Nice tread here, congrats.

I am an ardent hiker too, being a mountain biker and also trekking but this was done mostly in Langkawi. I have hike up Gunung Raya and also Gunung MatCincang there but Gunung Raya is more like walking up the 4000 plus steps. Fast forwarded, I have moved to KL and before that I have stayed in Cameron Highlands and have hiked up Gunung Jasar numerous times as the starting trail is just behind the apartments where I was staying. Other than that I have hiked Gunung Beremban and also trekked numerous trails in CH. Back in KL, due to the lack of company and also major lack of activities, my fitness deteriorated and gained 15 kgs.

I have joined some trekkers to Gunung Nuang and found out I was allowed to join because they were all females, 4 of them. Two of them were totally new and also me an aging slow hiker. I did tell the guide earlier on and wanted a slow hike. We started off in the morning and after trekking 'the never ending road' we reached the first campsite at 2.00 pm. The guide choose a site just at the busiest part of the trail, just at the beginning of the trail up Nuang. We pitched the tents and she prepared Maggi mee using solid fuel. I never liked Maggi in the first place and ate a little but replenished myself with some 'Snickers' I brought. We were supposed to start at 4.00 am but somewhere during the night, another group of hiker met up with the guide and it was decided that we all hike together. I wanted to start a small fire but was stopped by the guide, she says the smoke will stain her tent with smell What kind of camping is this, if I cannot start a fire.

I woke up at 3.00 am. Drank some hot drink and waited, waited and waited. The other group finally came at 5.30am. So at last we started! I was ill prepared for this mountain and so is the other two female newbies. The guide darted up the mountain with the first group which I found out later, was preparing themself for their Gunung Kinabalu expedition. The guide left us behind and I was the slowest of the group, hoggling at the rear. I met another group from the Hulu Langat uniformed group and most of them too were ill prepared. So, I trekked with them, joking together, sharing smokes too. I got a call later and was informed that if I did not make it by 2.00 pm, I was to stop ascending and start descending as they are nearing the peak.

I didn't really cared as I wanted to reach the peak. I met another female from my group and she was giving up and was resting. I finally reached the peak at almost 2.30 pm. Snapped a few pixs and took a breather. The guide who was there earlier was pestering us to descend. Just as we wanted to start, the one who gave up emerged, saying another hiker urged her to carry on. We forced ourself to take another 30 minutes break, which I sorely needed anyway. We trekked down and as usual the guide dissappeared and leaving us in the care of her daughter. It started raining and the trek down was torturous. We finally made back to camp at 6.00 pm and the guide has made Maggi noodle an hour ago and urged us to finish it and we have to trek out. All the camps were packed ready! I told the guide to hang on as we just finished a 12 hour trek and needed a rest. No, we have to be quick.

I then told her as I am slowest I start off first. I got a bit lost and met with the group I made friends with and trekked out with them. At the start of the 'never ending road' I asked someone there if they spotted 4 females. They told me they have passed. So, I quicken my pace but it is not that easy after trekking the whole day and night. I finally made to the ranger station at 9.00 pm but their car is still there. The other group offered me a ride in their bus but I think I should wait for them. They finally showed up at 1.00 am with the two girls complaining, almost in tears.

I just want to make my point here that, organising is one thing, responsibility is another. It is always better to segregate the hikers according to their ability. Main reason for hiking is health and FUN! not particularly in that order. If one group push another group, it becomes a torture for the slower group. Unless off course the advanced group is advised beforehand that there will be slow hikers. Most of those interested in this tread seems to be newbies and I do hope that you take that into consideration. I would advise another night camping after the hike up Nuang to rest. If this is done, the trek up Nuang will not be too tight as you can hike up at a more relaxed pace. It is not a competition anyway. If this can be done, please count me in if there's any trip to Nuang. I am a cook so I am willing to cook for the group.

Oh yeah, I lost three toenails too and the rest are blacken and it is still growing.

This post has been edited by etigge: Sep 7 2011, 07:50 AM