mcHiker: Mount Kinabalu via Mesilau

The Trek

Height : 13,435 feet (4095.2 meter)
Location : Kinabalu Park (Sabah)
Usually it takes 3 days 2 nights (rest one night before hike) / 2 days 1 night

Timpohon ~ Laban Rata ~ Summit ~ Timpohon
Mesilau ~ Laban Rata ~ Summit ~ Mesilau
Timpohon ~ Laban Rata ~ Summit ~ Mesilau
Mesilau ~ Laban Rata ~ Summit ~ Timpohon

Distance :

Timpohon ~ Laban Rata about 6 KM
Mesilau ~ Laban Rata about 8.2 KM
Laban Rata ~ Summit about 2.7 KM

Cut off time :

Sayat Sayat Check Point gate close at 5:00 a.m.
Laban Rata Rest house check out before 10:30 .a.m.

GPS Coordinate : N6.07492 E116.55868

Getting there

Arrange with the tour agent for return transfers from Kota Kinabalu town / Airport to Kinabalu Park HQ
Return transfers from Kinabalu Park to Timpohon Gate / Mesilau

Facilities and Fees

Arrange with the tour agent / Kinabalu Park HQ for the accommodation in advance before booking the flight ticket
You could choose lodge (RM 350++/room) or hostel (RM 100++/bed) in Kinabalu Park / Mesilau Nature Resort
You could choose private heated room for 6 persons (RM 368++/person) or Non-heated dormitory (RM 350++/bed) in Laban Rata (Staying in Laban Rata Rest house is recommended, zero walking distance in the low temperature for your meal)
Porter Fee RM 12.00 / kg. Minimum of 10kg charge
Others fees like entrance, climbing permit, insurance, mountain guide, certificate shall include in the package
Towels, slipper, body shampoo, hair shampoo, hair dryer etc. provided in Mesilau Nature Park Resort Lodge and Laban Rata Private Room (I’m not sure about dormitory)
Toilet and pipe water supply available every KM along the way (Advisable to get ready with your own drinking water if you are not used to drink pipe water)
Laban Rata rest house restaurant time table

07:30 ~ 19:30
02:00 ~ 03:30 (Early Supper)

Things you should prepare

Waterproof backpack (One for porter and one for yourself if you are thinking to hire a porter), you could leave your other luggage in the Kinabalu Park / Mesilau Nature Resort with RM 10.00 per luggage
Comfortable trekking shoes with good grip (Get an extra pair Kampung Adidas for next day summit push)
Trekking stick
Windbreaker
Warm clothing
Head torch / waterproof hand gloves / winter hat
Medicine (headache tablets, plasters, personal medicine)
Refillable water bottle (Recommended Thermos for summit push)
Camera with extra battery
Bring only necessary items to minimize the weight

GPX in Google Map

Mount Kinabalu via MesilauTrail Map

GPX Download Link

Download

Exploring Mount Kinabalu

June, 13~14 2014

“Have you been to Mount Kinabalu?” this is the common question been asked from day one of my hiking activity….finally, I could answer “YES, I DID IT”

Reserving this mountain on my past activity were due to:-

Trained up my body fitness in order for me to fully enjoy the scene during this trip instead of asking myself “where is the summit or rest stop”?
Explored different type of trail condition before climbing the highest mountain in Malaysia
Accumulated my hiking gear and gained more experience to get the right gear

Day 1 ascent via Mesilau trail, although hiked with extra KM but can enjoy more scene along the way till Layang Layang checkpoint. Unfortunately we were experienced with heavy wind and rain at low temperature during the last 2 KM to Laban Rata rest house.

Day 2 ascent till Sayat Sayat checkpoint with heavy traffic but given me more rest, last part summit push were unexpected strong wind with a heavy mist. Luckily we still able to see the South Peak on the way back to Laban Rata.

Heading back via Timpohon trail with beautiful scene till Sayat Sayat check point, further down more like a jungle trek with well establish path

Day 1 Mesilau Gate to Laban Rata

08:34 Start hiking

09:20 CP1(Pondok Schima)

09:48 CP2 (Pondok Bambu)

10:26 Waterfall

10:30 CP3 (Pondok Nepenthes)

11:20 CP4 (Pondok Tikalod)

12:28 CP5 (Pondok Lompoyou)

13:43 CP6 (Pondok Magnolia)

14:05 Layang Layng

15:00 CP7 (Pondok Villosa)