October 2012 – Grace Abundant

Bukit Kutu (2nd time)

My 2nd visit to Bukit Kutu. This post is more of an addition to my first post on Bukit Kutu, to provide more thorough information on the Bukit Kutu climbing experience.

DISCLAIMER: This post was written in 2012. Information may be out of date!

Location: Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, Malaysia.
Start point: 3.572510N, 101.738128E 289m a.s.l.
Summit: 3.543263N, 101.719998E 1092m a.s.l.
Difficulty: Moderate. No technical skills required, just a fair amount of stamina. The trail is not very steep, but it goes on for a fair amount of distance. Trail is easy to follow but has a fair number of obstacles (branches, fallen trees, etc.)

Date climbed: Fri 26 Oct 2012

This post is more of an addition to my first post on Bukit Kutu, to provide more thorough information on the Bukit Kutu climbing experience. I decided to revisit Bukit Kutu for a few reasons – a few of my friends wanted to climb it, I wanted to collect a bit more detailed information on the trail for a future climb, and also for the purpose of training (I decided to carry a 12kg backpack up).

As such, I’ll be starting with the GPS details

Download GPX, KMZ (Google Earth)
View on EveryTrail (interactive map)

Duration: 3 hours 57 minutes (including break at summit & ruins)
Length: 6.5km
Average Speed: 1.6km/h
Max elevation: 1092m
Min elevation: 285m
Vertical Up: 992m
Vertical Down: 216m

Times given are for a 3 hour ascent time.

Driving to Bukit Kutu

Assuming you know how to reach Kuala Kubu Bharu (either via Bukit Beruntung, my preferred choice, or Rawang, which is slightly cheaper), keep driving towards Fraser’s Hill. Soon the Sungai Selangor dam will be in sight. A few minutes after passing by a small rest area, turn right into Kampung Pertak. On reaching a small T-junction, turn right. Continue all the way until the road becomes a gravel road, and eventually you’ll reach the 1st bridge. There is some amount of space to park around here, though probably not for more than 5 cars (If not you’ll have to park further back along the road and walk further).

At this point, one can also go down to the river, which is also a great spot to freshen up once you return from climbing Bukit Kutu.

1. [00Hr:00Min, 0km (horizontal), 289m (altitude)] Bridge #1

The bridge crosses over a small stream. The stream can also be crossed without the bridge to the left, where offroad vehicles should also be able to cross, if needed (about ankle deep).

After crossing, follow the fairly wide path for a few minutes. (There are some good views of the river along the path)

2. [00:07, 0.5km, 300m] Bridge #2 (Broken)

This second river is a bit wider and deeper than the first. The bridge has also been broken for quite a long time, but it’s still fairly easy to cross.

3. [00:11, 0.6km, 306m] Junction #1

Keep right. Going left will eventually lead to 2 waterfalls via a 3hr hike.

4. [00:14, 0.8km, 325m] Junction #2

Keep right. The trail will start to narrow after this.

5. [00:18, 1.1km, 311m] River crossing

This is the one major river crossing you’ll have to make. On average, it is just below knee depth, probably between 1-2 feet deep. On my 1st trip, water was completely clear and not that deep. On this 2nd trip, water was about 8″/20cm higher and very slightly cloudy, just over knee deep. Removal of footwear is necessary.

BEWARE: This river can rise to fairly deep levels (estimated chest deep by checking erosion levels) and fairly strong currents, if there is heavy rainfall. When crossing, always face upstream and be aware of any changes in levels especially if it looks like it may be raining upstream. Don’t cross if water level is approaching waist depth or water is turning murky. Always be prepared to wait for levels to recede, it’s not worth risking your life.

6. [00:27, 1.1km, 320m] Stream #1

Comes almost immediately after the river crossing. About 2-4in deep. Unless river levels are high, doesn’t require removal of footwear. On both occasions we got across without removal of footwear.

7. [00:33, 1.2km, 344m] Junction #3

Keep right.

8. [00:37, 1.4km, 333m] Stream #2

Similar to stream #1, about 2-4in deep, and can be crossed easily enough.

9. [00:43, 1.6km 324m] Stream #3

Similar to stream #1, about 2-4in deep, and can be crossed easily enough.

After these junctions and river/stream crossings, the rest of the climb is straightforward. There are a few various paths, but they mostly lead back to the same place. Just watch out for the trail markers or “do-not-cross” markings.

10. [01:00, 2.4km, 419m] Tree shelter

A fairly recognizable checkpoint – a tree with a massive root system across the path. After this tree, the trail stars to climb a bit more steeply.

11. [01:06, 2.5km, 460m] Clearing

One of the few open places along the trail. Probably one of the few places you could camp if necessary.

12. [01:28, 3km, 602m] “Keep right” before CP4

Optional and obvious, as the left path rejoins the trail, but consists of a very steep climb. If you’re adventurous, you can go left. Otherwise, one would naturally take the easier right path.

13. [01:33, 3.2km, 643m] Checkpoint 4, water point

CP4 Water Source — Photo taken from 1st climb in August

The only water point along the way to the summit. Don’t drink without treatment.

14. [01:36, 3.3km, 666m] “Turn left, go up”

Fairly obvious. If I remember, there’s a tape across the right path preventing people from going the wrong way. If in doubt, the left trail has trail markers (ribbons tied to the trees)

15. [01:40, 3.4km, 670m] “Keep left while descending”

I’m fairly sure that the right path rejoins the main trail, but there was an “X” marked by sticks across the right trail (as seen when descending). Clear in the daytime, but may be missed in darkness.

16. [01:55, 3.9km, 764m] Checkpoint 5, huge boulder

(My GPS signal went a bit wonky here due to the huge boulder) This checkpoint can’t be missed. Take a good break here and snap some photos. Be aware that there are some sweat bees around which may take a liking to your perspiration, but as long as you don’t squash/swat them, they won’t sting you.

The section of trail for 10 minutes after CP5 is fairly slippery, so take care. There is a small cord tied there to assist, but don’t put your full weight on it. Instead, try to find the best places to put your feet and only rely on the rope for extra stability.

Also, between CP5 and the summit, there are a few sections which require squatting down to pass under fallen bamboo. Be prepared to get your hands muddy if the ground is muddy!

17. [02:44, 5.5km, 926m] “Turn left and go up”

There was tape across the right path. Fairly clear.

18. [03:05, 6.1km, 1074m] Broken house

Just before the broken house (when you can see the chimney), when you emerge from the jungle, there’s an intersection where a well is placed. Turning left goes towards the house. Going straight goes on towards the summit.

Note: The broken house area has a few exits! I’m not sure where they go, so remember to take the exit which passes by the well.

19. [03:09, 6.1km, 1092m] Summit

After climbing up a few paths with wooden branch handrails, there are a series of ladders which reach the viewing point, which is the summit. Beware of a potential wasps nest on the first rock, on which the 1st ladder rests. There are a few holes in the rocks which used to hold a wasps nest. (It was active on my first climb, though I didn’t see any wasps there on my 2nd climb) Remember the rule of ONE person on a ladder at a time. You can probably only fit 4 people MAX on the summit at a time.

20. [+00:16, +0.4km, 1062m] Ruins

At the bottom of the boulders which lead to the viewing point, next to where the above [summit marker] photo was taken, there’s a trail which continues on to some abandoned ruins. The journey takes about 15 minutes each way. Just follow the trail markers, it should be fairly clear.

At the ruins, turn back the way you came from. (I believe the trail continues on all the way down to Kuala Kubu Bharu, which some people have taken before)

Preparation

Notes

Poor/no phone coverage.
There are shallow river crossings (3 streams, 1 river knee deep). You’ll probably want to take off shoes to cross the river. Bring something to keep electronics/etc. dry.
In case of bad weather, injuries, etc., always be prepared for potential delays.
Petrol costs ~RM30-35 per car, RM10.80 [RM5.40 each way] toll from PJ (Damansara)
It’s the rainy season, be ready for rain and cold weather. I suggest packing an extra singlet or T-shirt to wear over in case.
Be prepared for leeches!

Essential Items

Minimum 2L fluid (3L+ recommended), isotonic recommended.
High energy snacks/lunch
Hiking shoes (good grip)
Raincoat/poncho
Plastic/waterproof bags for electronics in case of rain
Emergency gear: Whistle & small flashlight/headlamp

To leave in car

Extra drinking water (1L)
Change of clothes/towel
2 large plastic bags, one for dirty shoes, one for dirty clothes
Clean slippers/sandals

Recommended Items

Tissue paper
Insect repellent
Hiking stick
Extra T-shirt
Salt (for isotonic drinks / leeches / etc.)
Wristwatch
Small hand towel
Cap/Hat for summit, if it is sunny
Emergency Gear: Knife, fire starting kit, 1st aid kit, rope/cord, etc.

(See my personal packing list here)

Gunung Angsi (Bukit Putus & Ulu Bendul)

A short 5 hour excursion to Gunung Angsi, up via Ulu Bendul, down via Bukit Putus.

DISCLAIMER: This post was written in 2012. Information may be out of date!

Location: Ulu Bendul, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Start point: 2.727418N, 102.0758E 177m a.s.l. (Ulu Bendul) AND 2.727351N, 102.0562E 293m a.s.l. (Bukit Putus)
Summit: 2.698775N, 102.047788E 836m a.s.l.
Difficulty: Moderate easy. The Ulu Bendul trail is a little longer and has one fairly steep section (Botak Hill), otherwise both are standard jungle trails of average steepness.

Date climbed: 20 October 2012

Most of what I have read about Gunung Angsi seems to imply that the climb isn’t that interesting, and that Gunung Angsi lacks views. While there is some truth to this, Angsi is still a place I wanted to visit at least once. There are (apparently) 4 trails which lead up to the summit – via Bukit Putus, Ulu Bendul, a third trail I don’t know much about, and an apparently disused 4th trail. To see as much of Angsi as I could in half a day, we decided to take the Ulu Bendul route up, and return down via the Bukit Putus trail, and walk back along the road to our cars.

3 of us from PJ joined the Seremban climbing group that we hiked with up Gunung Ledang. We left PJ at 6.15am, and after a smooth drive, arrived at the Ulu Bendul recreational park at 7.30am. If you’re not into climbing, the recreational park is ideal for quite a number of outdoor activities such as camping, picnics, playing in the river (there’s a swimming pool of sorts filled with the river water), etc.

Before heading up the trail, we had to pay RM5 per person. Not the cheapest as I don’t believe there’s much maintenance needed on the trail, but fine. (If I’m paying money, I’d prefer a place like Gunung Datuk as they actually do have to maintain the ladders.)

The Ulu Bendul trail is definitely harder than the Bukit Putus trail, as it starts over 100m lower down, and is longer as well. The first 4km of the trail is pretty straightforward, and does not gain much altitude at all. We had to cross 2 small rivers, which some of us were able to do by hopping from rock to rock (which carries the risk of slipping and ending up with wet feet), while the others removed their shoes (safer).

Shortly after the 2nd stream crossing, the trail begins to climb continuously, although never really steep. The terrain was reminiscent of Nuang – wide paths and clay ground. About 2/3rds of the way up, we emerged at Botak Hill, an open area with steep sand boulders. There were ropes fixed along the left side of the climb, however, a few of us (me included) decided to use the right hand path, which although lacked ropes, looked like it had better footholds. (I tend not to trust ropes)

There’s a final steep climb after the rope section after which we emerged at the summit, about 840m up. There weren’t any “spectacular” views from the top, but we could see Seremban to the west, and more hills to the east. The journey up took us 2hr 50min at a relaxed pace, while going down the Bukit Putus trail took us about 1hr 30min. Along the way down, we passed by Panjang’s Rest Area, where there’s a good number of chairs to relax on, and one of the locals apparently gives out refreshments there, though no one was there on the day we climbed.

After we reached the start of the Bukit Putus trail, we walked back along the main road – 4km in total, which took us about 45 minutes.

For me, Angsi was more of a training climb, as I was carrying a lot more gear than I normally would (about 11kg in total). I didn’t expect any great views (and as expected, didn’t get many), but it was still an enjoyable climb with good company. If you’re planning to visit Gunung Angsi only once, I do recommend trying both trails as it gives you some different views along the way (i.e. Bukit Putus trail has some open views, while Ulu Bendul has some streams/rivers).

Photos

Spider — A pretty big spider (about the width of an average hand) we found along the way

Looking down from Botak Hill after climbing up halfway

Small cave — A small ‘cave’ we went through just after Botak Hill

Summit view — View to the east from the summit

“Waterfall view”, though I’m not sure where the waterfall is. Along the Bukit Putus trail.

Reservoir view along the Bukit Putus trail

GPS Details

Download GPX, KMZ (Google Earth)
View on EveryTrail (interactive map)

Duration: 5 hours 10 minutes
Length: 13.5km
Average Speed: 2.6km/h
Max elevation: 838m
Min elevation: 135m
Vertical Up: 910m
Vertical Down: 909m

Preparation

Notes:

RM5 climbing fee
You may not be allowed to climb if you start late in the day (**unconfirmed**)
2 stream crossings, for which you might have to remove shoes
Rain protection is recommended for any electronic items or clothing.
Moderate number of leeches
If you are prone to chaffing, apply vaseline/bodyglide/etc. as necessary.
Hiking stick is optional (may get in the way while climbing ladders/ropes), but can help on the way down

Checklist:

Minimum 2L fluid, isotonic recommended.
High energy snacks/lunch
Hiking shoes & extra socks for comfort, if you need
Raincoat/poncho
Small towel (for sweat/etc.)
Insect Repellent
Small plastic bag to keep electronics dry in rain
Extra clothes (both shirt & pants), can leave in car
Plastic bags for dirty shoes/clothes, can leave in car
Slippers/Sandals to change into afterwards if shoes are muddy
Gloves (while climbing ropes)
Emergency gear: flashlight, whistle, knife, lighter, 1st aid kit, etc.
Optional: cap/hat, tarp/flysheet, cord/string, mat, water filter/tablets, etc.

(See my personal packing list here)

Gunung Rajah (Failed)

A failed attempt on the majestic 1683m Gunung Rajah near Chamang, Bentong, Pahang.

DISCLAIMER: This post was written in 2012. Information may be out of date!

Not a full write up on Gunung Rajah – that will come when I climb Rajah successfully!

I decided to join the KL Hiking group for their Gunung Rajah climb on the 13th of October. I knew that it would be a tough climb – the longest and highest mountain I have done thus far, after Gunung Nuang. For those who don’t know, Rajah stands at 1683m tall, and the journey is about 26-32km round trip. It begins at Chamang waterfall, follows a logging trail for about 4km, a fairly easy jungle trail for 4.8km, a river crossing, another 1.5km uphill to Kem Lata Naning (then continues on to Kem Hijau, the false peak, rock face, and the summit, all of which I didn’t reach)

Even before the climb, I suspected that I would not be able to make it to the top, for quite a number of reasons:

I was sick for the week prior to the climb. I only got well 2 days before the climb, and not having exercised AT ALL for 2 weeks (the last being my Ledang/Ophir climb), I was lacking my usual energy.
I didn’t sleep at all the night before the climb – a problem I frequently face the night before climbs, but sleep was all the more crucial for this 12hr+ climb! Obviously, I just wanted to sleep the whole day!
I was carrying more weight in my backpack than usual – 1.5L more water than I carried up to Nuang, plus a 600g tarp/flysheet and some extra stuff.
My isotonic solution was more watered than usual. I was experimenting with reduced amounts of salt and glucose, but obviously it didn’t work out as well as I started cramping about 3.5hrs into the climb.

During the climb itself, I also didn’t hydrate as much as I would normally do as I was more reluctant to stop (being in a big group of 40 people, people don’t tend to stop when you stop for a break and you end up being left behind). And the rain didn’t help.

Yes, speaking of rain – the weather was fine when we started out, up until the 3hr mark when we passed Lata Naning, on our way to Kem Hijau. We were already prepared for rain as rain was forecast, so it was no surprise when it started raining (all the raincoats, rain covers, etc. came out). About the time the rain started, I also decided to turn back, between Lata Naning and Kem Hijau. I ended up staying with about 10 people at Lata Naning, before we headed back down to the river crossing.

When we had crossed the river on our way to the summit, it was ankle deep, and enough people were able to cross without taking off their shoes. However, when we got back to the crossing, the tiny stream had become a raging river about 8 feet higher than it was previously, with extremely swift currents. The crossing is where two rivers meet in a “Y” configuration, and this probably caused the depth to be even higher than normal. I was already aware of this possibility, and had seen and read accounts of this happening, but seeing it first hand was quite an awesome experience.

Obviously, there was no way we would cross in these conditions, so we set up my tarp/flysheet (which had also come in useful at Lata Naning) and waited. The river continued to rise a further 2 feet, and we waited for another 2 hours before the level started to subside slowly. After more than 3 hours, the level was finally low enough (waist deep) when 3 members of the team decided to cross and fix a rope to assist others. (Personally, I would still avoid any river more than knee deep, which is the highest ‘recommended’ depth for safe river crossings) However, they managed to get the rope into place safely, so we all crossed over and I got back to the car park just before 6pm.

I waited for the rest of the people in our carpool, the last who reached back around 8-9pm. Most of them managed to reach the summit, which was a great achievement!

What I learned from the climb:

Rest is VERY important before a climb! And don’t try a huge climb just after recovering from an illness…
Watch your hydration and nutrition on long climbs
BE CAREFUL around rivers and waterfalls, especially if there’s a chance of rain (especially upstream, which you may not see). Rivers can swell by many feet in MERE SECONDS, and if you’re not paying attention, you could be swept away and be killed. DON’T PLAY AROUND with swift/deep waters, they CAN and WILL kill you. I saw a river rise by 10 feet, and mind you, the rain was fairly short and not the heaviest.
Be prepared to stay longer than your allocated time. I myself was ready for this possibility, but not everyone else was… (especially if it had kept raining – the river could take a long time to subside)

Anyway, I’ll be back at Gunung Rajah at some point in the future!

River Dangers

Here’s a photo of how rivers can change with rain. The river we crossed (which rose by 10 feet) was a few km upstream from this (Chamang) waterfall. Mind you, by the time I got back to this waterfall, the water level at the crossing had already fallen by 4 feet, so I can only imagine how much higher the waterfall level was at its highest.

Chamang waterfall comparison — Difference in levels before and after a medium rainfall

As circled in the photo, you can see that the warning signpost in the left photo (taken 2 weeks prior to the photo on the right) has been ripped out, probably by water which was high enough to reach it. Given that rivers can swell in seconds, it would be pretty scary being at the bottom when the first flash flood arrives. BE CAREFUL AROUND WATERFALLS AND RIVERS!!!

Other Photos

Chamang Waterfall — Same photo of Chamang waterfall as above, taken on a lovely day

Logging trail — The logging trail at the start

Open area – turn right off the logging trail

Another open area — Another lovely open area along the jungle trail

Lata Naning 2 — River at Lata Naning, looking the opposite direction

Same photo as used earlier – Chamang waterfall after rainfall

GPS Details

Since I didn’t manage to complete a full circuit, I won’t be posting full GPS details, unless you want it, in which case leave a comment! (There are other full GPS trails available from other hikers) Here’s a photo of how far I got (I stopped recording at Lata Naning after turnig back):

Duration: 4 hours 43 minutes
Length: 13km
Average Speed: 2.8km/h
Vertical Up: 1245m
Vertical Down: 597m
Maximum Altitude: 896m
Minimum Altitude: 164m

Gunung Ledang (Mt. Ophir)

Gunung Ledang, the highest peak in the state of Johor, is said to be one of the most popular mountains in the Peninsular Malaysia. After my trip there, it’s easy to see why – the climb is very interesting, and the views (on a clear day) are great. Gunung Ledang is not part of any mountain range, and thus standing at 1273m provides unobstructed views of its surroundings.

DISCLAIMER: This post was written in 2012. Information may be out of date!

Location: Sagil, Tangkak, Johor, Malaysia.
Start point: 2.34163N, 102.617293E 122m a.s.l.
Summit: 2.373418N, 102.607976E 1276m a.s.l.
Difficulty: Moderately hard. Varies from standard easy jungle trail (like Gasing Hill) to fairly steep sections, but climbing aids such as ropes & ladders are provided at difficult sections. Involves some (rope aided) rock climbing sections.

Date climbed: Sat 29 Sep 2012

Unfortunately, one of the hardest parts of climbing Gunung Ledang is the cost involved – (as of September 2012) for a local, it costs RM27 for insurance and permits, and guides are compulsory at RM220 each, each taking up to 10 people. In other words, the cheapest you’d be able to climb it for (with 10 people) is RM39 per person. Of course, all this is excluding any transport fees. I was lucky enough to find a group which was climbing it with an optimal number of people, who handled all the bookings. (We were required to submit our names, contact, NRIC #, next of kin & contact).

Along with 3 other friends from PJ, we headed down to Tangkak at 4am. (Most sane people would question why 4 people would do this on a Saturday when one could be sleeping in!) After meeting the rest of the group and eating breakfast at Tangkak, we headed to the registration & start point of Gunung Ledang. The road leading there is fairly new, and not yet marked on Google Maps. (If I remember correctly, the turn off is somewhere just after passing through Sagil) Facilities at the registration center are quite decent; there are bathrooms and dorms available, as well as drinks & food available for purchase. Before climbing Ledang, we were all required to fill in rubbish declaration forms, which would be checked upon our leaving. Even though the checking was not the most thorough, I think it’s a good thing in general – PLEASE always do not leave rubbish anywhere when you go climbing!

Even though we were scheduled to begin climbing at 7.45am, we had to wait until 8am for the guides to arrive. After a short briefing, we set off on our ways at 8.26am. There are 8 checkpoints (CP) in total along the Lagenda trail which we took, although we skipped CP4 as it’s used by campers who stay overnight, and off the main trail. Between the start and CP1 (Bukit Semput) @ 263m were mostly concrete steps – a nice easy start (On this day, I decided to take things at a relaxed pace as I was still a bit tired from my Gunung Nuang climb). We reached CP1 at +00H:16M (8.42am), after which we were off concrete paths and onto standard jungle trails, which were nice and dry. (Leeches are said to be few at Gunung Ledang – I did see one throughout the whole day, but no one got any bites).

The trail is fairly easy up until CP5, with gradual climbs and a short descend just before CP5. We passed CP2 (Hentian Meranti) [363m] at +00H:30M (8.56am) and CP3 (Batu Orkid) [519m] at +00H:55M (9.21am). Since we were bypassing CP4, the trail between CP5 and CP5 took longer. We arrived at CP5 (Sungai Segi Tiga) [682m] at +02H:00M (10.26am), where we found lots of other people waiting around. There is a small stream at CP5 where you can refill your water (apparently drinkable), although I always recommend treating/filtering any water.

CP5 Sungai Segi Tiga — Lots of people at CP5

Things got much steeper after CP5, where we hit the start of what is known as “KFC” – not the restaurant franchise, but the “Killer For Climbers” (or Killer Fitness Center) section. It’s actually not too bad, as ladders were provided at many sections, and we just adjusted our pace accordingly. The steepness is similar to what you get at Saga Hill Route A.

KFC ladders — Start of the many ladders at the KFC section

We arrived at CP6 (Gua Kambing) [877m] at +02H:48M (11.14am). At this checkpoint, we had to climb through 2 small cave sections, which was easy enough given the ladders & ropes provided. If you’re the first to go through, you’d probably want to check for snakes or other creatures!

We headed on to the famous “Batu Hampar” (rock face) section, which we reached at +03H:18M (11.44am). This section consists of 3 ‘rocks’ with smooth faces at ~40-60 degrees. The first two are quite easy, and can also be climbed using the tree roots at their edges.

Batu Hampar 1 of 3 — Batu Hampar rockface, 1 of 3

The largest of the rocks is probably about 30m high, and is scaled using thick ropes. To be honest, it wasn’t that difficult. If you don’t have the strength, you just have to remember that you can stop halfway and take a break.

Batu Hampar rockface, 3 of 3, showing its steepness

CP7 (Bukit Botak a.k.a. Bald Hill) [1131m] was reached at +04H:05M (12:31pm), where we took a short break and ate some food. (At this point, some people were starting to suffer from muscle cramps)

From CP7, we descended a short way before making our way to the summit through a series of about 10 ladders.

Climbing to the summit — Climbing the many ladders to the summit

We finally emerged into the open and onto the top at +04H:44M (1.10pm). Being an isolated mountain, the summit provides pretty awesome views (unfortunately the weather wasn’t that clear), a bit like Gunung Datuk, except MUCH better. I’d recommend that you bring a hat just in case it’s hot at the summit.

Telecommunications tower near the summit

After sitting around for a while, admiring the views and eating our lunch, we headed down a different path (makes sense, otherwise there would be traffic jams at the ladders & ropes). The way down is along a different type of terrain with spongy ground (reminiscent of Gunung Bunga Buah near the rock garden), and we rejoined the main trail between CP3 and CP5.

Pitches Plants — Pitcher plants along the way down

Ginger flowers (I think) along the way down

We finally reached the registration center at +08H:33M (4.54pm), where we sorted through our garbage forms, cleaned up, and headed back to PJ.

I have to say that while Gunung Ledang is not the hardest of mountains to climb (definitely easier than Nuang), it is one of the most interesting. I’d definitely recommend that everyone should climb it at least once, if you are able to swallow the costs. I met a few people along the way who have climbed it more than 30 times, and after my experience, it’s easy to see why.

GPS Details (Both ways)

Download GPX, KMZ (Google Earth)
View on EveryTrail

Duration: 7 hours 54 minutes
Length: 12.6km
Average Speed: 1.6km/h
Max elevation: 1293m
Min elevation: 122m
Vertical Up: 1418m
Vertical Down: 1416m

Preparations

Gunung Ledang, the highest mountain in Johor, should take a person of average fitness (with regular exercise) less than 10 hours for a round trip.

Notes:

Climbing costs ~RM39 per person (Sep 2012), add RM20 if non-Malaysian. (You have to book guides in advance)
Center opens at 8am, facilities are pretty good
There is periodic phone coverage along the way, and decent coverage at the summit. (Maxis)
2 stream crossings (CP5, and on the way down), both of which you can simple step across with shoes on.
Rain protection is recommended for any electronic items or clothing.
Very few leeches, but it IS a tropical jungle, so don’t be surprised to see a few
If you are prone to chaffing, apply vaseline/bodyglide/etc. as necessary.
Hiking stick is optional (may get in the way while climbing ladders/ropes), but can help on the way down

Checklist:

Minimum 3L fluid, isotonic recommended. I personally brought 3.3L on this trip, which was barely enough. (You can also refill water at the streams, which recommend you treat/filter)
High energy snacks/lunch
Hiking shoes & extra socks for comfort, if you need
Raincoat/poncho
Small towel (for sweat/etc.)
Insect Repellent
Small plastic bag to keep electronics dry in rain
Extra clothes (both shirt & pants), can leave in car
Plastic bags for dirty shoes/clothes, can leave in car
Slippers/Sandals to change into afterwards if shoes are muddy
Gloves (while climbing ropes)
Emergency gear: flashlight, whistle, knife, lighter, 1st aid kit, etc.
Optional: cap/hat, tarp/flysheet, cord/string, mat, water filter/tablets, etc.

(See my personal packing list here)

Other links: Gunung Ledang (Johor) National Park