The Fun in Trekking

Actually, over the past two years of occasional trekking, I've grown to realise that ultimately, the fun in trekking is not the satisfaction in conquering mountains - but that company that you go with.

Trekking and camping together really bonds friends! It is like... you are "forced" to be with this bunch of friends together for the couple of days during the trek, "forced" to stay together, "forced" to eat together! In the process, you build up more tolerance and understanding for each other, and learn more about each other.

I've got to know some very wonderful friends since I've started trekking, and we really share crazy jokes whenever we meet up - its like... so fun! So much so, that we are now so reluctant to go trekking with other people!

Do you go trekking only with the people you know? Do you have a regular clique of friends who you go trekking with?

Getting back on training

Its been a couple of months since I've really trained up for any trek - and looking forward, if I want to accomplish my 2008 goal of conquering Kilimanjaro, I will probably need to spend time in 2007 to at least get past some of the tougher treks in the region like Gunung Tahan.

So, I'll be training for Gunung Tahan! Make it June/July 2007 - its still quite far away, but I think it is important to start training now (and keep training as part of my regular exercise)

Of course, the best way to train for a trek is to climb stairs. I personally live in a apartment flat, and its 12 stories high, so I have set myself to do some climbing every week! Yesterday, I started off with 3 rounds - only 36 stories, and I'm dead beat! This is no good!

Progressively, I shall work towards conquering my flat at least 10 times - 120 stories!

Where I want to go for 2007

As we approach the year end for 2006, its time to plan where I want my life to take me in 2007... and I mean "take me" physically!

As of now, some places I will be going are Abu Dhabi, and maybe Japan. I've been thinking of getting to the peak of Mount Fuji. Don't know if the schedule allows it though.

Frankly, I'm quite tired of the short treks for now - those less than three day treks to Berkelah, Lumbong (which seems to be closed now), and Datuk... somehow I don't really enjoy them as much anymore, and I think my recent trip to Datuk was more because of the friends who were going with me.

Maybe its because I am out of the Rovers committee for too long, and I've lost that momentum to trek. I'm still very very interested to go for longer treks thought - somehow I now prefer longer treks with less people, like group of 4 - 6 people would be best! In fact, I miss Kinabalu - and I want to get back up there again to enjoy the peak or Borneo again!

That said, I also need to get back on track with my fitness, its been a while since I made effort to exercise daily, with all the work setting in, its tough, but I will do my best to get started again... BEFORE 2007!

Its been ten full months!

Wow! Its been ten full months since I've posted up this blog. I've since migrated to my own domain at http://trekking.singaporeoutdoors.com/blog and also made a couple of treks - to Berkelah Waterfalls and Mount Kinabalu.

The point is... I'm still trekking! And I will continue to. In fact, I'm ready to set off to Gunung Datuk this coming December holidays, together with a couple of friends and the NUS Rovers gang.

Do visit me at my new (well, not new anymore) blog, and drop me a few comments!

Climbling Kilimanjaro - some initial research

I did some initial research on climbing Kilimanjaro yesterday, and here's what I found.

First of all, climbing Kilimanjaro is no joking matter. It is nothing like Mount Ophir or Gunung Stong that I have trekked. Therefore, preparation is crucial - physically and mentally!

Trekking in Kilimanjaro is normally conducted by operators, there are a couple of them if you just Google "Kilimanjaro" - and each trek normally consists of anything from 1 to 100 climbers. Since these operators are the ones who will determine how your trek is going to be, I guess it would be good to hunt around for a good operator!

There are a couple of predetermined routes to take, ranging from 5 day to 8 days. Normally, people go for the longer trails so that each day will not be so streneous. However I did read a site saying that you should go for shorter days if you are not a very "trekking" person, so that you don't have to bear with so many days of walking! The operators will provide porters, guides and assisntant guides, as well as cooks.

Like mentioned earlier, it is important to be physically and mentally prepared. All arrangements should be made with the operator before leaving for Tarzania. Proper equipment must be bought, training done, and a full medical checkup will be required. It is also important to select the right time of the eyar to trek, since it reduced the risk factor by a multitude of 10 times! Make sure there is rest between the flight and the climb, so that you can get sufficient rest if necessary before embarking on the journey, and you will be more mentally prepared.

Here are some excerpts from the website Africa Travel Resource:

• Having 2 nights rest between your flight and climb instead of 1 increases your chances of success by 5% estimate.
• Having 3 nights rest between your flight and climb instead of 1 increases your chances of success by 8% estimate.
• Being physically fit is a pre-condition of success, but does not reduce your chances of getting altitude sickness .
• If you are physically fit and have previous trekking experience then you chances of success may be as high as 90%.

Northern Pakistan and the Karakorum Silk Route

While I was running as an executive committee member in my adventure club (NUS Rovers), I was involved in organizing treks mainly to Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. For the further treks, we worked out an alliance with a company called Country Holidays, to organize the trek for us.

I remember there was one occasion where they were publicizing their treks, and one of the treks that they do is the 14 Day Karakorum Silk Route trek.

Actually, as listed in the itinerary, there is not much trekking – most of the days are spent driving. The time where you spend trekking is only from day 8 to day 12. here is an excerpt from the website about the trek:

From Gilgit, we drive about 4 hours to Jail, the starting point of your trek. Today is a easy trek for about 3 hours to Fairy meadow. Fairy meadow is set in alpine pastures on the northern slopes of Nanga Parbat (8125m) with breathtaking views of the snow-clad north face above. The Fairy Meadow, so named because of local legend that this beautiful alpine meadow is inhabited by fairies, is a wonderful setting from where exploration of Nanga Parbat is launched.

We spend the second day taking easy stroll through the meadows and pine forest to Beyal (about 3500m), where we base ourselves for the next 3 nights. On the third day, make a day excursion to Nanga Parbat Base Camp (3970m) for its stunning scenery. The forth day would be spent enjoying interesting walks around Fairy Meadow with commanding view. For the adventurous, you may attempt a non-technical climb to the summit of South Jalipur Peak at 5210m. On the last day, retrace your steps back to Jail where you drive to Chilas and overnight in Shangri-la Hotel or similar.

I think the really fascinating part of this trek is the scenery! From the session, I learnt that Northern Pakistan is a really mountainous - afterall, the world second tallest peak, K2 (8611 m), is located there! So, travelers get to enjoy the beautiful scenery even before they start trekking! However, the unfortunate thing for me (and people staying in Singapore or this area of the world) is the traveling cost... it's quite a bomb. The package will cost almost SDG$3000!

Gunung Rinjani, Lombok for SDG$709

Yesterday evening, HQ and Ivy talked to me again regarding the trekking trips in 2006. The two of them seem so excited go to so many places.

HQ posted me a website from PacWest listing the itinerary for a 6D5N Gunung Rinjani trek! Just click on the link and look at that beautiful crater lake! Simply irresistible man!

I was talking to one of my trekking mates when I climbed Gunung Belumut with SAC a few weeks ago - and she said she just conquered Rinjani the week before (4D3N of trekking). I didn't know that the whole trip including the airfare from Singapore to Lombok would cost only over SDG$700! I thought it was going to go into the thousands!

The itinerary we had in mind for Mount Kinabalu next year will cost also about SDG$700, but it consists of other things - more like an "exploring Sabah trip", because the whole trip is 8D7N, but only 2 nights would be spend on Mount Kinabalu itself. We will be doing other things like enjoying in the Poring hot springs, and white water rafting! Looking forward to it!