Ulu Semangkok and Sepinggan!

From Left ; front row, Ima, Lilian, Anne, Nurul's guest, Patrick

back row, KT.Wong, Chin, Victor, Kim, Bella, Alana, Farisha and Mr. Chul

The thought of not making it to the peak last month was still hovering at the back of my mind and since the ankle was doing OK the on another simpler hike was not that bad, I decided to give US (Ulu Semangkok) another go. I could do it together with Lilian or I can announce it in KL Meeting. I did the latter.

Although 21 hikers RSVPed a few can't make it but we still have 16 hikers. I met them at the Rawang toll booth and those that attended was on time. I waited for another 15 minutes to see if there are others. We convoyed in 5 cars before Ima and Kim joined in from Serendah. The drive was pleasant as there was not much traffic and by 7.20 am we were at the trail head at Gap Resthouse.We parked our cars at the dilapidated car park and put on our gears.

                                   The car park with Gap Resthouse at the rear.

Chin KF arrived from Raub a short while later and so did Victor. Raymond and Chee was not here yet. They went for breakfast at KKB and they should have been here first. It was already 8.00am and upon ushering by other hikers, we started the hike and proceeded to the trail head which was just beside the road. As usual Bella took the lead and I was the last to start. 10 minutes into the hike Raymond called and I directed him to the trail head but he can't locate it. I told him to hang on while I made my back to the car park. I told Lilian to stay put and I went down. The trail head is actually a small opening on the side of the road, quite hidden actually. 20 minutes later we rejoined Lilian and proceeded. The front group was already 25 minutes ahead by now.

                                                     The hidden trail head.

Problem with myself is, if I hike on a fast pace, I loose steam very fast. We were trying to catch up the front group. Although Gunong Gap is 1183 meters and we started the hike at approximately 850 meters, difference is slightly less than 400 meters, the distance is only one kilometer. That's steep and the ancient Bedford bus engine inside me can't really run fast. I overheated at the Gap! It took us just 40 minutes to reach Gap! The rest were already on the way to the second peak. Chee managed to rejoin the first pack.

                                                    Climb, climb, climb!

The second leg of the hike was actually hiking on the ridge between two mountains. There was a few slopes and also gulleys but it was not that hard. Thing is the engine has already overheated and the improper sleep the past few weeks due to new enviroment ( I moved house ) starts to take toll on me and Lilian. Raymond was already far ahead. Me and Lilian finally reached the point where our first hike ended. There's a gulley here where you have to descend before ascending the last slope. I will call this gully "Bang Gulley". Remind me to make a sign board the next time we hike there again.

Just before reaching the gulley, there were 'monkey hollering' between Anne and Lilian and we know we were near. Anne also gave Lilian a blood crunching scream when she reached the peak. The others will be wondering what has happened but for myself, I know it's usual.Ha,ha,ha. We made it to the peak at 11.15 am and Anne said I was 15 minutes early. She expected me to reach at 11.30 am. To me that's a compliment. It started to drizzle and we were all huddling under the 'beirut' and after photo session I suggested that we descend back to the clearing (there was a small clearing on the way up).There were also lots of bees attracted to our sweat.

                                                            The summit !

The cycle starts again, by this time, my ankle pain recurred again. Seems it doesn't go away. I sprained it when I was doing 'Rajah' and I thought it healed. The pain only hibernate. It seems the descend was even more taxing. With my right ankle in pain, the load on the other foot was also paining. Luckily I brought my hiking pole. At least that helps a bit. When Lilian and me reached the 'clearing' Raymond, Chee was cooking their noodles. Patrick was lying down. Ima was sitting there with Kim and Bella was fidgetting with her bag. The rest was already on the way back as they were hungry and they did not bring lunch.

I can't really eat eventhough I was hungry and like an overheated engine, I was gulping water. My radiator was bottomless! I even took Bella's water. When they had finished lunch, if we can call it lunch, ha,ha,ha.I was bloating! We descended and somewhere between Gap and the car park I overheated again! My legs in pain, stomach bloated but still craves for water. My mind was already hallucinating about sweet soda, iced cooled soda! The tree trunks looked like Coke bottle!

The pain made me very careful on the slippery and steep slopes and this really made me and Lilian slow. The condition we were in was a factor. Usually Lilian was faster and fitter than I am but this trip she was like me too, lethargic. I think we were not in our best form. This made me think about the coming 4 days Benum hike. I was thinking of cancelling it. Since I already can contact Chin KF who stays in Raub, we can arrange Benum anytime.

By the time I reached the car park, most has left and Raymond, Chee, Bella, Lilian and myself made our way to KKB for lunch, real lunch as they were all famished. We hunt around KKB and saw one particular coffee shop with lots of patrons. They serve noodles but there was also ready fried noodles. We sat and ate there for past an hour and the cooling herbal tea was a relieve for me, at least! Anne called me informing me she was safe at home and also the jam at PLUS and also enquiring about her car pooler. I told her everything was OK as she went back with Nurul.

                                       See anne, already kangkang at the base!

All in all, I barely spoke to the hikers as we only spent 15 minutes on the peak and also 15 minutes at the car park and even that, we were all busy preparing for the hike. Partly my fault too as I was slow and spent  most of the time on the trail, lagging behind, ha,ha,ha. So, fellow hikers although there was not much  interaction, this can actually be the start of better hikes and camping trips, since the ice has broke!

After the meal, we drove back to KL and I just drove slowly and even stopping in Serendah for MORE water. Sorry we can't replace the radiator as it is already out of production.

Klang Gate Dam 'easy peasy' trail.

                                                 We didn't look tired at all.

I was in the midst of moving house and the tedious and back breaking task was just boring and also argument causing between me and Lilian. In between that, I did mentioned to some Low Yat forummers that I can guide them on a hike suitable for beginners. The easiest was Klang Gate Dam trail. The date set was 13th May.......... lucky it was not a Friday. Ha,ha.

The appointed time was 7.30 am and like clockwork they arrived just before 7.30 am. After some introductions we then drove into Kemensah village. We reached the same car park that I parked my car before and after changing into my hiking shoes, we shot off! The other two hikers namely Patrick and Jeffrey was new to hiking and I found out that there was no worries as they are fit as well. Jeffrey was the same sized as I am and at last, I can get a buddy on my hikes, ha,ha,ha.

                                  Jeffrey, my new buddy, same pace, same size.

After a while, I noticed that there was mangosteen trees and they were bearing fruits. I did not encountered any such trees the last time. I think I missed a fork! Slowly but surely as we hiked a familiar landmark came into view. The cross junction where we took a breather the last time. We came from the 3 o'clock direction the last time and this time we were coming from the 6 o'clock direction. No wonder I don't feel tired at all, ha,ha. It was a shorter route!

                                                Lots of mangosteen trees.

Behind us was four other hikers that folowed us as they were going to Tabor Extreme and they did know the direction. Problem was, neither do I. I can only guess from the huge boulder jutting out from the peak must be it and told them which direction it should be. I told them I was hiking to the lake only. They went off but after a while they rejoined us because they can't find the way. 

                           So serene and calm. Wish I have a bungalow beside this!

We reached the dam after a while and I noticed there was many fallen trees. There must be a lightning storm last night as I counted not less than 4 or 5 fallen trees. We took a 'five' at the lake and then proceeded to move out. Just a few steps from the cross junction, I saw a familiar group hiking towards me. Lilian gave a shriek, " Hello! " It was Azmie Burger with his entourage of 3 beauties. We stopped and chatted for a while. You know lah! The conversation between hikers. What else? Mountains and hills. " I have been this mountain lah, he's been that mountain lah, this one easy lah, that one hard lah!" , was the usual banter. We then bade goodbye and carried on.

                                                       Lightning Struck!

At the landmark junction the other group was resting and one of them lost his soles, ha,ha. Seems to see a lot of that lately. The last one was in Gunong Rajah lost by Ricardo. Many seems to under estimate the importance of a good pair of shoes. Even 'Adidas Kampong' is functional because of it's one piece construction, a 'monocoque', ha,ha. Nothing to fall off!

                                                     Which one is me???

I took the same route to get back to the car park, past a scenic route and also to hike higher and the highest point recorded was 265 meters asl. I then took the same smaller single trail passing an orchard post and also a stream or a creek. Durians were bearing fruits there. Must time myself to visit again during the durian fall. We came to the tarred road after some downhill hiking and the ground was wet. There were leeches, many of it. I think it was the rain last night.

After we reached the car park, the other group was already gone. They took the same way as they hiked up. I wonder what preparation they did to attempt Tabor Extreme. With the wrong shoes and without an experienced hiker who have been there. That's dangerous!

I checked with Jeffrey to see if he's OK and he okayed. Patrick was fitter so it's not a problem for him and he wanted to try Ulu Semangkok after I described the hill to him during our 'yum cha' at the MacDonalds in Jalan Ulu Klang. So, our next date is 20th May 2012 in Ulu Semangkok.