Gunung Suku (Y2011 MTT)
BASIC INFORMATION
Trek: Y2011 MTT
Date: 1-4 October 2011
Location: Gunung Suku, Perak (Cameron Highlands), Malaysia
Elevation: 1,797m
Duration: 3D2N
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1
Overnight Transport to Medang GoPeng Bus Terminal
Day 2
Transport to starting point (Simpang Pulai Highway)
Trek to Gunung Suku campsite
Day 3
Trek to Gunung Suku Summit
Descend
Transport back to SG
Day 4
Transport back to SG
Day 0
It was the Saturday before Week 8 (aka recess week) started. Our group of trekkers for Gunung Suku 2011 gathered at 7pm at Kranji MRT, all in high spirits for their journey ahead. This group included 4 exchange students from China who had signed up for an experience that was a little out of their comfort zone. A group of SMUX seniors also came to send us off, which was very touching.
Our 21 participants! (Seumas hadn’t met up with us yet)
After bidding farewell to our friends, we set off for City Square in JB. Due to smooth vehicle and human traffic, we reached City Square at around 8.15pm. After which, trekkers went for their bonding dinner session with their respective groups and also to purchase last-minute supplies for the trek.
At 10.30pm, the entire group was gathered on the second floor of McDonald’s to await the arrival of the bus. By then, it could be seen that each group had already become more closely-knit and members were enjoying each other’s company. Our bus driver, Shariff soon arrived at 11pm with his 45-seater (WHOA) bus and picked us up. It was going to be at least 7-8 hours on the road before we would reach our next destination, Medan Gopeng Bas Terminal and given that it was going to be a rather challenging trek, most of the participants decided to turn in early in the comfort of their seats. The more hyper ones actually stayed up and gossiped at the back of the bus (contents shall not be revealed because whatever was said stays in trek ^^)
Day 1
We reached Medan Gopeng Bas Terminal at 6 am, before sunrise. We had close to 2 hours before the guides linked up with us, and so most of us washed up at the Bas Terminal before heading for some nice Ipoh breakfast. The few of us visited this canteen behind the McDonald’s for fresh, hand-made wanton noodles which was really awesome and value for money.
Our guides drove over in their SUV promptly at 8am and we headed off to our starting point, which was somewhere in the middle of Simpang Pulai Highway. On the bus there, we changed into comfortable trekking gear to prepare for the trek and after some winding roads where we saw many bikers along the way, we reached the foot of Gunung Suku at around 9am. Warm-up was conducted by the Safety I/C Swee Chen and our head guide, Shahlan, briefed the group about what to expect from the trek and introduced us to 3 other guides (K, Din and Arl Ouss).
Foot of Suku along the highway, looking seemingly harmless
And so at 9.30am, we moved off to conquer Gunung Suku, not knowing that the trek would be pretty daunting at certain points. Each group had a guide attached to it and this was really helpful as they provided lots of tips (sometimes even using their body parts as support) that helped us with overcoming the trek which was laden with obstacles throughout. Everyone was also really helpful to each other by stopping to help whoever was in need of aid and also communicating to each other of the lurking dangers.
At about 11.30am, our trail was re-routed at a point before our lunch/last water-point, due to a gigantic tree trunk that had fallen because of the rain. The make-shift trail was via a slope which was muddy, slippery. Everyone had to hang on to the tree roots that were available for dear life. The guides were very courageous and helped to ease this life-endangering obstacle by stacking huge leaves and layering soil that was more solid so that we had better footing to traverse across. I was extremely relieved to see that everyone made it past safely without any accident. believe that this was the most challenging obstacle that we encountered during the trek….yet.
We reached our lunch + last water-point at 1.15pm. We were all rather tired at that point of time and it was a much-needed respite. The stream that was flowing down was cooling and every group diligently filled up on water supplies because it became rather apparent that water would be scarce. We had a quick lunch of takeaway McDonalds and stuff like mixed nuts really helped to refuel us for the remaining ascent.
And so we moved off again for the remaining journey at 1.50pm. Our next obstacle was actually right beside us, which was this slope/cliff that is almost 90 degrees. With some whining and grunting, we managed to make our way up slowly but surely.
After this second ordeal, the rest of the ascent was more leisurely and less taxing on our strength. As we made our way up, we could start to see the mist around the mountain which was a sign that we were at a rather high altitude. The air also smelt very natural and refreshing, perhaps because it is unpolluted. We were nearing the campsite at around 3.30pm when it started to rain, albeit slightly. This motivated us to want to complete the trek up as quickly as possible before the rain got heavier.
So finally after a 7 hour trek up, we reached the campsite of Gunung Suku. We only had a short moment of exhilaration because the rain started beating down on us heavily. Most of us were really unprepared and got very wet. Without hesitation, our manly Team Manager Zephan started to facilitate the setting up of the tarps and groundsheets. With help from the guides and everyone’s cooperation, we managed to do up our make-shift campsite.
Everyone’s spirit was dampened because we were all cold and wet and huddling with each other for warmth. “This is the worst campsite ever” (Debbie Berries, 2011) To make everyone feel better, we started boiling hot water/Milo/Green Tea to keep ourselves warm and also changed out into dry clothes. The decision was made to start cooking earlier because we couldn’t do much sight-seeing yet at the campsite with the heavy rain.
Our innate “Master Chefs” appeared as we all took turns cooking for one another. Smiles could be seen on participants’ faces as we tasted each other’s cooking and filled up our tummies with fries, nuggets and wanton noodles to name a few dishes.
“Tonight with Zephan” was postponed as the rain beat down on us again soon after. However, it was replaced by HTHT session with our respective groups. My group actually huddled around the lamp canister to keep ourselves warm and read out “Alice in Wonderland” on Pamela’s Kindle. We eventually dozed off in our sleeping bags and it was to be an arduous night because the campsite was very small and we were all confined in a limited space in uncomfortable positions so as not to get drenched by the rain. The campsite can most likely hold up to a maximum of 15 people. I woke up once in awhile throughout the night to the strong winds constantly beating against the tarp. Fortunately, it did not rain, or we would have been soaked again.
Day 2
We woke up at around 7.30am and started cooking hot milo and beehoon for breakfast. At around 8.30am, a huge hoo-ha was caused when one of the canisters exploded into huge flames. Eugene, being very experienced, asked everyone to stay away from it and bravely poked the canister out into the open. The fire raged on and we even tried to cover the flaming canister with a mess tin. Everyone was really just stunned by this occurrence and sat there watching while a few brave souls continued trying to put out the flames in case it caused a forest fire. Eventually, we decided to let the fire burn out by itself and it would be doused by the rainwater anyway.
The picture above is evidence of how epic it was. The rain subsided for awhile which allowed for these beautiful photos of the sunrise to be taken.
After warming ourselves up, we started to pack up our stuff and clean up the campsite. We even managed to catch an entire rainbow from the campsite and it was really amazing.
We liaised with some of our guides who would bring us up to the peak of Gunung Suku at around 9.30am. Armed with cameras and our water bottles, we made our way through terrain that was very unique and it felt like a garden in fairyland. The moss and plants around us were very fresh and soft to the touch.
We finally summitted at 10am! Cheers were heard all around and everyone started snapping photos of the really beautiful scenery from the top for remembrance’s sake. It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words and below are some of the photos.
After a rather long cam-whoring session, we made our way to the campsite to collect our trek bags and our descent started at 11am. The guides decided to move at a faster pace because they believed that faster movement downward would be less straining on our stamina. As most of us did not have proper trekking shoes, this increase in pace resulted in some slips due to the muddy terrain. However, none of the falls were serious but rather, were just normal. As we approached the lunch point, most of us had our ears peeled to pick out the sound of the stream and probably were dreading going down the almost vertical cliff. My group’s guide, Din let me go in front of him and I actually chose the wrong route to descend to the lunch point. So I pretty much slid down for most of it and he laughed at me afterwards. -.- (and hence I was known as the King of Sliding by the guides)
So at around 2pm, we reached our lunch point quite a fair bit behind schedule. Lunch was quick because we were looking forward to RnR and if we did not hurry, we would not be able to visit the plantations and strawberry fields. Next up was our favourite slope on Day 1. We were given the option of two routes but the guides decided to go by the way we came up by. I knew that any wrong step could mean a long fall down for me and so on my way across, I had to hold on to whatever that I could. Unfortunately, I placed my hand on a nest full of ants (unknowingly) and it was a searing experience for me as they got into my shirt and pants. The path taken by the front few was deemed to be too precarious and so another path was made out at a slightly higher level above the initial one.
Debbie Berries hanging on for dear life
After having another near-death experience, the rest of the journey downwards was less risky even though the muddy terrain still persisted. After countless hours of “ooomphs” and “ahhhs” as we trekked/slid down the remaining path, our entire team managed to reach the foot of Suku at close to 5.30pm. Everyone was clearly relieved that they had made it and grateful for all the help the guides had rendered us.
All smiles at the foot
After cleaning ourselves up a little, we boarded our cosy bus to head towards Cameron Highlands. The initial plan was to shower but it was around 8pm when we reached Cameron Highlands and so most free showering facilities were closed already. We decided to just go to a public toilet to change into clean clothes at least and then head for our steamboat dinner.
With our stomachs growling like mad, we finally reached the steamboat dinner place at around 9pm and it was really shiok to have something hot when the surroundings were cool. The price was also very reasonable and definitely cheaper than steamboats back in Singapore. We ate to our heart’s content for about 2 hours before heading back to Singapore.
I was very happy to hear that the participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite having to suffer a little at certain parts of the trek. Perhaps, it is only through some hardship that we learn to appreciate the comfortable environment that we have always been residing in. It was also my first real trek and I had helped to organise it with a team of capable people and advisers, and so this was definitely a memorable one for me.
Written by: Tan Keng Wei, Trek IC
