Gunung Chabang (15-16 Aug 2015)

Height: 1711 metres (5613 feet)
Difficulty: Consistently steep, 3 minor river crossings
Duration: Average 5.5 hours up, 4 hours down (overnight backpack)
Entrance Point: Kg. Pos Slim @ 4.570582, 101.279076

I was supposed to go to camping at Gunung Chabang last year for Geminids meteor show in 2014, but it didn't realize. However I managed to camp atop Bukit Kutu and managed to witness the meteors albeit with limited view. Fast forward to this year, I organized a camping trip to Gunung Chabang in preparation for the big Gunung Tahan hike in September.

We in a group of five depart from KL at about 5.30am and I took roughly about 2 hours 15 minutes to reach the parking place at Kg. Pos Slim. There were already few cars there and we were charged RM20 for the parking at the aborigine's place. We managed to prepared earlier and thus depart before the other groups.

Initially, we need to cross a stream and few minutes later we arrived at a small settlement with wooden traditional houses. We were lost here a bit since some children here showed us a different way compared to what we have in GPS. Anyway we followed the children's instruction and we saw some markers, so it must be correct. Eventually the trail merged back to the original trail in GPS.

Gunung Chabang is infamous for its steep trail and we were already tested early into the hike. It was kind of a consistent steepness with not much root and many leaves. So if rain comes, it will be a slide fest. Anyway we are very fortunate to have a pretty great weather on the whole trip. At the third river which is about slightly less than an hours away, there is a small waterfall. From then on, the trail becomes more unforgiving and even more steep.

With our heavy backpacks, it was really a torturous road up. It's been a while since I had done camping, dating back to Dec 2014 at Korbu Gayong. Our group also has two newbies in camping, so we just took it slow and steady. Few fallen trees along the way but we managed to find ways around. After about roughly 4 hours, we reached at Last Water Point where we had lunch and also refill our water. The water source is not big and the water is a bit light brownish, but it looks safe for drinking.

After we have revitalized, we continued for another half and hour before we reached the first false peak. There was a wide viewpoint, but seems the cloud is a bit thick that day. We can see another small peak in front so me and Vincent continued ahead. Just a few minutes into the trail going up, Vincent suddenly shouted 'Wasps! Run!'.

We ran but then unfortunately the trail in front is pretty steep, and that time the only thing I can remember is the picture that I sent to them before about wasp. I remember the advise 'stand the f**k still' and I literally did that, well actually I squatted still. Vincent tried to be calm but the wasps kept stinging, so he had to literally jumped on the super steep trail and ran off from the wasps. I was still hesitating for a while there before I picked up courage and also get up the steep place. Incredibly I didn't get any stings.

Vincent got 7 stings in total and he was in great pain. So he took the medication quickly and I was to warn the other three coming about the wasps. Eventually they arrived and they waited down there will Vincent resting and waiting for any allergy signs. After quite some time, he felt the pain but that was it. Janine was the one that came up and she also got one stung in the rear. Next is Meei Yunn which fortunately didn't get any stung. Edmund was the last and he got stung on the hands twice.

It was quite a moment for us, as we are not sure whether any of us are allergic or not. Luckily all seems to be doing fine, apart from just the feeling of pain. Sighing of relief, we continued onwards to the second false peak aka Puncak Botak in about half and hour. Upon reaching, we scouted around and found some nice shelter places for our two tents. After the tents are up, we prepared for a quick dayhike to the summit of Gunung Chabang which is supposedly one hour away.

We were quite fast as we reach the summit in just about half hour. The peak has a trig point/beirut and no view. We just took a rest here for a while before making ways back to our campsite. We cleaned ourselves and already preparing to cook for early dinner. When we started our dinner, the other groups already reached to Puncak Botak too and they camp at Puncak Botak and some vacant sheltered places. That night we played cards and also did some story telling and lame jokes. It was a fun night, and plus there were not many sandflies that night.

I couldn't sleep very well actually that night, and it gets quite cold in the middle of the night. I had a stomach ache too and need to went off in the darkness for some relieve. When I stepped out from the tent I heard something rushing away; must be rats. Basically the night is quite long and I'm not sure whether I slept. So turns and turns I did, forcing myself to sleep.

Next morning, we woke up about 7am and prepared breakfast. We have nothing to do on the morning so we took our sweet time. We went to look for view and we were in for a treat. First near our campsite, we can see a glorious view of Mount Korbu Gayong albeit a bit covered by small trees. Then we went off to Puncak Botak which has really spectacular view towards ranges and ranges of mountains. The other groups were lucky to have camped there although the ground are not so flat. After enjoying the view, we packed everything up and depart by 8.45am.

Going down will be a knee-breaking experience what not with the steepness. After we reached the wasp place, we are in for another adrenaline escape. First I went first, and I really jumped and practically feels like parkouring down the steep slopes. Luckily I didn't got any stings again. Vincent came next and he didn't get any too. However, Meei Yunn got one stung on the hand coming down. She were also stung on the hand, twice during Korbu Gayong expedition. And by past account, her hand did swell after a while. The other two, Janine and Edmund had to wait for the wasps nest to clear. Eventually the other group also has come down, and they brought them through an alternative path.

We met back at the Last Water Point and they mentioned the alternative path has some ribbon markings, but we didn't see it on our way down. Anyway we continued down a long and steep path, barely stopping until we reached the waterfall area. A quick meal and refreshment at the waterfall and pushed on out till we are back to the starting point at the settlement. We washed up near the multi-purpose hall, and continued to petrol station to refill on some liquid goodness. We didn't stopped anywhere for late lunch though and drove straight back to KL.