Getting Down Again...
Oct. 9th, 2013 07:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
khiemtranThe summit conquered, now it's just a little matter of getting back down.
Can you see a face just under the tip of this pinnacle?
The scenery on top is as impressive as ever.
We're still a long, long way up.
Two petrified courtiers? Or maybe a lady turned to stone, as in the legend.
Following the rope back down is much easier in daylight. Down below, you can see the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint.
Some of the views we missed in the dark on the way up.
We need to walk backwards to get down the steeper parts.
Nearly back at the checkpoint now. What's the bit that comes after that? Oh, yes. The Danger Zone...
A view of the valley below.
We've just passed the checkpoint.
And now it's "Danger Zone" time.
This is vastly easier in daylight!
Laban Rata comes into view below. We're almost there!
The Danger Zone (I mean "Safety Zone") section now seems surprisingly short the second time around.
This bit was particularly scary on the way up because you couldn't see what was just right of the ledge.
Back under the tree-line, and our old friends, the steps. This time, we can see more things we missed during the night march.
Back in our hut for a second breakfast, before the final stage of our descent. We left the hut just after 2 am and made it back around 10 am, meaning we've spent the last eight hours tackling the summit and getting down. Now, we just have to repeat the first day, only backwards.
You certainly can't complain about the view out the window...
A final glimpse of the battlements above as we head down.
The next six hours are basically a re-run of the first day, only heading downhill and without as many stops. We started out clocking a respectable pace of around 2 km/h, but by about halfway down, knees and joints had started to fail. By the time we neared the bottom, this was what we were reduced to...
While we were struggling up and down, we were passed by a constant trickle of porters carrying goods and supplies up and down the mountain, sometimes even running as they went. It certainly put our efforts into perspective.
The final kilometre was the slowest of all. At last, we reached a flat bit at the bottom, then a long series of ... you guessed it, uphill steps. Crowned at the top by even steeper steps. And in the end? We made it! (But you guessed that already.)
All up, a great experience. I can certainly recommend it if you're ever in Sabah. They say anyone of average fitness can do it, but it's certainly more enjoyable the fitter you are.
Can you see a face just under the tip of this pinnacle?
The scenery on top is as impressive as ever.
We're still a long, long way up.
Two petrified courtiers? Or maybe a lady turned to stone, as in the legend.
Following the rope back down is much easier in daylight. Down below, you can see the Sayat-Sayat checkpoint.
Some of the views we missed in the dark on the way up.
We need to walk backwards to get down the steeper parts.
Nearly back at the checkpoint now. What's the bit that comes after that? Oh, yes. The Danger Zone...
A view of the valley below.
We've just passed the checkpoint.
And now it's "Danger Zone" time.
This is vastly easier in daylight!
Laban Rata comes into view below. We're almost there!
The Danger Zone (I mean "Safety Zone") section now seems surprisingly short the second time around.
This bit was particularly scary on the way up because you couldn't see what was just right of the ledge.
Back under the tree-line, and our old friends, the steps. This time, we can see more things we missed during the night march.
Back in our hut for a second breakfast, before the final stage of our descent. We left the hut just after 2 am and made it back around 10 am, meaning we've spent the last eight hours tackling the summit and getting down. Now, we just have to repeat the first day, only backwards.
You certainly can't complain about the view out the window...
A final glimpse of the battlements above as we head down.
The next six hours are basically a re-run of the first day, only heading downhill and without as many stops. We started out clocking a respectable pace of around 2 km/h, but by about halfway down, knees and joints had started to fail. By the time we neared the bottom, this was what we were reduced to...
While we were struggling up and down, we were passed by a constant trickle of porters carrying goods and supplies up and down the mountain, sometimes even running as they went. It certainly put our efforts into perspective.
The final kilometre was the slowest of all. At last, we reached a flat bit at the bottom, then a long series of ... you guessed it, uphill steps. Crowned at the top by even steeper steps. And in the end? We made it! (But you guessed that already.)
All up, a great experience. I can certainly recommend it if you're ever in Sabah. They say anyone of average fitness can do it, but it's certainly more enjoyable the fitter you are.
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Date: 2013-10-09 08:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 08:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 11:02 am (UTC)wow
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Date: 2013-10-09 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 12:19 pm (UTC)Congratulations again!
Now I see the hiking poles!
Hahaha, the "bug" seems to have bit your sister in law! Your small group might also want to consider the Camino Santiago in Northern Spain, in addition to Machu Picchu. I hiked parts of it some years ago for 28 consecutive days and it was fun. There were some steep ascents and descents too, but nothing like the one all of you experienced on Mt. Kinabalu.
Thanks for the recommendation-I will put Mount Kinabalu on my list!
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Date: 2013-10-09 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-10 11:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 09:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-10 06:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-09 09:49 pm (UTC)You guys rock. Congratulations--what an accomplishment.
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Date: 2013-10-10 06:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-10 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-11 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-28 09:40 pm (UTC)