ROCK CLIMBERS GIVE THUMBS UP TO MOUNT KINABALU

Rock climbers give thumbs up to Mount Kinabalu

World renowned rock climbers experience the offerings of Mount Kinabalu …(from left to right) Daniel, James, Caroline and Yuji in a light mood.

KOTA KINABALU July 3, 2012: Mount Kinabalu is a perfect destination for rock climbers from all over the world.

According to Caroline Ciavaldini, winner of the Climbing World Cup in Chamonix in 2011, it would be the best destination for rock climbers, but unfortunately it is beyond the reach of many rock climbers.

“It is too difficult to come (here) … and people are dying to search for a new destination (to rock climb),” Caroline said.

TEKSI GUNUNG KINABALU

Pikul orang turun Gunung Kinabalu

HUJAN pada sebelah pagi menyebabkan persekitaran laluan menuruni Gunung Kinabalu itu agak basah dan licin. Bagi Gohimin Gohitung, ia bukan satu masalah besar. Langkahnya tetap tangkas, seakan-akan sudah mahir dengan selok-belok hutan dipterokarp bukit yang hidup subur di sekelilingnya.

Tumpuannya terarah terhadap sekumpulan pendaki di hadapannya yang berhempas pulas menuruni laluan berbatu dan berselirat dengan akar-akar kayu itu. Selaku ketua jurupandu arah sememangnya dia perlu berada pada kedudukan terakhir bagi memastikan kelancaran perjalanan itu dan tiada pendaki yang tercicir.

KUOTA MENDAKI GUNUNG KINABALU UNTUK KOMUNITI TEMPATAN BERBAKI 25%

Kuota mendaki tempatan berbaki 25 peratus

KUNDASANG Dec 5, 2011: Rakyat Sabah yang berhasrat mendaki Gunung Kinabalu namun berhadapan kekangan kewangan dinasihatkan agar menggunakan pakej pendaki tempatan yang sememangnya lebih murah.

Berbanding pakej biasa berharga lebih RM300, pakej pendaki tempatan memerlukan pendaki membayar hanya RM7 untuk insurans, RM80 bagi penginapan dan makan minum serta RM30 untuk permit mendaki.

MASIDI WARNED: “SORRY, THIS ONE IS NOT FOR PRIVATISATION GUYS! IT IS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF SABAH.”

Great plans in store for Mt Kinabalu — Masidi

KOTA KINABALU August 7, 2011: The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has great plans for Mount Kinabalu.

Its Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun disclosed this in his Facebook wall yesterday, explaining that the ministry through Sabah Parks was in the process of finalising the blueprint of adventure trail at the base of Mount Kinabalu and construction of a 40- to 50-bed hostel near Panar Laban to be operated by the park.

“The adventure trail is to provide a more challenging experience within the base of the mountain while providing a catalyst for the development of homestays at kampungs (villages) located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu.

JAPANESE ETCHES FOUR ROUTES FOR ROCK CLIMBERS ON KINABALU

Japanese etches four routes for rock climbers on Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU June 28, 2011: International free climber, 42-year-old Yuji Hirayama, has created four routes for rock climbers on Mount Kinabalu.

The routes, two of which are located on the Donkey’s West Ear, were named Mista Misty and Sunset Cafe, while the remaining two were on the Oyayubi peak.

Hirayama called the other two routes as ‘Kouhian do Sunduvan’ (translated ‘the return of the spirit’) and ‘Poingion Tawan’ (translated ‘living in the sky’).

“Mista Misty was named such because the route we took was always shrouded with mist, while Sunset Cafe derived its name from the sunrays that followed us throughout the route. It was very romantic,” he explained at a press conference yesterday.

The two other routes got their Dusunic names with the help of local porters who accompanied Hirayama in the climbs.

“I hung out with the locals a lot during my trip here and as a result, learned about the cultures and traditions of the people. I was told that the mountain is the place where the spirits of the dead return to, thus, the name ‘Kouhian do sunduvan’. The name ‘Poingion Tawan’ also came from them. I liked the names of the routes,” he said.

He described the route or line on the Oyayubi peak as beautiful, adding that he had fallen 80 meters down while attemping the route recently.

Had it not been for the safety rope attached to his body, that fall would have been fatal.

As a free climber, Hirayama uses his hands and legs to support and hoist himself up. However, he still fixed nettle pieces that were hooked on suitable surfaces of the granite walls and attached these to his safety rope. These safety features would become crucial just in case of a fall.

It was because of the fall that he was not able to complete his target for the ‘Kouhian do Sunduvan’ route and had promised to return in September for another attempt to accomplish his aim.

He also hoped to discover other routes around Mount Kinabalu.

His love affair with the mountain began several years ago after glancing at a photograph.

“Mount Kinabalu is very beautiful. It is like a picture and exudes a different character everytime,” he said.

“I hope to come here every year,” he said.

Hirayama arrived in Sabah on June 11 and returned to Japan yesterday.

Also present at the press conference was Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Tengku Zainal Adlin.

MT KINABALU MAKES IT TO GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

Mt Kinabalu makes it to Guinness World Records

By RUBEN SARIO

sario@thestar.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Mount Kinabalu has made it into the Guinness World Records after being certified as having the world’s highest via ferrata or “mountain top trail.”

On Tuesday, Sabah Parks deputy director Dr Jamili Nais was presented with the Guinness World Record certificate by Mountain Torq Sdn Bhd, the company that established the via ferrata trail on Mount Kinabalu.

The Guinness certificate was presented by Mountain Torq executive director Wilfred Tok and witnessed by Sabah Tourism chairman Datuk Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mansor.

Mountain Torq sales and marketing director Quek I-Gek said the highest of Mount Kinabalu’s “via ferrata” or “iron road” in Italian was at an altitude of 3,776m, nearly 500m higher than the second highest track at the Dolomites mountain in Italy.

The via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu is a route using a series of steel rungs, rails and cables embedded in the mountain’s Panar Laban rockface.

Spanning some 1.2km, the via ferrata was opened to public use on Dec 15, 2007 and since then more than 5,000 people have gone through the two tracks that include a 22m foot bridge suspended 3,600m above sea level.

Quek said Guinness World Records officials issued the certification of Mount Kinabalu’s via ferrata in July and it came after a six-month effort that included survey work done by the state Land and Survey Department.

She said though there were more than 300 via ferratas worldwide, the route on Mount Kinabalu was the only one in Asia.

Tengku Adlin said the Guinness certification would further establish Sabah among travellers especially those keen on adventure and eco-tourism.

“We are proud of the fact that Mount Kinabalu was Malaysia’s first World Heritage site.

“Now Malaysians particularly in Sabah will be proud to identify themselves with a Guinness World Record,” he added.

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KEMPUNAN MENDAKI GUNUNG KINABALU

"TWENTY YEARS OF CONCESSION IS TOO LONG,"