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