ediosite: Mount Tahan M2M 7-10 Sept 2019

Mt Tahan located in Pahang, Malaysia is one of the famous mountain to conquer not only for Malaysian but also famous among European. This mountain also one of my bucket list.

I was lucky enough to join this trip after I looking for Mt Tahan trip in Fb and one of most professional Malaysian mountaineer was responded to my post. It is Abang Dee who has a lot of experience especially in mountain search and rescue. After a simple chat and deal we are manage to meet up at KTM Station Merapoh at 7th September morning.

After meet up with other line up we move to Pejabat Perhutanan Sg Relau for item declaration and officer briefing. Then we took 4x4 to starting point which took around 30 minutes. Around 10.30 am we start hiking.Our target for this first day is Kem Kor which consist of 13.5km. You will need to cross few small river. The water depth about knee to waist. You may use adidas kampung or sandal if you are not comfortable walking with wet hiking shoes.

From left: Talib,Dev,Karim,Saiful,Azam,Me,Asrul,Ju and Dee as our leader

I as beginner hiker reach Kem Kor at 6pm while other members already reach earlier and done set up their tent. They hand help us to set up tent. We have a joyful evening there because the waterpoint is big enough for us to take bath.

We having dinner after Maghrib prayer and have 'ngopi' session till 11pm. We close the session and back to tent. Around 30 minutes later thunder suddenly came out. And its raining heavily that night till early morning. Luckily our tent are not getting wet inside and that night our neighbour Singaporean's group was slept with water. Their tent not well covered.

Warm up session before messed with Good Morning Hill. (Still smilling)

We pack up and start hiking at 11am. The earlier planning to shoot to Kem Botak was changed by our guide(Atan). He advised us to set up tent at Kem Kubang instead of Kem Botak because of raining last night and the timing was delayed almost 4 hours. From Kem Kor to Kem Kubang only 6km but the elevation at Bukit Good Morning will challenge your fitness level. On the track after Kem Permatang Abang Dee found a beautiful scorpion. It was my first time for me to see with my own eyes the scorpion that a bit huge than ordinary black scorpion. The shining greeny-black colour was so charming. What a lovely scorpion.
I with my Asrul and Kak Jue slowly hike up untill we managed to reach Kem Kubang at 4pm.

Blue Scorpion I guess

Me Abg Talib and Asrul getting ready to shoot up from Kem Kubang. Sorry guys at the back there not spotted in picture.

Then at earlier morning in the mist arround 4am we shoot to summit.Kem Kubang to Kem Botak about 10kilometres. At the beginning there was a bit shower rain but then luckily the shower stop. If not it might be difficult to us to deal with muddy trail in rain. Arround 8am we reach at Kem Bonsai checkpoint an enjoy our first view of Mount Tahan range. We also was welcomed by two cute mountain birds.

We enjoy our moment at Kem Bonsai.

We having our 'tapau' breakfast at Kem Bonsai before we continue hiking to Kem Botak. There are plenty types of herbs plant on the way to Kem Botak. Some of them may used as to cure diabetes and high blood pressure as explained by our leader Abg Dee. But because it is Taman Negara it is prohibited to pick or take any flora or fauna.

From Bonsai to Botak will need another 3 kilometers and will take around 1 hour for normal pace. We have a short break at Kem Botak before continue to summit another 2.4 kilometers but the slope are quite tough and also will took 1 hour for normal pace. Finally arround 10am we managed to conquer the peak. We are not so lucky because of the haze, the view around the Tahan range was not so clear. Nevertheless we praised to God for the opportunity and His willingness giving us chance to conquer Mt Tahan.

We celebrate at peak around 1 hour and descend back to Kem Botak for lunch and 'ngopi'

Our group having photo session at Mt Tahan peak.

Along the way to summit while looking down to Kem Botak

From Kem Botak we back to Kem Kubang and spend 1 more night. For info Kem Kubang waterpoint is quite far. Only on 2nd day we go to refresh ourself, on the 3rd day we are lazy enough and enjoy sleeping with smelly body. What a disgusting attitude. Hahaha forgive me. But you'll know if you are being there.

'Ngopi' again

On last day arround 7am we pack up and dismantle tent and fly ground. We having breakfast and last 'tapau' for lunch. It took us almost 4 hours from Kem Kubang to Kem Kor. We having lunch there and continue back to starting point at 12pm. We safely reach at starting point arround 3 pm. Then arround 4 pm 4x4 arrived and took us to back to Taman Negara office for check out process.

It was a joyful and sweet memories along 4 days and 3 night there. Believe me you wont regret to come here to enjoy the the nature and wilderness. So what are you waiting for. Move up and pack up to Mt Tahan!