Gunung Datuk - Run 1 (Y2014 Intro Trek)
BASIC INFORMATION
Trek: Y2014 Intro Trek Run 1
Date: 29 - 30 August 2014
Location: Gunung Datuk, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Elevation: 884m
Duration: 1D
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1
Transport to base of Gunung Datuk
Day Trek up Gunung Datuk
Day 2
Transport back to SG
Meeting time for all participants for collection of logs: 8am
We were due to depart from SMU by 8.30 that morning but was delayed by the transport provider due to some issues at the Singapore Checkpoint till around 9.30am. We had some time so we hobo-ed at the benches outside subway to kill time.
At around 9.30, the driver contacted me to load up along the road outside the national museum, as he didn’t know how to turn into the SIS pick up point. Thankfully, the rain had already stopped which made the change in pick-up location possible (or we would have been drenched!)
We cleared the customs really quickly and got back onto the vans that would bring us on a long ride to the base of Gunung Datuk.:)
Due to my oversight, I had underestimated the time we needed to reach the basecamp of Gunung Datuk (we travelled an hour more than expected), as a result, we were only able to reach the campsite at approximately 2.30pm.
After securing the campsite and the location to pitch our tents and trekking permits settled, we swiftly pitched our tents and packed our daypacks before proceeding on the trek. 2.45pm
Here is a picture the team took at the base before the start of the trek
Run 1!!
Before the trek, I had read trek logs and from the advice of the seniors who have gone before us that the trek was an easy trek that could be completed in 3 hours. Nothing had prepared us for what we were about to encounter this Trek.
The first half of the trek had the steepest incline while the second section was a lot gentler. In the first 10 minutes of the trek, it was trail was manageable although the paths were not clearly defined (it was pretty bare).
All a sudden, we were faced with a dead end of the path.
This was definitely not intuitive (trails don’t lead to dead ends, it is either a short path or longer detour). In front of us was a huge bush, with what seemed like a cave of branches and vines. With the help of Wei Bin (our resident alumni) and Zheng Da (Mr Adventurous), we went ahead to check out what was ahead of us. Bashing through thorny vines and the thick vegetation, we realized that the mess had been caused by a huge tree that fallen (which brought down many other trees down along with it). We were on the quest to search for the next segment of the trail. After spending a good 10-15minutes there, the team managed to bash through all the vegetation uphill back onto the path (kudos to everyone for going through all that!)
We continued with our trek (although by then most of us were feeling tired after getting through the vegetation).
Walk
Walk
Trek
Trek
Soon after, we saw our first checkpoint!
At that point in time, we shared our lunch food brought from home before we proceeding with the next segment of the trek.
We spent around 20 minutes at the peak after the climb up those shaky aluminum ladders, took lots of group pictures and chilled there
The view is really gorgeous and was definitely worth the trek up 850m
Clinton’s Group
At the Peak
SMUX Bikers’ First Trek (definitely not their last!)
Took another 20 minutes to get down the ladders and proceeded to descend to our basecamp.
Our pace during descend was a lot faster than ascend so as to avoid night trek (especially because we need to bash through the trees near the base), everyone persevered and we managed to reach before sunset!
After cool down, we managed to get some soft drinks and bottled water from the small provision shop near the basecamp before collecting our bags and proceeding on with the next best part of the trip – FIELD COOKING!!
Wei Bin’s Pork and Asparagus dish
Delifrance style sandwich by Tiong Kiat
Our Intro Trek Run 1 team was well blessed with many great cooks – not forgetting Mooris’s Aglio Olio ( the last time I had it was during my first intro trek)
After dinner, Ben Lim and I went to check out our tents back at the camp site ( we wanted to demarked the area with light sticks) only to realize that the campsite was infested with ants (Armies of ants!!!!!)
We told the group about the situation then decided to camp in the car park where we had our field cooking earlier. We slept in sleeping bags and ground sheets under the blanket of stars (okay not quite, it was cloudy so not many stars in sight)
I’m thankful for this bunch of people on the trek, as we weren’t extremely particular with were slept and easygoing!
Rise and shine at 6am, packed our tents from the campsite (which was still infested with ants), packed bags, washed up before the vans were arrived.
At 7am, only one of the two drivers who was due to meet us at the campsite turned up. Following our failed attempts to contact the missing driver, we accepted the fact that he would not be turning up and then got onto another van that happened to be at the basecamp for a ride back to Singapore.
The two vans then brought us to a Prata place along the way for breakfast.
Our Breakfast: Prata, Mee Goreng, Teh Tarik and many many moreeee!
After breakfast, we got onto our respective vans for our lonnnnng ride back to Singapore!
The drivers brought us to what seemed like a car workshop area (like AMK industrial park kind of place) to load everyone up on a 45 pax bus – we were all in a state of confusion until we realized what was happening. Apparently, one of the drivers got stopped by traffic police along the expressway for using his phone while driving and was not permitted to cross the checkpoint. As a result, we had to change our mode of transport to a bus.
Although there was a slight hiccup at the Singapore checkpoint due to some immigration issue, we were all cleared and reached Singapore safely!
Time that we reached SMU: 2.45pm
Takeaways from the trek:
Things don’t always go as planned, we need to adaptable to the many changes that come our way! 1. Never underestimate a trek, cause you never know what lies ahead. 2. Sleeping under the in the open air is an awesome idea (be sure to put the insect repellants too though)
Once again, I would like to thank everyone on this trip for being patient with me and also towards the unexpected hiccups that happened on this trip! I’m sincerely thankful that we reached back safely, and I hope you all enjoyed this trek!
Do join us on our upcoming Mid-term Trek and Winter Treks and Weekly Trek Runs!
Written by: Leah Kwang, Trek IC
