Climbing Mount Kinabalu

[thengz]

Hey guys,

I'm going to Kota Kinabalu for work next week and if I have the time, I'm thinking of climbing Mount Kinabalu and take some shots of the sunrise.

Just wondering, have anyone done the same, and what are the things that a photographer or climber have to look out for?

Secondly, other than the wide angle lens and tripod for the sunrise shots, are there any other lenses/equipments worth bringing with me for the climb or should I keep my equipment to the minimal?

Lastly, how tough is the climb? ;p I'm not much of a sports person, other than roller blading maybe once every one or 2 weeks, I don't do much else. :bigeyes: Haven't done any preparation for the climb. Then again, not even sure if I have time to climb. :bsmilie:

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[changster]

i heard from a friend of mine who climbed kinabalu before that it is not something that should be attempted by folks who haven't been actively exercising for a while. not sure about your physical condition and i am no doctor, but i think you should get a check-up or something first. no point having your entire vacation ruined because the climb got too tough and you have to stop. i think it takes about a day, with a break halfway up, to scale kinabalu. correct me if i am wrong.

 

[thengz]

i heard from a friend of mine who climbed kinabalu before that it is not something that should be attempted by folks who haven't been actively exercising for a while. not sure about your physical condition and i am no doctor, but i think you should get a check-up or something first. no point having your entire vacation ruined because the climb got too tough and you have to stop. i think it takes about a day, with a break halfway up, to scale kinabalu. correct me if i am wrong.

Hehe, not a vacation for me but work. Going KK for work, hoping I can climb it if I have the time. Hmmm... Just for reference, I'm supposedly still near the prime of my life, just that I haven't been living it healthily. :bsmilie: 28 years old this year. PES C2L2 even before enlisting NS. ;p By right, I'm excuse running/marching/jumping. But they didn't say anything about climbing. :bigeyes: I have a somewhat dodgy left knee though, wondering if that would affect the climb. :dunno:

 

[jkuean]

actually mount kinabalu is considered a tourist mountain.. there is steps all the way till u reach a checkpoint about 3000+ metres up... then from there is slopes all the way to low summit( which is ironically the highest point of the mountain).. even then dun worry there would be ropes to guide u all the way up.. of course its is not for the faint hearted but as long as u are more or less fit.. it should be fine.. for now maybe climb the stairs instead of taking the lift if u stay in a flat for some simple training...

 

[jkuean]

that time i did not have my cam yet... only brought my family consumer camera.. which i really missed... cause all the way up, u should take ur time as the are alot of different types of vegetation on the way up... like every few hundred metres up u would see a change in scenery... from like tropical rain-forest to a like autumn kind of wooded areas( like those kind in Lord of the Rings mystic forest).. all happening while u are in the clouds or above it.... And when u reach the summit after sunrise.. u look down over the slope and u feel like ur on the top of the world.. A majestic sight to behold..

 

[jkuean]

went there about 3 years ago ..

 

[thengz]

actually mount kinabalu is considered a tourist mountain.. there is steps all the way till u reach a checkpoint about 3000+ metres up... then from there is slopes all the way to low summit( which is ironically the highest point of the mountain).. even then dun worry there would be ropes to guide u all the way up.. of course its is not for the faint hearted but as long as u are more or less fit.. it should be fine.. for now maybe climb the stairs instead of taking the lift if u stay in a flat for some simple training...

I climb the stairs everyday. ;p But only 2 floors. Haha...

Hmmm.... Now that you mentioned it, its going to get really misty up there. Not so recommended to change lens in the middle of the climb? Then again, I guess lots of ppl have done this before (changing lens in the mist), I suppose there won't be too severe a problem right? :think:

 

[changster]

don't think mist is a real problem. and it's probably not going to be dusty up there so that's one less worry.

 

[Fotophilic]

do some conditioning exercises starting from today (althou i think maybe a bit late). i find the PES status thing quite useless to gauge if someone is fit for anything. i used to have a man (last time) PES C (is there such a thing call C9? IIRC) but is the battalion competition swimmer, just an example.

get a gd pair (or at least have one) of trekking pole if u can. u can use it as a defensive weapon (from snakes, or whatever) and as a walking stick since u have a bit of problem walking properly.

minimum gear is of course. it is no fun bring all the barang barang up the hill and down the slope. i am the kind that travels light. so given the situation in my shoe, i will just bring a good compact camera. but for ur case, i guess its a different thing...

 

[Koelsch]

kenny sia's blog on mt kinabalu

i have plans to head there as well. read the comments in the blog for better detail. kennysia is a kiasu msian =P. but the comments there will give u a rough idea on what to really bring there. they do sell those walking sticks at the foot of the moutain. ( from what i've read )

c2l2 doesnt mean anything. as long as you think you can make it. nothing will stop you. but i can say its not a totally easy feat, you would have to put in some effort in climbing up on course. good luck.

please post pictures on the way up and details when you come back... if you're going ;p

 

[scud]

Hey guys,

I'm going to Kota Kinabalu for work next week and if I have the time, I'm thinking of climbing Mount Kinabalu and take some shots of the sunrise.

Just wondering, have anyone done the same, and what are the things that a photographer or climber have to look out for?

Secondly, other than the wide angle lens and tripod for the sunrise shots, are there any other lenses/equipments worth bringing with me for the climb or should I keep my equipment to the minimal?

Lastly, how tough is the climb? ;p I'm not much of a sports person, other than roller blading maybe once every one or 2 weeks, I don't do much else. :bigeyes: Haven't done any preparation for the climb. Then again, not even sure if I have time to climb. :bsmilie:

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

equipment:
wide angle / standard range will be useful, bring fully charged batt and keep it warmed in the bag (batt life will drop in cold weather). leave the tripod at home or at base of the mountain (where u can deposit your luggage). bring a torch light.

clothing:
u will definitely need a jacket, best if u have a winter jacket.
poncho is needed as it will rain somewhere on the way up & descending.
get a pair of hand glove, a leather will be good. it will keep your hand warm from the cold wind. dont get the type of glove used by those construction worker, that wont keep your hands dry and warm. the leather gloves will also provide better grip when climbing using rope. get a good pair of climbing shoe.

the climb:
u will start climbing ard 10am and reaching laban rata resthouse (3000+ meters above sea level) sometime between 4-6pm depending on your pace. u will then overnite at this rest house, and wake up ard 1-2am for your climb to summit. the climb to the summit is the most challenging, u wont know how steep until when u are abt to descend. u will reach the base of the mountain ard 4-6pm on the second day.

many ppl will take photos at the highest peak (called Low's Peak), so u might want to spend some time to get a good photo of yourself at the peak (with no crowd). we (3 of us) spent ard an hour at the peak, avoiding the crowd and to enjoy the view.

See here for photos from my last trip.

 

[skopio]

ditch the tripod, bring a beanbag or smth similar. with the winds up there your tripod how good also no use. i recommend camera in backpack. don't even think about using a sling.

 

[electron]

I personally know a friend who died of a heart attack after climbing Mount Kinabalu. He was 'only' 45 years old but he was a chain smoker. Other than that he looked pretty fit (no pot belly). The thing is he had climbed it 11 times before.

 

[thengz]

do some conditioning exercises starting from today (althou i think maybe a bit late). i find the PES status thing quite useless to gauge if someone is fit for anything. i used to have a man (last time) PES C (is there such a thing call C9? IIRC) but is the battalion competition swimmer, just an example.

get a gd pair (or at least have one) of trekking pole if u can. u can use it as a defensive weapon (from snakes, or whatever) and as a walking stick since u have a bit of problem walking properly.

minimum gear is of course. it is no fun bring all the barang barang up the hill and down the slope. i am the kind that travels light. so given the situation in my shoe, i will just bring a good compact camera. but for ur case, i guess its a different thing...

Haven't got a good compact camera any more! :bsmilie:

kenny sia's blog on mt kinabalu

i have plans to head there as well. read the comments in the blog for better detail. kennysia is a kiasu msian =P. but the comments there will give u a rough idea on what to really bring there. they do sell those walking sticks at the foot of the moutain. ( from what i've read )

c2l2 doesnt mean anything. as long as you think you can make it. nothing will stop you. but i can say its not a totally easy feat, you would have to put in some effort in climbing up on course. good luck.

please post pictures on the way up and details when you come back... if you're going ;p

Ah Kenny Sia! Been awhile since I read his blog. Thanks for the link!

equipment:
wide angle / standard range will be useful, bring fully charged batt and keep it warmed in the bag (batt life will drop in cold weather). leave the tripod at home or at base of the mountain (where u can deposit your luggage). bring a torch light.

clothing:
u will definitely need a jacket, best if u have a winter jacket.
poncho is needed as it will rain somewhere on the way up & descending.
get a pair of hand glove, a leather will be good. it will keep your hand warm from the cold wind. dont get the type of glove used by those construction worker, that wont keep your hands dry and warm. the leather gloves will also provide better grip when climbing using rope. get a good pair of climbing shoe.

the climb:
u will start climbing ard 10am and reaching laban rata resthouse (3000+ meters above sea level) sometime between 4-6pm depending on your pace. u will then overnite at this rest house, and wake up ard 1-2am for your climb to summit. the climb to the summit is the most challenging, u wont know how steep until when u are abt to descend. u will reach the base of the mountain ard 4-6pm on the second day.

many ppl will take photos at the highest peak (called Low's Peak), so u might want to spend some time to get a good photo of yourself at the peak (with no crowd). we (3 of us) spent ard an hour at the peak, avoiding the crowd and to enjoy the view.

See here for photos from my last trip.

Wow, some nice pictures you have there. Hopefully I'll have the chance to take some of them myself. Thanks for your numerous tips! Anyway, roughly what time should I expect to reach the peak? From the pictures you posted, it seems like you didn't get the chance to see the sunrise? :think:

ditch the tripod, bring a beanbag or smth similar. with the winds up there your tripod how good also no use. i recommend camera in backpack. don't even think about using a sling.

Sounds like an idea, bringing a beanbag. Maybe can get one of those screw on stuff i see them selling at Cathay. Yeah, the backpack thing is also one of my considerations. The only backpack I have is the Kata-103, which is way too huge for the climb. If I do bring it, I'll probably put all my barang barang in it. :think: If not, I was thinking of the Toploader I have and bringing a separate back pack for my personal stuff.

Anyway, in summary, seems like the common consensus is travel light, don't bother about the tripod (substitute with a bean bag instead). Guess I'll go with that for now....if I make the climb. ;p

 

[scud]

Wow, some nice pictures you have there. Hopefully I'll have the chance to take some of them myself. Thanks for your numerous tips! Anyway, roughly what time should I expect to reach the peak? From the pictures you posted, it seems like you didn't get the chance to see the sunrise? :think:

u will be able to reach (between 5-6am) before sunrise at the peak.
yup, never had the chance to see the sunrise, cloud stole the center stage, leaving the sun mostly hidden behind. :bheart:

btw, if u cant get to the peak, dont force yourself. u will feel tired easily when nearing to the peak as the oxygen level is thin.

 

[jkuean]

the sunrise if i remember correctly is about 5.30 - 6 ish.. and its takes about 2 hours to reach the summit.. so have to leave the rest house about 3 plus la...
anyway very important if u going to get a good pair of shoes... a must.. trekking shoes is best..
Also get a windbreaker and when u get gloves, get a water proof one..cause when u need it the most during the climb to the summit, the ropes are going to be frezzing cold and damp... or else u would regret big time.. i forgot to bring gloves and in the end got those kind of durian seller gloves... it got so wet and cold on the way up, i thought my hands are going to get frostbite...
And u would also need a headtorch for the summit climb cause its going to be quite dark and u would not have the hands to hold a torchlight when they are most of the time holding on to the ropes...
Also on the way up, u would see lots of shooting stars if the weather is good as most of the clouds are below u... so need not be in a rush and just admire the starry starry night...

 

[thengz]

u will be able to reach (between 5-6am) before sunrise at the peak.
yup, never had the chance to see the sunrise, cloud stole the center stage, leaving the sun mostly hidden behind. :bheart:

btw, if u cant get to the peak, dont force yourself. u will feel tired easily when nearing to the peak as the oxygen level is thin.

I don't suppose they sell those mini-oxygen tanks at KK? ;p

 

[thengz]

the sunrise if i remember correctly is about 5.30 - 6 ish.. and its takes about 2 hours to reach the summit.. so have to leave the rest house about 3 plus la...
anyway very important if u going to get a good pair of shoes... a must.. trekking shoes is best..
Also get a windbreaker and when u get gloves, get a water proof one..cause when u need it the most during the climb to the summit, the ropes are going to be frezzing cold and damp... or else u would regret big time.. i forgot to bring cloves and in the end got those kind of durian seller gloves... it got so wet and cold on the way up, i thought my hands are going to get frostbite...
And u would also need a headtorch for the summit climb cause its going to be quite dark and u would not have the hands to hold a torchlight when they are most of the time holding on to the ropes...
Also on the way up, u would see lots of shooting stars if the weather is good as most of the clouds are below u... so need not be in a rush and just admire the starry starry night...

Great tip, now I must dig out my winter gloves!

 

[amateur_photographer]

Hey guys,

I'm going to Kota Kinabalu for work next week and if I have the time, I'm thinking of climbing Mount Kinabalu and take some shots of the sunrise.

Just wondering, have anyone done the same, and what are the things that a photographer or climber have to look out for?

Secondly, other than the wide angle lens and tripod for the sunrise shots, are there any other lenses/equipments worth bringing with me for the climb or should I keep my equipment to the minimal?

Lastly, how tough is the climb? ;p I'm not much of a sports person, other than roller blading maybe once every one or 2 weeks, I don't do much else. :bigeyes: Haven't done any preparation for the climb. Then again, not even sure if I have time to climb. :bsmilie:

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

no need to bring tripod. It will just make unnecessary load.
As for the lenses, any wide angle lenses will do. The wider the merrier.

Tips:
- travel light. Dont worry about anything like when you climb another mountain, you got anything you need there (eg hot water, heated room, restaurant that even accept credit card)
- When summit attack, dont put on too heavy outfit. Yes it will be cold when you started to walk, but it wont be long until you feel warm. Chance is, after 30 mins walk up to the summit, you dont really need thick jacket anymore.
- Carry a water bottle! But just bring a small one. You can refill frequently along the way.
- dont waste time and money by taking the Mesilau route. Not much to see there. The transport cost differ so much to take you there.
- regarding the shoe, rather than wearing trekking shoes, i personally suggesting wearing normal sport shoes with thicker sole. Much lighter and more comfy then trekking boots. The terrain is quite forgiving.
- Most important advice: BOOK YOUR ROOM FIRST at KK office prior to your climbing. Don't waste time heading directly to the mountain only to find that you cannot climb. They won't allow you to climb if you do not have accomadation booked.

 

[WuffRuff]

Not to be a wet blanket... but when my friend called Laban Rata in Feb to make a booking, she was told that they are fully booked till August!!!
So I don't know if you can just try to book now and get it one week later. But you should try and please post here whether you are successful or not...
I may want to go in July...

Btw, is the guide/porter like just go there and get one? Need any advance booking?
Is the timing of the hike fixed to start at 10am?
Is it safe to go alone? Or can you join groups there?
Last qn... Does thermal underwear really help keep you warm?
And errr... where can I get these hiking gear - shoes, gloves, etc at budget price?