Tell It To The Mountains, I'm Coming!

I just don't know where to start.
If not for the state I am now, I wouldn't believe that I just climbed up the Gunung Batu Putih, way up at 2,131m above sea level.

Gunung Batu Putih is the eighth highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia and definitely on the "wish list" of those who want to conquer the country's 10 highest peaks.
Mind you, I never knew Gunung Putih existed until I was invited to experience mount climbing.

Straddling the Perak-Pahang border, this mountain is accessed via the Kuala Woh Recreation Park, 10km from Tapah, on the Cameron Highlands road. After passing Kuala Woh Reservoir, the road ends at Kuala Woh Dam -- that's where we parked our vehicles & spent a night in there and got ready the next day.

We were a team of 13 people - 5 ladies, 8 guys & they were all experienced climbers. The last mountain that they went was Mount K.Kinabalu, last July. I was obviously a newbie, but was fortunate to get all the equipments fully sponsored by a good friend :')

We started our journey around 9.30 am, with our heavy backpacks, mostly with bottled waters and our food rations, towards Gua Azan where we will be staying our nights there.

Along the hike trail, we could see the Orang Asli's village, with dogs running around but we were so focused on getting to the first campsite before the targeted time.

Being so new to mountain climbing AND not physically prepared for it, I really took time to get use to the trail and the heavy pack. Sweating gloriously, I was super glad that the team didn't even once mention how I was slowing down them. I kinda forced myself not to be a burden to them but somehow got comfortable enough when they were able to wait up for me and making fun of me, which I don't mind as I realised this was part of the fun -- membahan budak baru :P

The trail got deeper and deeper, with bigger roots and trees to avoid and step on, thank god for the comfortable hiking shoes I wore.
It rained the night before so there trails were slippery and muddy, it was hard to hike up.
On the other hand,the mosquitoes seems to have a whale of time, but I was concerned more about the leeches and that sort.

We stopped several times for short breaks just to check on how others doing and I was really thankful that I was not the only one who is struggling to keep up.

Well, at least I didnt puke like some of other girls did,hihi.


Short breaks are like 5 minutes top, that's when you have to drink and at least take a bite of choc or biscuits for energy. Jangan mengada takde selera bagai time ni, you just can't be selfish towards yourself for your body will suffer later. So time ni, deep breath, recharge and off you go again!

One tip I learnt while climbing upwards was not to look up.
Even if you have to look up, don't look straight where you are going for you'll be psyched with the trail in front of you.
Kira untuk mengelakkan saiko diri yang jalan kat depan tu cam dah tinggi 90 darjah, with your backpack, your mind says go, but your body dah kecut takut tamau naik dah -- so avoid that.
Pandang kiri kanan, or what's best, pandang belakang and see how far you went.

Konfem puas hati :')

We hiked for nearly 3 hours when we came across a river.
Either we cross the river or climb across slippery bamboo shoots to get to the other side.

Obviously we the ladies just don't wanna get wet yet so we opted for the bamboo bridge -- without knowing how slippery it was!!

With backpacks and all, it was far more challenging but it was too late to turn back since we were the last few ones who havent cross over yet. Even when the guys were gentleman and all, we ladies just knew we had to do it ourselves.

But heh, we made it!!

The trail got a bit friendlier with us, it was just a straight path to the first campsite where we had our first lunch in the woods!
Maggi mee couldn't be any yummier up here, hihi.


Now that we've eaten and all, the senior ones briefed us on the next target which is straight to Gua Azan, another 4-5 hours away.
I was checking on my shoes when I realised it was split into two!
Dem!

Abang Man tied up my shoe, hoping it would last me till the cave.
The right side was showing signs too but it was bad enough, but I was worried what will I wear to hike down later on if both pair are giving ways now.

We continued our journey and it rained that we had to wear our raincoats, and it was mentally challenging as you could not see clearly what's in front of you.
The muddy trail just got to your ankle's deep and it slows you down every bit, with bigger trees and roots to avoid.

I was practically struggling and dragging my foot after the 7th hour as I thought it was too much. Siap timbul rasa menyesal and I began being upset with myself for not being fit and sort. Z took care of my backpack while Abang Man & Abang Roslaili forever giving morale support that I just had to continue whatever is left.

Berjalan pakai tongkat kayu helped me find balance in the steep trail, especially when you had to walk by the lereng-lereng gunung, and you find yourself clinging to every root in your way.

I learnt that every tree and roots in our path has it's significant use for us climbers to hold on and step on to, maka ada benarnya setiap kejadian Tuhan itu ada hikmahNya :')

Sampai Gua Azan, it was around 630pm where we washed ourselves di air terjun kecil, comel sangat but it was downhill from the cave.
Maka by the time dari tempat mandi ke gua semula dah berpeluh-peluh balik haha!
No pictures from my camera on this place as I was just too tired, nanti Along cuba carik from the others.
The water was icy cool but very refreshing, I even washed my hair there haha!

And then it was dinner time!

Kak Su, Aifaa & Kak Jim cooked us rice, fried chicken, omelets and even tom yam!
Since Nadia & I were among the latecomers, we were excused from cooking hihi.

Getting all comfy in the cave :')

Since the ladies did the cooking, the guys helped by washing the dishes and taking turns getting clean water for all of us.
Jokes and stories were shared, I seriously felt I knew them for years.
And I'm missing them this very moment!!

Since it was our first night, we tucked in early for the next day's activity, which is to climb up to the top!

Not all will be going since some just don't feel like climbing, and I was torn between whether I should or not.
Pikir punya pikir sampai tertidur, haha.

Above is room 302, as the boys called it.
One if the sleeping spots in the cave, mine was much more ke dalam, thank god for sleeping mats and sleeping bags, it was super cold throughout the night!

I even had to sapu minyak panas just to keep my legs warm up so that it wouldn't stay cramp for long but with the help of ponstant pills, I slept like a baby, hihi.

So that was our first day climbing up, spending the first night in Gua Azan.
Whether I manage to climb up to the top, you peeps have to stay in tune!!

I need to collect the pictures from others by then, and yeah, menukar plaster di kaki ku ini -_-"
Oh, and last day entry for 2009 coming right up, if not tomorrow haha!





Bet you didn't expect all this from the skinny muka berparut jerawat me kan?
Heh.