Rock Climbing, Near Taman Melawati

Yes! This lazy ass finally got his ass to exercise, intensive exercise.

Rock Climbing (and including some jungle tracking too) is painful. This is what I'll advise first timers, warm up!


How does the mountain look liked? Well, you can see it from here. Its actually on roughly the same ridge or group ridges as Genting Highland.




[ The mountain is far away... In the horizon...]





Preparation:

1. Breakfast. Make is as little as possible.

2. Water. At least 1 litter per mouth. 1.5 for those that talks a lot.

3. Anti-pain medication. Its gonna hurt, if you are new to vigorous exercise, or you have been sitting on your ass the whole time.

4. Sun-block (optional). Damn my skin itches! Must've roasted them golden brown...

5. Camera (any sort) or at least someone who has one, cause the view is great.


That's all with the preparation that I could think of.


Now for the fun stuff...


Have to wake up early to travel to KL, because this mountain is at Taman Melawati, somewhere around UTAR and KTAR area. The mountain's name is Bukit Batu Tabur.


If you wish to escape the heat from the afternoon sun (its damn hot and humid when you descend) when you get down, try to start your climb at 7.30.



Part I

The jungle track/steep slope rock ascend.

Its damn tiring when you start to climb the first part. 10 minutes in, I need to catch my breath. I start to feel the pain in my legs. They start to feel autonomous when I climb, but reluctant after my break.
This part of the steep climb (actually walk or tracking) is a bone breaker, when you'll think its just a jungle tracking, except its very tiring.




[The housing area that's at the foot of the mountain]


You'd have to suffer an hour or an hour and a half of this part of the climb. This hour only covers 30% of the climb up. If you've passed this part without any problems, the rest is the real rock climbing.


However, this one single of the climb is the most beautiful and rewarding because you can look at the beautiful scenery around, that is the KL city, Genting Highlands and a water dam. It is also where you can take photo of the beauty that is KL, but you soon get to see the haze that surrounds the city. (Too bad...)

A few pictures of the view that you can see...



[ Early in the climb, the water reservoir of the dam)




[KL city from the mountain]




[ The lonely hill ]




[ Genting is somewhere out there... My phone is not a N95, so I can't get a greater resolution ]







[ The lake (water reservoir) from higher up... ]



[ Again, the lake ]





After this part, you will reach the 30% mark of the climb up, which looks like a Narnia or Lord of the Rings scene (not the one of New Zealand though).




[ You can see Hobbits coming through...]





Part II

Starting here, the fun stuff begins.


Real rock climbing that needs you to grab on rocks, to move yourself upwards. Like those indoor rock climbing stuff.



[ After conquering a rock ]




[ That's obviously my shadow ]


Though, the indoor stuff is roughly 2 - 4 stories high, this is only 1 story high.
Its a good start for beginners, because there is no safety harness or anything. If you fall, you will have all those beautiful quartz and granite as your fall cushion.


The air is cool during this part, partly because its still in the morning (10 something) and the breeze is generous.

Part III


Climbing down rocks. (Still part of the ascend)

A rope, and hopefully, your legs are long enough. This part is scary, potentially deadly and damn fun!!!

Getting down is the hard part of any climb. This makes no difference.



[ Feel like Spider-man...]


Part IV.

The descend.


This part is the most laborious of the climb. You are not going down the roughly same path that is part rock, part quartz of the mountain. NO!!! You have to go down where there is MUD and TREES and BUSHES that STINGS when your legs rug against them. The climb down is steep. I guess its steeper than the 30% climb up. You'll fall on your ass due to the slippery mud and roots and some smooth rocks. This part take one and a half hour. By this time, your feet will hurt because the toes try their best to stop.
Can't we have a normal climb down that has rocks and ropes?? That will be fun!!!


Actually, the mountain opposite this one has that. Why can't we go to that one???


By now, you are dehydrated, fussy and careful about every muddy slip that you'll see someone "slide" down on their butts.

The air on this climb down is humid, hot and you'd wish for a river or waterfall to replenish yourself. Good luck finding those...



When you get down to your car, you'd wish you still had some water in your car. When you leave, you'll think of 100 plus or ICE KACANG!!! Luckily there is a hawker center a drive away.


Things to take note off this mountain.

Its made of quartz. Shinny to boot. But, most of it are 'stolen' by people that climbed it for the last 5 years or so.

There's no trash there. So DON"T throw any.
I think its because its not that famous and there's no admission fee and no council that takes claim of the mountain. (Meaning there is no public toilet at the foot of the mountain, so do your business somewhere near nature...)