Kinabalu 2016 Post Earthquake Climb
I’m back from Mt Kinabalu, having reached the summit for the 5th time on 24th May 2016. Unfortunately for me, the weather was awful for the two days. I walked up a cascade on my way to Laban Rata and on summit day, I had to battle freezing rain, strong winds and poor visibility on exposed rockface. The new route begins from behind Pendant Hut. Gunting Lagadan Hut and Panar Laban Hut have been destroyed by rockfall in the 2015 earthquake. The ruins of the huts present an eerie scene and the new route respectfully takes a detour around the old route, making it longer and steeper. The climb is now significantly more challenging. The boulders which form the summit have also been shaken up, leaving many yawning gaps. One consolation though, the views on the new route are better. Nevertheless, the trail of destruction left by the 2015 earthquake is still evident in the sheared rockfaces, large erratic boulders and rock piles.
The shaken mountain has calmed down. Kinabalu is now safe to climb. I’m living proof of that. Do at least pay the park HQ a visit and if you’re up to it, climb the mountain itself if you’re not required to clear any bureaucratic hurdles. My e-book, Climbing Kinabalu Comfortably has been completely rewritten. It is now available on Google Play.
Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee