Gunung Irau (Y2014 MTT)

BASIC INFORMATION

Trek: Y2014 MTT

Date: 23 - 25 February 2014

Location: Gunung Irau, Perak, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Elevation: 2,110m

Duration: 2D1N

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1

Overnight transport to Cameron Highlands

Day 2

Day Trek up Gunung Irau

Overnight at base camp

Day 3

RnR

Transport back to SG

Woo hoo! The very first trek that the 8th exco planned- Gunung Irau @ Cameron Highlands! At 2030 on Sunday, exhausted looking people gathered around the SMUX room after a day of beach games at Waikiki’14. The area was buzzing with people as clinton (Our logs IC) distributed logistics, everyone mingling around to know their group mates and group leaders trying to call those who were late >( tsk tsk. By around 2100, we started the safety and OIC briefing.

Chan, our safety IC! Giving safety briefing!

Tsk tsk, not paying attention! (oh! ben came to support us despite not going for the trek! woo!)

After the briefing, we had some time to fill our bottles, pack, talk cock and our very own ms waikiki, Jing Ying brushing her teeth :’D

Ms waikiki looking like an auntie

Slowly, we proceed up to Subway to wait for our vans! They came on time at around 2145! Not bad! On time on time ;D

Group shot before we all set off!

Dedicated President who came to send us off!

And off we went on the longest van ride ever!! I was pretty much comatose the whole way to Cameron highlands, but the others look pretty excited for the trip

Isabel and Shyanne looking very excited

At around 0530, we reached our breakfast location before cameron. We were behind time as we were estimated to reach cameron at around 0600. Knowing that we cannot possibly reach the forestry department (where the guide awaits us) by 0730, we hurriedly called them to inform them of the delay. They were cool with it! Then, we continued our journey to cameron highlands.

Unexpectedly, we took VERY LONG to get to the forestry department. Instead of the estimated time of 0730, we reached at around 0930!! \oOo/ However our guide Jai and Gap (hope I didn’t spell their names wrongly ><) were really patient. They waited for us and welcomed us with really warm smiles. They even managed to negotiate with the van drivers to allow us to leave some of our things in the van! This really lightened our load.

Everyone repacking their bag to reduce bag weight

Then, at 0945, we were all prepared to set off on our 4WD!

Group 1 & 2

Group 3 & 4

After a 15min bumpy van ride, we finally reached the starting point of Gunung Irau! Here, we started off with some simple stretching, another safety briefing and a highly amusing exercise!

Stretching

MUST WATCH VIDEO!!! Special exercise by the guide to get us all hyped up and ready for the climb:

Group picture! doesn’t our trekking banner look awesome!! hahaha (must admit: we forgot to bring it )

Start of our climb!

We started at around 1030, almost 2 hours behind time!! So we really had to keep check of time as we trekked! We were surprised by the relatively dry area in Irau! During our research of the mountain, we saw numerous horrifying pictures of a highly muddy terrain! With mud that can go to as high as your knee! But we were lucky that it was a rather dry season there. It was a manageable climb as we walked through the forest. Unlike most treks which may consist of only up-slopes before the peak, Irau consists of many ups and downs.”What goes down must come up”, so every time we went down a super steep area, we were thinking about the coming back D:

Climbing up!

Going down

still looking energetic!

After around 2.5 hours of climbing, we managed to reach the false peak (Mini Irau! at 6666 ft!) We decided to have lunch here instead as there was more shade here. We met a couple of Caucasian guys who were resting there too!

Having lunch! All that nutella!! ahhhhhhh

Sheriel who brought ham, lettuce and tomatoes to make a sandwich!!!!

Selfie with the height! BUT CHONG LIP BLOCKED IT!!!!

At around 1300, we continue our climb towards the peak! One of the guides jai, decided to let us put our stuff at mini irau and he’d look after them! Hence we continued without any load!

The way ahead was slightly tougher with steeper uphills that required alot more climbing. It was exhausting! But we pushed on! Despite the tough climb, we were constantly mesmerised by the picturesque mossy forest. No wonder it is coined the “LOTR forest”. It was really pretty. We were truly appreciating the nature and surroundings of this trek rather than just pushing for the peak.

LOOK AT HOW PRETTY THE FOREST IS!!!

Hobbits in a hole!! :DD

The pictures may make it look very gloomy but being in the middle of it really takes your breath away. The cooling nature of cameron and the greenery surrounding us created a really calming environment. I just wanted to stand there, stone and just bathe in the calm environment. But, the trek has to go on! haha

After around another 1hr30mins climb, we managed to reach the peak at around 1415!

The view here was pretty amazing! we spent quite a bit of time taking pictures here

Nubbad right!!

Group Pic!

Shot dedicated to benedict who couldnt join us!

A retake of our Exco shot!

With the threat of a possible rain, we hurriedly left the peak to make our way back.

The way back was, for some reason, a lot harder than the ascend! D: It wasn’t just a descend, but numerous ups and downs as usual! All the large boulders that we climbed down before are now upwards instead! As I said, what goes down must come up! But as we climb, we never forgot to help one another along the way and enjoy the trek.

Shyanne with the pretty mossy forest! You see what i mean now!

Looking shag but trying to keep up the enthusiasm!

As we were returning, being in front, I heard the sound of the guide talking to someone else! I thought we were reaching the end! But unfortunately, we weren’t ): He was talking to a lady from USA who has lost her way in the woods! And it was around 1600 already! She tagged along with us and she was really grateful that she met us along the way cos she was totally going in the wrong direction. She shared some of her travelling stories with the guide and I and it was pretty interesting!

FINALLY! At around 1730, group 1 and 2 reached the pavilion!!!! Meaning that we were almost to the end of our trek (remember the stairs we saw earlier!)

Look at leah’s happy face! :DD

After around 15mins, group 3 and 4 finally reached the pavilion too!

From the pavilion, we slowly made our way through the stairs and returned to the starting point! Despite starting 2 hours behind schedule, we actually made it back earlier than expected! We ended the trek at around 1800! GOOD JOB GUYS!!!! NO NIGHT TREK

Everyone looking tired as we waited for the 4WD

Later that night, we went back to the campsite at Sugai Pauh where we quickly set up tents before it got dark! Most of us really underestimated the coldness at cameron highlands and didn’t bring enough clothes to warm ourselves! D: We took the most torturous bath in our entire life as we bathed in cold water amidst the super cold weather!! >< (I thought I’ve experienced the ultimate coldness when it snowed in lijiang, but apparently not!!!!

Look at people dying from the cold! hahah!

Thereafter, we had our masterchefs (except chandan’s group which cooked really weird things) who made awesome food! We all enjoyed our dinner

Weibin the master at work!

Thereafter, some of the guys even managed to set up a camp fire! Though it died out pretty quickly D:

After that, it was all OTOT where everyone dispersed to have HTHT, playing random games etc. etc.

The next day, we woke up early to pack up and prepared to go for our RnR around Cameron highlands! So many of us woke up with really bad muscleache! I could barely move ><. Arghhhh. Nonetheless, we visited numerous places around cameron highlands such as their strawberry farm, tea plantation and honey bee farm where everyone relaxed after a tough day of trek yesterday

Strawberries!!!

Tea Plantation!

Everyone chillaxing!

We left cameron highlands at around 1400 where we embarked on an even longer journey back to Johor! It was a SUPER SUPER torturous and long ride! Some peeps got really bad motion sickness ><. We drove a grand total of 6hours before reaching Taman Sentosa! Along the way, we slept, talked, watching chick flicks and weird movies and stoned…. But it was all worth it when we had our awesome seafood dinner at Taman Sentosa!

We reached Singapore at around 2200 with everyone safe and sound! (Phew! OIC panggang!) hahaha It was really heartening to see how everyone enjoyed the trek and the RnR. The trek through Gunung Irau was easy enough to allow everyone to interact and enjoy the view but tough enough for each individual to challenge themselves. Overall, everyone managed to make new friends, take time off from the hectic SMU lifestyle and enjoyed themselves! Hoorayyyy!! :DD