Slept.
7 Aug (3am) : Started climbing towards Trusmadi peak - it rained and was very2 cold.
7 Aug (530am) : Success! 2nd highest mountain conquered.
7 Aug (8am) : Descend.
7 Aug (2pm) : Reached foothill. 2 hour 4WD ride (butt really hurts). Cleaned up in Tambunan Resort.
7 Aug (5pm) : 2.5 hours taxi van ride to Ranau. Dinner in Ranau. Then 30 min 4WD ride to entrance of 4WD route. Changed 4WD... it was raining and I almost lost my bag.
7 Aug (9pm) : 2 hours 4WD ride to Pos Monggis. 4WD crossed 3 rivers - cool stuff.
7 Aug (11pm) : Reached Pos Monggis, foothill of Mount Tambuyukon. Unpacked, route briefing and slept.
8 Aug (8am) : Started ascending Tambuyukon.
8 Aug (4pm) : Reached Kem Kapuokan. Camped for the night.
9 Aug (2am) : Climbed to Kem Musang.
9 Aug (530am) : Reached Kem Musang. Breakfast.
9 Aug (7am) : Shoot for the peak.
9 Aug (1pm) : SUCCESS! 3rd highest mountain conquered.
9 Aug (230pm) : Descend.
9 Aug (6pm) : Saw mystical/mysterious beings. Reached Kem Musang. Dinner.
9 Aug (8pm) : Descend to Kem Kepuokan.
9 Aug (11pm) : Reached Kem Kepuokan. Camped for the night.
10 Aug (10am) : Head out for Pos Monggis.
10 Aug (3pm) : Reached Pos Monggis. Clean-up & rest.
10 Aug (6pm) : 2 hour 4WD out to Ranau. 1.5 hour taxi van ride to KK. Settled into Promenade Condominium.
11 Aug : Rest, relax & shopping. 930pm departed from KK to KL.

Here's some pics...

TRUSMADI


Sore butt.


Climbing.


Too exhausted. Flat out at 2000 metres from the peak, which is a small campsite. Almost everyone fell asleep here.


Just arrived at Trusmadi peak.


Me compadre... Behind us is Mount Kinabalu.


Aaaa... lovely 'pot' of hot coffee.


At the trigonometry station on Mount Trusmadi.


On top of the world.


The GPS-marked track with GoogleEarth. Excellent stuff Nadir!


The track profile using Nadir's GPS kit. Look at the very-very steep ascent all the way.


TAMBUYUKON


Mineral water abundance.


View of some of the easy terrain.


View of the difficult terrain... this place was quite scarry with strong cold gust. I was quiet terrified here because one wrong step and one could tumble down into a 'bottomless' ravine. I've never hugged boulders with so much 'love' before.


Thank Allah for the pitcher plants. Insect? Who cares. I was dying then.


I did it! (finally) 14km of 'torture'.


Tambuyukon conquered!


View from Tambuyukon.


The guides and porters. Thank you guys.


Group photo at Pos Monggis after the climb.


The track route.


The track profile. Look how steep it got from kilometer 7 onwards.


One couldn't ask for a better line-up of people to climb with than this. Excellent teamwork everyone!


Last but not least, celebration!

I have to admit that eventhough this trip was hardcore and gruelling, it was worth every single drop of sweat and blood shed.

ps - Thank you Nadir and Shuk for the excellent pictures.