The Great Outdoors

Bukit Kutu - 6th October

A local resident of Pertak

I haven't been writing blogs for some time now, mainly due to the fact that I have getting lazy. The lull was also because Alex KL Hiking was hiking in Indonesia and that takes another week. I did joined Kayee on one of his hikes in FRIM though. Mabel was not working on this Saturday and the hike organized this Saturday was a Bukit Kutu hike. Seems so many are hiking this wonderful hill, there was two organized in Facebook alone the past week. I don't usually missed hikes where my whole family is available to hike on the same day so I signed up for it, for all three of us.

It was 4.30am when I hopped out of bed. I couldn't get a wink since midnight yesterday. I just loitered around the house, staring at the PC and then woke Mabel up. Lilian was already up and we set off at 5.30am. The route to Kuala Kubu Bahru was becoming very familiar but I usually take the Rawang route. I drove very slowly as I anticipated that with 50 hikers and the number of cars, the hike won't usually start at the expected time. I stopped by at an Indian coffee shop in KKB and had a simple 'roti canai' bread and a mug of tea.

 Group Photo

 At 7.15am we started off to Kg.Pertak. Although I expected the hike to start late, I still don't want to be late at the appointed time. I reached Kg.Pertak at 7.25am and a few hikers were already there. Parking space near the bridge was quite full but we managed to get a space. Put on our hiking shoes and also ease ourselves, Satvin arrived with Sumi. After a while, the whole horde arrive and as usual Alex passed me the name tags. It was 8.00am. The hike started off!

River crossing, not hard but still needs to be careful.

Went over the bridge and along the 4WD trail. Follow on the trail leaving the left junction we came to the river crossing. Just before the crossing a group photo was taken and then the river crossing after taking off our shoes. There's was another smaller crossing after 100 meters to the left so we walk bare footed there. When I was a kid, I can run all over the village barefooted, even getting spiked by nails! Now, it was a torture getting over that distance, must be the condition of our body. It is said that you can pinpoint our weakness through the points in our sole. Seems my whole body organs is out of shape as every part pebbles spiked, it was painful!

I have done Kutu a few times and I know the trail fairly well but I am really out of shape. My breath was not regular and I was gasping for air all the time. By the time we started climbing, Kutu is all climbing! I was already panting. I am really out of shape and I am in trouble for this hike. Luckily for me, that is, Siva was also not feeling well due to flu! At lest someone was with me all the time and Satvin although capable of hiking anywhere she wants to, complains about tiredness. Almost reaching CP5, that's where the big boulder is, which I will label "The Hangar", I said to myself, "I am going to rest there and wait there". I am going no further!

Finally we reached the "Hangar" and sat there with the usual back markers. Alex was with us. I told them my intentions and Siva was with me. Satvin initially agreed too, then Alex and Sumi frowned. After the jokes and banter, we continued and there was no question of staying behind! At this stage, I was not actually thinking about the climb but rather about the later stages,  descending! At one stage, Siva was panting and he told Alex to go ahead and I quickly added, " Yes, go on, I will sweep". Satvin was doubtful, she remarked," they are up to something". Lilian was also quite out of form, after all she hikes with me all the time. So, we trudge on and on and on and....................... Then even Siva was out of our sight.........not at the back butin front, and with me with me was Lilian. Finally, we saw Alex and the rest (the backmarkers lah) waiting for us in CP8.

The "Hangar"

I made it to the top at 12.20pm and that's 4 hours 20 minutes hike which was 50 minutes more than usual for us on this trail. Anyway, we did managed to reach the top but my worries is descending. My whole body is aching and the peak was like a festival or sorts. As I heard there were groups of 50s and 30s and another 50s hiking up today. KLH itself is numbering in the 50s. There was not a proper place to rest. I didn't want to climb the boulder at the peak, knowing very well it's packed up there. Lilian went up there to check on Mabel and after a while she joined me with Mabel in tow behind. 

This is how we accumulate "chi" as Siva instructed, hahahah.

I hung on for a while and at 1.00pm, I suggested to Lilian that we descend first. I know I am going to be very slow as my knees are sore already. I don't want to slow down the group. "We can wait for them at the "Hangar", I said. She agreed and so three of us made our way down first. There were already many who had left at that time. Slowly we made our way down and within the hour we were already back at the "Hangar". There was a hiker there cooking with 2 stoves. I found a nice place to rest. I should have brought a mat today! I chatted with the elderly hiker and after 30 minutes, I bade goodbye and left. The bees was flitting all around me as I sat there as I was sweating like a downpour. I was stung by two of them. I think I am going to wait for Alex at the river crossing.

An hour from the car park, Michiko and her daughter caught up with us. They were fast! Tham was with them. We met many hikers and campers on their way up. Finally I heard a "Hooray!" from Mabel. That's a sign we made it back to the river. It was 4.15pm. Mabel was already wading across the river in her shoes but Lilian and me took it off. We rested on the rocks dipping our poor soles, not 'souls' into the cool water. I chatted with a mountain guide who reached there after a while. Then I put on my shoes and continued, I think I will wait for Alex at the car park, heheheh! I need to clean myself up.

Another 15 minutes, we crossed the two metal bridge and I was wiping myself with the cooling water. After a while waiting, my tummy was growling and was thirsting for cold water. I know, I know the thermal shock will do more harm but a cold sweet liquid sounded like a good idea now. I only had an apple since the hike started! After resting, the appetite returned and the hunger was harder to bear. I am looking like a creature of comfort now, huh? I think Alex would be fine with Siva, Sumi and Satvin. Chin was also not out yet. So, I left for KKB for a meal and then home.

By the time I reached home, it was already 7.15pm. How about that? I spent a whole daylight time today breaking my back and enduring hunger and thirst. Why? Maybe other hikers can tell me. It's getting to puzzling to me too!