Gunung Berlumut, a perfect climb.

Location.

Located at Kahang, Gunung Berlumut is a must for trekkers who feel they are ready for a more challenging climb. From Kluang town, the driving time to Gunung Berlumut is about twenty minutes. After Kluang town and following Jln Mersing, watch out for a right turn to Kahang. From here there will be plenty of signboards directing you to the Hutan Lipur Gunung Berlumut Forestry office. And yes, you need to register with the Forestry office before you start your ascend.

Height and Trail.

With a summit height of 1010 meters and a walking trail of roughly 5 km, Gunung Berlumut presents a challenging trail for most trekkers. However it is also a perfect mountain for a perfect climb. The whole ascend can be divided into three parts - the easy, the ok and the tough. Starting from the forestry office gate, the first one third of the trail is quite an easy climb. The trail starts off with relatively easy walking trail preparing you for the second "ok" trail. In fact, the first part of the trail is a good warm up exercise preparing you for the balance of the ascend.

The second part of the trail is essentially an ok climb trail. The trail maybe a bit steeper but most trekkers should have no problem surmounting it. The fun start at the beginning of the "tough" trail. Here you determination will be fully tested. At this trail you will encounter two very steep treks that require the use of your upper body strength to pull yourself up. This last part of the trail maybe exhausting but take comfort in that it is the last part of your ascend.

The False Peak and the Peak.

Once you pass the last camping site you will soon arrive at a flat clearing that look like the peak of any mountain. But this is actually the false peak of Gunung Berlumut. To reach the actual peak you need to follow a narrow trail toward your left. A final ten to fifteen minutes walk along this gentle trail will complete your full ascend of Gunung Berlumut. If you are a regular and a very fit trekker, the ascend should take slightly over two hours. Similarly, your descend should take you not more than two hours. For me, my recent third trip up took me about three hours and fifty minutes for both the ascend and descend.

Ration.

An exhausting trek that should require at least one to one and half litre of water, a light snack and perhaps a change of t shirt for your descend. And yes at the base of the gunung there are stalls selling drinks and local food.

Person to contact:

Jabatan Hutan Lipur Gunung Berlumut

Mohd Razifshah Bin Ramlan (Bob)

Tel: 019-7620873.

Western Hill, a teaser.

Western Hill.
At 830 m above sea level Western Hill present a challenging and a demanding hike. You can either trek up Western Hill by following the trail along the funicular railway tracks or hike up from Teluk Bahang. The trail along the Penang Hill funicular railway track should take you about two hours hike to reach Station 1. From Teluk Bahang, a more challenging and demanding trail await you. This trail will take a fit trekker about three hours to reach Station 1. To reach Penang Hill will take another forty five minutes walk along a bitumen road known as the Jeep track.


Penang Hill Forest Challenge,Trail 5

The trail from Teluk Bahang starts from the Teluk Bahang Ranger office. Located directly next to the Butterfly farm, the Teluk Bahang Forestry dept houses the Ranger office and the forestry museum. Before you start the hike it is advisable for you to approach the ranger office for maps showing the correct trail to Western Hill and then to Penang Hill. This trail is known as the Penang Hill Forest Challenge, Trail 5 with a distance of 11.3 km from Teluk Bahang to Penang Hill. Starting from the forestry office, you first follow the Ridge Top Trail. Trek along Ridge Top Trail Station 1 and then to Station 6,8,11,12,and finally to Station 13. At Station 13 you turn right following the Penang Hill Forest Trail. This trail has total of ten stations starting with Station 10 and working upward and sometime downward to Station 1. There will be yellow markers showing each forest trail station number. Just follow the markers and the Penang Hill signs.

Bukit Laksamana.

Between Station 4 and 3, you will arrive at a big viewing tower constructed mainly of steel. This is Bukit Laksamana viewing tower. The view here is fantastic. Unfortunately there isn't any sign to denote the height of Bukit Laksamana. And yes, the fact that this tower is constructed mainly of steel at this height itself is mind boggling. Imagine the labour to bring up so much steel and other construction materials.

A teaser.
The Penang Hill Forest Challenge Trail involves a series of up and down trekking. This trail is a teaser in the sense that when you think you have almost reached the highest point, you will be led to a downward and sometimes very steep trail. And some of these downward trails are so far down you may be forgiven to think you have been brought down to the foot of the hill again.

Jeep Track

Once you come out of Station 1, turn right toward the Penang Hill. Here you will have to walk about 4 1/2 km along a bitumen road or the so called Jeep Track road. To reach the highest point, trek up a smaller trail off the main road on your right. After you have your fun and rest, walk down back to the main road until you reach Top Station where Penang Hill is located. From here you can either trek down a jungle trail toward Botanical Garden or if you are too tired, take the funicular rail down. The jungle trek down will take another slightly less than 1 1/2 hours.

The Ranger's estimate.
If you read the website posted by the Pejabat Hutan Teluk Bahang, the estimated time needed to reach Top Station is about eight hours. If you ask the rangers, they said it will probably take a fit trekker about 6 hours to reach Top Station. It took me, without stopping for rest, about 3hrs and 40 minutes to reach Top Station and another 1 hr and 10 minutes to trek down to Botanical Garden. So it all depends on your fitness level. But, whatever your level of fitness, it is advisable to bring along with you at least 1 litre of water and some light snack for this energy sapping trek.

Contact

Pejabat Renjer Hutan Teluk Bahang.

Taman Rimba, Teluk Bahang, 11050, Pulau Pinang.

Tel: 604 885 1280.

Gunung Lambak, not as easy.

The Gunung and the Trails.

Gunung Lambak at only 510 m is located in the town of Kluang, Johor. You should have no problem locating this gunung as practically everyone in Kluang knows the location. Just ask anyone and you would be directed to the right direction. Gunung Lambak actually consists of three ridges. Most trekkers would attempt the two more popular ridges. Starting at the popular Lambak base, trekkers have the choice of trekking up the two ridges through a combination of different trails between the two ridges. The most challenging trail would be the direct trail starting at the base and then proceeding along a cemented walking trail. The actual ascend start at the end of this walking trail. This trail will first lead you to what the locals called "half way hill" of "tea station". It is called the tea station because almost every morning one very nice uncle will trek up this "half way hill" and prepare Chinese and English tea together with snacks for trekkers as refreshment and yes free of charge.

From the "half way hill', you then proceed straight up for about another two third the distance to the peak. A reasonable fit trekker should be able to summit the peak within forty minutes. My record is twenty eight minutes. At only 510 m, you may think this is a considerably easy mountain to summit. But most trekkers having summit this peak would swear that they have never been more exhausted summiting this peak than summiting many others.

After having rested at the peak, you may want to try what the locals call "cross the mountain". You first descend the peak from another trail. Trekking down for about ten minutes, you divert yourself to a left trail to the next base for the second ascend to the next ridge. At the second base and at first glance up you may start to question your sanity of attempting a second ascend. But fear not for the second ascend though steep is actually easier and shorter. Once you reached this peak(hence cross the mountain) take a right trail for your final descend.

Thousand Years Old Tree.

And if you love nature, you may want to view the closely guarded "thousand years old tree or the pokok besar". That if you can get some regular local trekkers to show you this seldom trekked trail. And if you can't find any willing guide and if you are adventurous enough, at the 510 m peak after the police store turn left toward a downward trail. Roughly about 300 meters turn right toward another trail. If you proceed straight you will end up at the communication towers. Trek downward until you can hear the waterfall. Once you can hear the waterfall look out for a left trail. Going straight will bypass the pokok besar. From here you should be able to see the tree within five minutes walk. This tree is so big it would require about eleven to twelve people's hand joining hand to hug it. The descend to and ascend back from this trail would take about one and a half hours. So bring along more water ration.

Things to bring.

Actually you need not bring anything with you. Piped fresh water from the waterfall source is available at the half way hill. Alternatively help yourself to the tea and snacks kindly provided. And at the base there are stalls selling drinks, food and local fruits. And for those who wish to shower before going back, head to the resort next door. For a fee of 50 cents you can use the shower facilities there.

Gunung Angsi, a challenge.

How to get there.

Gunung Angsi is located within the Ulu Bendol forest in the district of Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. If you are coming from JB or Singapore, use the NS highway. Exit at Senawang toll. Head toward the direction of Kuala Pilah and Ulu Bendol until you arrive at a very winding road that reminds you of the road leading toward Frazier Hill. You should be able to see the "Hutan Lipur Hulu Bendol" signs all along the way. Once you enter the recreational park, follow the sign to the forestry office. There you are required to register your name for a trekking permit. The permit cost RM5.00 per person. Once you have descended from the summit, it is advisable to inform the forestry officer of your safe descends. Parking facility is available. So are the many stalls selling drinks and food.

The trail and the peak.

Measuring 825 m above sea level it is slightly lower than the neighbouring Gunung Datuk of 870 m. However, don't be fool by this lower height as it would probably take you about 2 1/2 more time to summit Gunung Angsi then to summit Gunung Datuk. Gunung Angsi is a very challenging trek that requires lot of stamina and endurance. Even before actual climbing start, you would have exhausted yourself with a very long walk passing through the camp site , streams and a crusher road. The trail starts immediately after the forestry office. Here you have to be very careful or you may end up following a trail leading toward the main road instead. Following a trail after the gate and keep your eyes on your left where you will arrive at a stream (Batang Terachi river). Wade across the stream or alternatively using the boulders on the stream as stepping stones. Once across you just have to follow the water pipes. The trail is quite clear until you reached a public toilet with a stream on the right hand side. Cross the stream. Do not follow an unclear trail on the left. After crossing the stream, you will reach a t junction (crusher rd). Turn left at the t junction until you reach a clearing. Follow a narrow trail slightly on your left side. From here the funs begin. You will be facing many uphill treks including one that require the help of ropes. You will have to climb two very tough and very steep trek before you can reach the peak.

If you are a fit trekker, you should take about two and a half hours to summit the peak. The view at the peak is a bit disappointing as it is surrounded by tress. Perching yourself at edge of the peak may offer a better view.

It would require, depending on your fitness, anywhere between four and half hours to six hours to ascend and descend the peak. My ascend and descend took four and a half hours. As it is a long trek, it is advisable to bring along at least one litre of water and some light snacks to include fruit, snack bars and perhaps even a sandwich. Remember to retain more than half of your water ration for your descend. Descending may be easier but normally for a long trek you tend to be more dehydrated on your way down than up. A dry t shirt to change before descending will be welcoming to your wet body. And finally trekkers, like they said " leave noting behind except your foot prints and take noting back except memories and photos".

Contact

Puan Maimum

Forestry Dept. at Kuala Pilah

Tel: 606-481 1036

or

Encik Roslan

Tel: 013-3749933.

Easy climb Gunung Datuk / Gunung Dato

How to get there.
Gunung Dato located is in the state of Negeri Sembilan. If you are travelling from South, take the NS highway. Exit at the Alor Gajah toll. At the roundabout, turn 2 0'clock and proceed toward Rembau. At the T junction turns left. After a short distance you will be directed to turn right. You should see adequate signs directing you from Alor Gajah exit to the Forestry office from where the ascend to Gunung Dato start. Register yourself at the forestry office (a trekking permit fee of RM3.00 per person) and then proceed to enjoy your ascend.

The trek.
At 870 m, you would probably think that Gunung Dato will be a challenging trek. On the contrary, summiting Gunung Dato is actually quite easy. If you are a fit trekker, you should be able to summit the peak within one hour or one and half hour the most. I myself have reached the peak within one hour. The climb is quite a straight forward up trail that does not involve much side track walking. The path leading up to the peak is very clear and no trekker, however new you are, will get lost. So no guide is needed.

Things need to bring up .
As it is quite a short climb, all you need to bring along up with you are:-

1. About 750 ml of water. There is also a water source (from fresh water stream)about ten minutes from the peak.

2. Perhaps an apple or banana and a snack bar for energy.
3. A dry t shirt to change before your descend will be nice.

The summit.
The view at the summit is one of the best I have seen. Once you reach the top, on your left you will see giant boulders with metal ladders leading up to the summit. If you are brave enough to climb up these metal ladders, you will be rewarded with magnificent view of Seremban town. The summit however can only accommodate perhaps about seven to eight persons. So if you are trekking up with a big group, you may need to take turn at the summit.

I strongly recommend Gunung Dato to all new mountain trekkers. It is one Gunung that even as a first timer, you should have little difficulty summiting the peak. And what serve as better encouragement for one than a successful summit to try other mountains.

Person to contact.
If you need additional information on Gunung Dato , you can contact:-

Encik Abd Rahman Bin Hj Idris
Taman Rekreasi Gunung Datuk
Kampung Batang Nyamor
Rembau, Negeri Sembilan
Tel: 013-2364443.