Activities Report Mar 2000 Newsletter
SUCKING WATER FROM THE MOSSY FOREST
(Trekking up Yong Belar 6 - 8 November 1999) by Hooi Peng Kwan
This trip to Gunong Yong Belar was organised
by the MNS Perak Branch, namely its chairman Cheaw Hon Ming and Ong Boo
Kuan (Moon). I was the only one from the Penang Branch who turned up and
it was our chairman, Dr. Chan Ngai Weng, who offered me a lift and drove
me all the way to Ipoh.
I joined up with the Perak members in
Ipoh and then to Cameron Highlands. We spent a night in an apartment in
Tringkap and started early the next morning and drove to Kg Rajah. There,
we had our breakfast and, after that, transferred to a 4WD. Actually there
were two groups — one group for bird watching and the other for hiking
up the mountain. Twelve of us had called up for the hiking, including 3
members from the Selangor branch.
The 4WD took us through the Blue Valley
Tea Plantation and continued heading towards Kelantan. We reached the starting
point at around 10:30 am. After tracking for about 2 hours, following the
papers Mah had placed, we came to a small stream, (last water collecting
point) and we had our lunch there.
After lunch, we started the climb. This
trail, Moon told me, is a new trail, bypassing the old trail in Siku Falls,
6040, tri-state point, and Gunong Chally. The trail looked gradual, clear
and easy to identify. Sometimes Dr.Chan Ah Lak, Iris and myself stopped
to take photos. At one point, I heard Dr. Chan shouting "Corybas! Corybas!".
For the first time, I learned that wild orchids in the mossy forest can
be as small as a tiny finger nail! At around 6:30 p.m. I arrived at the
summit (the last one !!!) and set up tent with Liew’s help. The next morning,we
had a good time enjoying the view of the Kledang Range — Korbu, Chally
and other mountains along the Main Range. Suddenly, some hikers appeared
from the Gunung Chally side. They had probably tracked all night long and
reached the summit in the morning. Later, 3 other hikers arrived from the
same direction — one was holding a parang. They spent a few minutes on
the summit and then disappeared while I was cooking for breakfast. Then
it was time to pack up. I showed Dr. Chan the same amount of water left
for me for the whole day (about 200 ml). Kok Choo, Iris and Dr.Chan left
first, leaving behind Mah, Dr. Wong, his friends and myself.
While I was waiting for them, I looked
at Dr. Wong and his friends and said to myself. "If Dr. Wong and his friends
can make the climb so fast, they will be even much faster going down and
I will be left behind if I were to descend with them!" So I told Mah that
I should go down first. "This way? "I asked. "Yeh, Yeh," he replied. The
moment I stepped into the exit, the mistake started.
On the right hand side of the trail
where we came from was rather dry so I didn't notice any sign of foot prints.
But when I looked at the left-hand side of the trail, I immediately saw
several foot prints giving me the impression that Dr. Chan and the others
had just passed by. I walked a few steps further and saw very clear markings
on the tree trunk all the way down. I felt very confident and continued.
As I continued I realised that the papers Mah had placed were not there!!!
I said to myself "Why did they pick up the papers??" After 5 minutes when
I still could not see the papers and
I knew that I was on the wrong trail. But I continued because I assumed
that this left trail would eventually lead to the track from the right
one. Hence in order to make sure that I would meet up with them in time
I even descended fast. Hopped, jumped, hopped, jump and soon after I was
already down below. Going down is so easy, fast and enjoyable. After about
half an hour, I saw some freshly chopped plants and I immediately realised
that this trail would not lead me to my starting point. I knew that now
I'm must be following the other three fellows as one of them was holding
a parang when I met them at the summit. I wanted to chase after them and
ask them "Hey! Where are you heading to? Which tea plantation are you ending
up?" You see, how stupid I was? When we were at the top, I did not bother
asking them about their plans, but when I was down there, I was running
after them. So I ran while descending. Coincidentally, this side of the
trail gave me a very beautiful view of the mountains especially Korbu just
right in front of me. Soon I was attracted by the magnetic force of nature.
Even though I was aware of the fact that I was on the wrong trail, I continued.
At around 3:00 pm, I still could not
see any of them, and I looked around down below and noticed that there
was not a sign of any tea plantation but all thick forest. I decided to
turn back. At first, it was quite interesting — I was still enjoying the
scenery and having a good time alone. Soon I drank all the water I had
left and started to get exhausted. I realised that ascending from that
trail was many times stiffer and tougher then the one we came up from to
the summit. After about an hour of hard climb, I felt my throat and lips
run dry, my legs tired and exhausted. Now I cursed and blamed myself. "Why
I made myself so difficult?” I should have waited for Dr. Wong!!
I felt losing confidence. Without water,
for the first time, I really came to understand how one will feel when
throat and lips run dry. At around 6:00 PM, I reached the mossy forest.
Worst still, here the trail is even more difficult, a lot of commando crawling
and climbing. Sometimes, I had to take out my rucksack and throw it further
upwards before I can climb. It was during one of my crawling that I realised
that the mosses were wet always and I decided to suck and lick the wet
mosses in order to get water. So fresh, clean and precious too!!
After a few times, I laughed out loud that now I was surrounded by water
in the mossy forest !!!!!
I continue the climb and at 6:30 PM,
I met a group of Malay hikers who told me this trail was leading to Korbu.
I declined their invitation to join them to Korbu and Gayong. They gave
me some water and told me that they have three more (slow hikers) behind
before leaving me. I tracked until dark with a torch light and at 8:00
p.m. I met the last three. They asked if there were any campsite further
down. I replied that about an hour down there was one. Again, they said."
Mari, sama sama kita tidor di bawah".
I declined again and said in silence.
“Even if you offer me grilled sirlion steak or BBQ, I wouldn't camp with
you ".It was because, the next morning I'll need more than an extra hour
climbing up again.... So, they left me disappointedly, telling me where
to find water on my way up. As it was dark, I just camped right on the
trail, sleeping in my tent without poles. I couldn't sleep alone that night,
imagine having the altitude equivalent to Padang ( about 2 ½ hour
to summit of Tahan ). It's no joke and no fun with the freezing temperature.It
would be warmer to sleep with a few more persons in the tent. So I shivered
all night long!!!!!!!!!!!
At 7:00 AM, i had my b'fast and
packed up my things and wasted no time, started my climb. I set my target
at before 10:00 AM that i must reach the summit. On the way, i found water
dripping from a boulder on the left hand side.I hang my racksack on a tree
branch before going down to collect water. On my return, i found a black
bird, looks like a black Drongo which landed on my sack. I continued and
i reached the summit exactly at 10:00 AM and i congratulated myself on
the timing. Now i really on the right-hand side of the trail and saw Mah's
papers!!!!! I wasted no time and headed down fast after makan.On
my way down i saw some animals, including some junglefowls. At around 2:15
p.m. I arrived at the water collecting point and was met by Liew, Mah and
some vegetable farmers. Together we walked back to our starting point...
Well, this is my Yong Belar story, an
unnecessary extra climb, extra night, but I enjoyed every minute of it
despite the fact that I was alone (but not fair to the Perak branch members,
causing them a lot of inconvenience and worries.) To them I offer my sincere
apologies.
Upon coming home, some friends asked
me (1) Why did you still continue when you knew you were on the wrong trail
? (2) Were you lost in the jungle ?
Answer to (1) Well, I don't know
which is the right one, or the combination of all. 1st reason, is
Stubbornness. 2nd, too adventurous and 3rd, too attracted to
the beautiful scenery of the Main Range especially Korbu.
Answer to (2) No, I don’t consider myself
lost in the jungle. As long as I stuck to the trail and never ventured
outside and also able to back tracked to where I started it is not considered
as lost in the jungle. One will be considered as lost in the jungle when
the person is (1) out of the way; (2) lost the sense of direction and cannot
find the original trail; (3) panic, fear and loss of confidence. ....
All this can happen to me, to you and to anyone, but not in this incident.
So, members, next time when you're in the jungle, don't get carried away
by the beauty of nature.
After this ordeal, I realised that actually,
tracking alone in the jungle is better and more enjoyable than trekking
with a group. This is because (1) the chances of animal sighting is greater
than in groups.(2) one also can really enjoy the peace of the jungle (3)
we can have peace of mind.
Think that's all for my report. I hope
you enjoyed reading it.
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Created on 15th Mar 2000