LimeTouch

I was awaken by the knocking on each and every one of our doors, it was time to get ready. I slipped on my windbreaker and headed down to wash up. It was there that I had a short chat with this sweet looking girl from Kuala Lumpur. Quite certainly a weird circumstance to get acquainted.

After yesterday’s freezing climb up to Pendant Hut, this was what I was geared in to attack the summit. 3 polo tees, a long sleeve shirt coupled with 2 wind breakers (One of them belonged to Pendant Hut and I rented it for RM10). Of course we could not set off without our handy headlights and crucial hand gloves.

It was a drag having to come down from Pendant Hut, this time I had the ropes for support. Just like yesterday night, it was pitch dark, the headlights is an absolute must. It is extremely important to know what you are stepping on, you for sure do not want to slip and fall.

The rain saw fit to continue from where it left off yesterday and blasted us with another downpour. It made it even colder than it already was. Up till now, we were just climbing upwards until we were presented with our first challenge.

A semi-vertical terrain was ahead, we were advised to hold onto the ropes and make our way up. The rain decided not to give us any mercy, it got heavier by the minute. That made climbing up even more dangerous than it usually was. Constantly worried about our friends’ safety, we would often make checks on them.

After a grueling climb, we finally made it to Sayat Sayat checkpoint. It was there when we realized other climbers were heading down. The weather was deemed too dangerous to climb. However, we decided to wait there, in hope of a smaller downpour. At that time I was already shivering from the freezing weather. Nicholas like a big brother to me, helped kept me warm by staying close to me, I really appreciate it.

Due to the weather, we were definitely not going to do Via Ferrata.

Downi was not going to take us to the summit as it was too dangerous. He could not guarantee our safety, there wasn’t any insurance. Moreever, the rain didn’t get smaller even for a second and with time, it was getting heavier. I did the next best possible thing, I prayed. I prayed for the rain to get smaller and for us to go home safely. At that moment, it felt as though God had warmed me himself.

Then, the girl from KL (I didn’t get her name) came over and gave me a tap.

Her: Hey, are you praying for the rain to stop?
Me: Yeah, you pray too?
Her: Yep.
Her: The rain is so heavy.
Me: Yeah, too dangerous to go up or down.
Her: I think we are going to go down.
*A pause of silence
There and then, I felt like holding her hand, I don’t know why. I guess I needed someone’s touch.
Her: You are not going down?
Me: No, I guess I would wait for the rain to stop.
That was the last I saw of her.

Before too long after her group had started descending, we were told that it was getting too dangerous to stay at Sayat Sayat checkpoint. It was going to be flooded and from the looks of things, the rain had no intention of stopping anytime soon. As reluctant as we were, being the only ones left at the checkpoint, we had no choice but to descend.

Perry and Zhen Bang made their way at the front while Darrell, Nicholas and I were a long shot behind them. It was very dangerous, no one dared to talk. The only time we would actually speak is to watch out for each other.

I was losing my hands to the cold, they were getting numb. I knew I could not stay up here for long, I had to get down. Afraid that I would let go of the ropes but I pressed on, squeezing my gloves to get the water out every few seconds to keep my hands alive.

I did slipped and fall but fortunately I held onto the rope with both my hands. But I landed badly on my back against the rocks. Thank God that I am still alive. Had the unfortunate happened, I would not be relating this incident to my readers.

I decided to push on ahead of Darrell and Nick for fear that I would totally lose any feeling in my hands; putting my life in huge jeopardy, not that it wasn’t already.

After managing to get onto some lower ground, I decided to take a picture of the devastation of Mother Nature. This was what I went through to get down from Sayat Sayat checkpoint. The rapids were very strong.

I finally made my way to Pendant Hut, took off my windbreakers and shirts, tucked into the sleeping bag and slept. We had a rest before getting up to grab some food before descending. I am sure Downi was pissed, we delayed so much of his time and he waited for us for at least a good 2 hours.

This was how we got down from Pendant Hut.

I was never in favor of hiring a porter to carry my backpack. Due to the back injury I suffered from the fall while descending from Sayat Sayat checkpoint, I did what many would not expect of me. I got Downi to carry my 8kg backpack at a price of RM20. I definitely did not want to aggravate my injury.

We were descending via the Timpohon route, to get a taste of it. What a breeze it turned out to be.

I wasn’t in the most enthusiastic of moods. While many would have conquered Mount Kinabalu and going down with an achievement on their hands, I went down, disappointed and without any drive.

If you were to keep up with Darrell during this trip, it would be not much of a hassle. But to keep my walking speed in check and slow down the entire time is extremely tiring. With slightly over 3km to go, I decided to move ahead first, it was more of a pain than comfort to be walking so slowly, at least for me.

I was nearing Timpohon Gate and it wasn’t far, less than 1km to go.

What was the first picture to be taken for many climbers turned out to be my last.

I regrouped with Darrell at Timpohon Gate and shortly after we saw our caretaker; Timmy. For some reason Downi had disappeared. After a relatively long wait, we came to know that he had met Zhen Bang, Perry and Nicholas along the way and walked with them. At least all of us are safe and sound, that is what is most important.

I shudder to think what would happen if any of them were lost.

Some souvenirs brought home.

This monochrome RM1 certificate sums it all. It was not meant to be. Mother Nature stood in our way. We were more than capable of reaching the summit given our fitness levels, and none of us had suffered from any signs of altitude sickness. We simply did not have the luck.

The only thing I could take back along with me was that I was able to descend along the rapids in the most dangerous of situations.

Let this be a challenge to myself in the near future: I will conquer Mount Kinabalu, I am looking at the second quarter of next year. Anyone out there game for it?