Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is a prominent mountain in South East Asia. Its height has been given as 4095 m (13,450 ft) ^* above sea level, or also 4101 m ^* from other sources. It is located in Kinabalu National Park on the Malaysian island of Borneo. The main peak of the mountain can be climbed by a person with a good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills. The mountain features a large variety of flora, including wild pitcher plants and orchids.

Climbing route

Climbers must be accompanied by guides at all times. The climb starts at the Kinabalu park headquarters at 1500 m (4900 ft). Accommodation is available inside the park or outside near the headquarters. From there, climbers proceed to the Timpohon gate at 1800 m (5900 ft), either by minibus or by walking, and then walk to the Laban Rata hut at 3300 m (10,800 ft). Most people accomplish this part of the climb in 3 to 6 hours. Since there are no roads, the supplies for the Laban Rata hut are carried by porters, mostly old women, who bring up to 30 kilograms of supplies on their backs. Hot food and beverages, hot showers and heated rooms are available at the hut. The last 800 m (2600 ft), from the Laban Rata hut at 3300 m to the summit at 4100 m, takes between 2 and 4 hours. The last part of the climb is on naked granite rock.

Given the high altitude, some people may suffer from altitude sickness and should return immediately to the bottom of the mountain, as breathing and any further movement becomes increasingly difficult.

A typical descent from the summit is quick but is often equally painful as the ascent: knee joints, ankle joints and toes tend to suffer as the climbers descend 3000 m (9850 ft) in five hours.

Tales

Some believe the name Kina-balu means "Chinese widow", from "China" and the Malay word "Balu", meaning "widow". An alternative derivation is from the Kadazan dusun phrase "Aki Nabalu" meeting "the revered place of the dead".

Biology

The mountain is famous for supporting a rich ecosystem of many endemic and very rare species of flora and fauna. The most well known are the pitcher plants and orchids, especially Nepenthes rajah.

Image:MtKinabalu.jpg|View from Mt. Kinabalu Image:Mount Kinabalu Clouds 1.jpg|Looking out to the horizon, en route to the hut as dusk approaches. Cloud formations are detailed and highly visible at this stage of the climb. Image:Mount Kinabalu35.jpg|Mount Kinabalu seen from Poring Hot Springs Image:Mount Kinabalu.jpg|Mount Kinabalu with Telecom station visible Image:Mount_kinabalu_lookingdown.jpg|Looking down from the plateau of Mt. Kinabalu Image:Mount_kinabalu_startingdown.jpg|Coming down from the peak of Mt. Kinabalu

External links

Mountains of Sabah | ASEAN Heritage Sites | World Heritage Sites in Malaysia | Hiking trails in Malaysia

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Climbing route

Tales

Biology

External links