Yesterday (November 12, 2012) I revisited Gunung Datuk with a few of my old high school (SMK Taman SEA) friends.
I’ve updated my first post on Gunung Datuk with new photographs and information, so you should head there if you’re interested in photos and information.
DISCLAIMER: This post was made in 2012. Information may be out of date!
I revisited Gunung Datuk on November 12, 2012 with a few of my old high school (SMK Taman SEA) friends.
I’ve updated my first post on Gunung Datuk with some new photographs and information, so you should head there if you want details on the climb.
It was a slightly different experience as it has been raining a lot, so the trail was quite wet and the stream at the start of the trail was about 12″/30cm higher than on my first climb (Doesn’t matter in terms of crossing as there’s a bridge). Luckily, we had much better skies this round, meaning that we got a pretty good view at the [false, I should say] summit.
All in all, a nice morning out, though I’m not sure I would normally drive almost 2 hours each way from PJ for such a short climb, especially with 10 people crammed into 2 cars!
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 Information may be out of date!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).
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.
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)
River view
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
Photo taken from 1st climb in August, with lower water levels
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
Photo taken from 1st climb in August
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
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.
(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.
Summit marker before boulders. Ruins trail is to the left.
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.
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
A pretty big spider (about the width of an average hand) we found along the wayLooking down from Botak Hill after climbing up halfwayA small ‘cave’ we went through just after Botak HillView 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
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.
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
Same photo of Chamang waterfall as above, taken on a lovely dayThe logging trail at the startOpen area – turn right off the logging trailAnother lovely open area along the jungle trailRiver at Lata NaningRiver at Lata Naning, looking the opposite directionSame 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):
Saga Hill (Bukit Saga) is actually just one peak of many on a hill with a large, flat top, near Cheras. After the many mountains that I have been climbing, Saga Hill is definitely a very easy climb, with well maintained trails and a reachable summit of ~430m. There are many routes to choose from, which start from various sides of the hill. Saga Hill refers to the hilltop nearest the small town of Taman Saga, where the starting point is.
DISCLAIMER: This post was written in 2012. Information may be out of date!
Location: Taman Saga, Cheras/Ampang, Malaysia. Start point: 3.113788N, 101.773276E 149m a.s.l. End point: [Varies] Highest point – 3.111677N, 101.779017E 342m a.s.l. Difficulty: Easy. Recommended for beginner hikers. The only danger is getting lost amongst the huge network of trails.
Saga Hill (Bukit Saga) is actually just one peak of many on a hill with a large, flat top, near Cheras. After the many mountains that I have been climbing, Saga Hill is definitely a very easy climb, with well maintained trails and a reachable summit of ~430m. There are many routes to choose from, which start from various sides of the hill. Saga Hill refers to the hilltop nearest the small town of Taman Saga, where the starting point is. (Another popular route starts from Cheras Awana, where the hill is called Apek Hill) Don’t expect any good views of the surrounding area, as there are always lots of trees blocking the view. If you want a view close to PJ/KL, I suggest Bukit Tabur or Broga Hill. It is actually possible to become lost at Bukit Saga due to the huge network of trails which join the various peaks and climbing routes together. A few of the major trails are marked, but it’s probably a good idea to remember which trails you go on, or, like me, use GPS to record your trail so that heading back is an easy task.
I’ve climbed Saga Hill twice in the past (I never blogged about them), but always took the same route. For this 3rd time, me & my friend decided to check out the waterfall, and take a different route down. I was there for a very relaxed hike as I had 2 big climbs coming up the next week, while my friend was there to train for Mt. Ophir (Gunung Ledang). Thus, he filled up his bag with 12kg of weights and water, so that we would get different amounts of exercise at the same pace.
The residents (many of which are more senior and like to climb every day) apparently prefer that climbers don’t park too near their houses, so the suggested parking space is a small park in front of a kindergarten (I think). From there, Saga Hill is clearly visible.
Saga Hill from the parking lotSmall waterfall near the entrance
After passing the small waterfall at the start, there are 3 routes to choose from.
Route A is the shortest, and possibly the most popular. Since it is the shortest, it is also the steepest, but has a huge amount of tree roots along the way, which make it easy to find places to step and does not become slippery. There is also a short rope climbing section (up some rocks), which can be bypassed.
Route A – View of CherasRoute A – lots of tree roots provide natural stepsRoute A – Optional rope/rock section
Route B – I have yet to climb this. I’ll fill up this section once I’ve done so!
Route C is slightly longer than route A, and is less steep, and in my opinion, slightly easier. However, shoes with decent grip helps a lot as the ground is bare, so it may be challenging at times to find grip (Similar to Broga Hill). I personally found no issues with my hiking shoes, climbing after a heavy rain, so I’m not sure why people call this ‘Route C-hallenging’.
Route C – View of Cheras
I can’t remember if there’s a Route D anywhere, but I think I remember hearing of it once.
Saga’s hilltop has no view, but contains a large number of benches/tables, exercise equipment, and even a ‘changing room’ of sorts. From there, you can head to a small waterfall, which is less than an hour away. Some people argue whether it’s worth the hike.
Small waterfall
Between Saga’s hilltop and Route C lies a beirut (I’m still not sure where the term comes from), which presumably marks the highest point of Saga Hill.
Beirut @ 432m
There’s much to explorer at Saga Hill, as long as you’re not interested in views which look out, which are pretty much nonexistent. However, Saga Hill provides a decent amount of exercise while still being relatively close to PJ/KL (Of course, driving there is not always as pleasant, in my experience)
