The Climb @ Mount Santubong, Kuching, Sarawak

I’m very excited the day before I went to Santubong Mount. I didn’t manage to reach the summit last time because I’m not feeling well that time, but this time hell I don’t even care of my legs going to be broken or what, I must reach the summit!

Start my journey at 08:30AM with 6 of my friends, it was drizzling that morning, and this is good because it’s gonna be a cozy climb. I start up slowly to save my energy, as the higher I reach the tougher it gets to climb up.

There is a total of 15 check points, at F7 is 1960m above sea level. My journey from F1 t0 F7 the first 1000 meter still consider easy, as is just like jungle trekking. But after the 1000m I start to feel my heart bumping very quickly, and I start to feel short of breath. I reach the F7 check point at 09:12AM. We stop for a rest, and I took some photos of the surrounding.

Ok, start our journey again after 5 minutes break. The tracks are getting steep, I walk slowly with very small foot step, and try to go in a zigzag direction, cause I need a lot of energy to walk strait.

There are a lot of roots in front of me, just like a bunch of mess-up staircase. I’m worry about my right knee, sometime I will go for a jog and if jog for more than 15 mins my knee will feel pain. I don’t want this to happen in this climb.

My shirt are wet, I have two bottles of water one DSLR camera, and some food on my bagpack. I stop for water, one of my friend overtake me, while the other 4 are far left behind us. After a my drink, I start to walk again. The rain is getting heavier, and the mists are getting thicker, it covers the forest fast with the help of the wind.

Some of the steep place, we have to use the ladder to climb up, and after the ladder when I think that is the summit, well think again cause more ladder, and more staircase root to climb. I forgot what time it is, but I know I have been walking for a very longgggggggggggg time when I reach a pit stop. I’m happy when I saw the signboard from far, cause I tough I reach the summit already.

I run toward the signboard and exhale deeply. I’m only at F8 (2280m), I sit at the ground wipe my sweat, and off I go. The signboard show steeper trek to go, I keep my finger cross to hope I can do it. The 4 of my friends are now far away behind me, and 1 of my friend are way ahead me, so I’m all alone now.

When alone, I will have a lot of thinking in my mind, how about you? I’m quite tired, and I blaming myself on not getting any preparation before I climb mount Santubong. I should have at least gone for more jogging to build up my stamina. And also think on why don’t I just wait for the rest of them to just go down and rest. I curse the stupid thinking and keep on walking.

I am not sure I walked for how long, but finally I saw another check point the F12 (2820m). This means that 3 more check points to go. The higher I reach, the thicker the mist. The rain had stop, but I can’t see the view, cause it is all covered by the mist. I inhale, and can feel all the non-polluted cozy fresh air being suck into my lung. I only can get this here, so I had a lot of deep breath.

There are a lot of ladders to climb here, when climbing the ladder; I go one step at a time. When reaching up to the next ladder, I need to use my arm to drag me up. And the rope and ladder are all cover with sand. I didn’t wear gloves, so is a bit painful my palms are like rubbing the sand when pulling the rope. Note to myself, next time should bring hand gloves.

I finally meet up my friend who overtakes me; the both of us stop for a drink. We even called the rest of the gang to checkout where are they now *chuckle* I am very tired at that time, but am surprise that my right knee is still ok. So I keep on going an lead the way this time.

Ladder after ladder, my palm are so painful, I hope I don’t get blister after this. All of a sudden, I saw a plate mount on the rock. And on the plate it carves “Datuk Merpati”, I continue my reading and the first paragraph goes like this..

“ Datok Merapati, who originated from Johore on the Malay Peninsular, is he legendary founder of Santubong O_o” *wow, he discover santubong?!* a singnificant trading town and center around the time of the Majapahit Empire during the 10^th to 14^th centuries.

I am on flat ground now after the plate, and OMG!!! There is a signboard with F15 (3060m) printed on. Yeah!!! Finally I reached the summit of mount Santubong, the time then was 10.50AM. which means it took me a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes to climb the mount. What surprise me more is that I’m not tired, and my knee is ok.

L-R: Chiang Ching, Robin Tan, Thien, Ah Gu, Wilson Chin (me), and Eric

Oh, what happen to the other 4 of my friends. Well they reach the summit a bit later than us, but I'm happy that they also manage to get here, :D my dear reader, do you want to join me next time?

Read More:

My Previous unsuccessful climb at Mount Santubong