HI THE BIG DAY IS DRAWING NEAR – ARE YOU READY?

1…ARE YOU READY?
The time is drawing near and it will soon be here. Life is like this. When you need more time, it passes by very quickly. When you have a lot of time, it goes by so slowly. My friends, it is still not too late for you to put in some training these next few days. Do the step exercise at least 1,000 times a day (about 35 minutes). You will not regret putting in this extra effort.

2…THE LAST THREE DAYS BEFORE THE CLIMB
Whatever you do, for the last three days, please don’t increase your exercise. This is NOT cramping for your exams like many of you obviously do during your studies. You cannot make up for what you did not put in. You MUST wind down your exercise. In fact, the last three days (1-3 April) should see you doing only light exercises. So all those of you who have been walking Bukit Kiara like mad (like our two pretty doctors) can relax. Those of you who have not been walking like mad, you gonna sweat (boy o boy!)

3…STILL AFTER ALL THAT IS SAID AND DONE….
Still after all that is said and done, everyone will still need to exercise will-power and determination. It will be a long and lonely journey which each one will have to take. The lessons will be many.

For those who are really fit, the problem may come on the second day. You can be fit at level ground but altitude sickness can still ‘hit’ you. For those who are not really fit, you will be hit on your head(altitude sickness), on your legs (maybe cramps), on your stomach (maybe unwanted air) and on your backside (because you need to sit down many times)(hahahahaha!)

This is a journey that is unique only to you! Your experience will be like no one else. If you persist and say “I will do it even if I have to crawl, you will be there at the top!”

MY ROLE IS TO TRY & MAKE SURE EVERYONE REACHES THE OBJECTIVE!

4…IMPORTANT POINTS
We have climbed Mount Kinabalu many times & we will use that experience to help you succeed in your climb
We know the intricacies of organizing the climb and will take away much of the administrative things that have to be done so that you only focus on the climb itself
Safety is given paramount importance and risk is managed effectively. Every precaution like having more guides and people not having to carry things is arranged.
The whole climb is an exercise of “encouragement”. The climbers are ‘bonded’ into teams and they are encouraged to spur each other on. There is a huge sense of “camaraderie” and many end up as life-long friends after the climb
Clear guidelines are given to each climber on what to bring, what to wear, what to do, how to do it, etc. It takes the guessing out from each climber. More importantly, every climber is given information on what to expect.
Food is usually well-organized on the trip and effort is made to arrange meals at great places like the prawn farm.
You will be entertained on our climbs. There will be singing & sharing and each one is given song sheets to sing songs of motivation. Everyone will have a great time as they let their hair down and join in the fun.

6…REMEMBER YOUR COMMITMENT
Success in life is about commitment! It is about the inexplicable call to achieve greatness and goodness. No summit was ever reached without dedication and no goal was ever attained without difficulty. The true measurement of a man or a woman is when the odds are stacked heavily against him or her. This is the key that opens every door of excellence!

When you stand on the summit of the highest mountain in South-East Asia you will know that there are such occasions in your life which are highlights; where you have done something far beyond your normal capabilities and competencies. “Feel the wind in your face!”

Yours sincerely,

Ong Hock Siew




7…FINAL CLIMB DETAILS
You will need to pay for your own porter so don’t bring unnecessary stuff. Someone once brought 3 huge bottles of water for the porters to carry. They had to pay a huge amount. It is much cheaper to pay the “high” price of water at Laban Rata. A good raincoat is probably one of the most important things to take along.

You will be given plastic tags for your bags. Remember to put the tag nos on your bag at all times. This will allow us to handle the moving of the bags easily. Look below for other important notes


8…THINGS TO TAKE
In this list, the items to be taken for the other days besides the 3 days climb have not been included here. If snorkeling is to be done, the necessary swimming gear and clothes should also be packed.

A number of items mentioned here are optional (highlighted) and these items will be brought by the team leader. So where leader is marked in brackets, you can choose not to bring those items. There are also many suggested items and when you bring many of these things, you will just give it away at the end of the climb. So think carefully about what you should bring. All the second day’s items should be packed inside plastic bags and put into a soft bag (in case it rains) for the porter to carry. Pre-pack and organize all this well in KL

FIRST DAY’S ITEMS (SEE DRESS CODE BELOW)
Money for expenses

Water bottle (must)

Camera Jacket
Vitamins & fruits

Sweets & chocs

Films

Raincoat (must)
Toiletries

Deodorant

Watch

Sun-glasses
Spare plastic bags

Hat

SECOND & THIRD DAY’S ITEMS (PACK IN PLASTIC BAGS)
i)…For climb
Knee cap

Ankle guards

Gloves

Suntan lotion
Spare under garments

Spare longs

2 Woolen pullover

Windbreaker
Balaclava

Panadol

Suntan lotion

Raincoat

IMPORTANT NOTE: For those doing the 2-30 am climb, please make sure you are warm enough and the raincoat is essential

ii)…FOR PERSONAL USE & HYGIENE (PACK IN PLASTIC BAGS)
First-aid (leader)

Other drinks (option)

Breath freshener

Toothbrush
Toothpaste

Spare tissue

Spare specs Towel
Pen & paper (option)

Underwear (4)

T-shirts (3)

Socks (3)
Longs (2)

Spare Shorts (2)

Spare batteries Slippers



9…DRESS CODE (FOR 3 CLIMB DAYS)

DAY 1 OF CLIMB (which is Day 2 of trip)
Wear: Shorts & a good t-shirt (will sweat)
Carry: Raincoat (must bring), Wind-breaker, Small torchlight, Water bottle, Fruits, Munchies
Bring also a plastic bag to put stuff in case it rains.

DAY 2 OF CLIMB (which is Day 3 of trip)
Wear: Longs & a good t-shirt that won’t itch (will sweat), Windbreaker, Raincoat, Hat, Good gloves, Gardening gloves
Carry: Water bottle, Fruits, Munchies in a small bag or carry haversack)
Bring enough water as you will get thirsty, Suntan lotion is useful as sunburn can be strong

DAY 3 OF CLIMB (which is Day 4 of trip)
Wear: Shorts or longs (your choice), a good t-shirt & jacket (will sweat but can still be quite cold)
Carry: Raincoat (must bring), Wind-breaker & Water bottle (pack rest of things for porters)

10…CLIMB DESCRIPTION

“One of the most beautiful mountains in the world” & “a really fascinating climb” are some of the common descriptions used to comment on the climb up Mount Kinabalu. A better way perhaps to describe the climb is to perhaps say that “it is the most climbable difficult mountain in the world” because although it is high and relatively tough, any ordinary person who is quite fit and very determined can make it to the summit. At almost 4,093 meters or 13,430 feet, Mount Kinabalu is South-East Asia’s highest mountain. The sense of accomplishment as you scale Mount Kinabalu makes the climb extra special. Additionally, the natural wonders that ‘burst’ into sight as you climb across three vegetation types cut across terrain that contains almost half of the world’s flowering plants, more than 1,500 species of orchids, more than 400 species of butterflies (Great Britain has only about 50 species), more than 150 species of montane birds and 9 species of pitcher plants (& still counting), many different species of rhododendrons, oaks & other exotic vegetation makes the climb unique & unforgettable.

10.1…THE CLIMB COMMENCEMENT
The climb actually begins a long time before you arrive at Timpohon gate, the starting point. It begins when you make the decision to do the climb. That is when images will be conjectured in your mind and you will have many nights lying in bed wondering about the many descriptions of the climb made to you by people who would share with you their own perception of the climb.

Arriving at Timpohon gate is usually the culmination of many training sessions taken across usually 2 months and many training venues like FRIM, Tun Ismail park, Bukit Kiara Park and perhaps even Bukit Tinggi hills. The climb starts at Timpohon gate (6,000 feet) and it takes the climbers across about 4,800 feet of climbing up to Laban Rata, the mountain huts where the climbers sleep.. The distance of the climb is about 5.5 miles or 8.8 kilometers (one way)

The second day will take the climbers from 10,800 feet to the summit and this is where ladders and ropes are a common feature. There is no real climbing abilities in using the ropes as the ropes are meant more as ‘guide ropes’ and ‘assistance lines’. The sceneries at the massive rock-face on Mount Kinabalu are ‘out-of-this-world’ and truly magnificent. Standing at the summit with the wind blowing in your face is a “top-of-the-world feeling”. You will know that you have succeeded in achieving a big goal in your life and you will take this feeling with you.

10.2…THE STRAIN & THE DIFFICULTIES
Will there be difficulties? You bet! There will certainly be hardships along the way and difficulties that will require determination to overcome. Preparing the knees, ankles and legs well is a huge advantage. So is strengthening your lungs with aerobic exercises. Can someone with some pain in the knee do the climb? The answer is yes! Many who have pain in the knees and some joint problems have made the climb without too much difficulty. It is all about going at your own pace.
The greater problem in climbing Mount Kinabalu is the altitude sickness that will ‘hit’ most first time climbers above 10,000 feet. It will be a bother of some sort but it generally goes away after a while. It is all about the mind-set and those who are determined usually overcome it easily.

10.3…IN THE AFTERMATH…
For a few days, every muscle in your body will hurt and ache like mad & you will probably walk like a “crab in labour” but don’t worry. Most people will feel like that and it will go off in a few days. When the pain goes, you will have a fantastic ‘new’ set of lungs that will feel wonderful at least for a few weeks…..

REMEMBER “WINNERS NEVER QUIT, QUITTERS NEVER WIN!”

We will do it together!!

Ong Hock Siew