MT. SUKU (1,797 m) - 30 SEPTEMBER 2007

Slept quite late around 2 a.m.. Lighted up some lantern.

Next morning woke up and after breakfast took a 20 minutes hike to the summit. View not so nice as it was misty. Later descended down to campsite. Departed for starting point at around 11.00 a.m. Later, went to Ipoh to have our late lunch before heading to Sungkai for hot spring at night.

Reached KL at around 10.00 p.m.

MT. SUKU (1,797 m) - 29 SEPTEMBER 2007

On left side of the road

Never like night hiking. It's risky and dangerous. This was my fifth times doing night hiking.

Intially, we started at 4.30 p.m. since we arrived late at starting point. Noticed that the entrance to the jungle trail at starting point has changed since the last time I came in late May 2007. Confusing and we wasted around 15 min+ to look for the correct trail. Thanks to Foo Tat for helping to find the correct and obvious trail for me to lead the group.

We reached the last water point at 7 p.m. It was quite dark and we had to switch on our headlamps. We had completed approximately 2/3 of our journey and e had 1/3 more to go. The 1/3 of the journey took us hiking under the darkness. At certain trail I was unsure whether I was heading towards the right and obvious trail since some trail was so steep.

My headlamps began to become less shinning and it was my mistake for not hecking the battery level first before the hike. Thanks to Sam for helping me to shine the path for clearer trail and checking the pace of the back hikers as we don't have walkie-talkie.

We arrived at the campsite which was around 20 minutes to the summit at 9.00 p.m. Had our dinner at 11 p.m. Already hungry. After that had some supper and sleep.

Mt. Suku (Day trip on 13 May 2006)

Photos IMG_0171 to IMG_0190 capture images on the way to the starting point of Suku.

Photos IMG_0202 to IMG_0209 capture images of returning from Suku to Simpang Pulai.

MT. SUKU HIKING (26 MAY 2007 TO 27 MAY 2007) SUMMARY AND NOTES

Day	Date	Time	Location	Altitude (Casio)^	Altitude (Official)	Difference	Remarks
1	26/5/2007	1052 hrs	Starting point	840 m	N/A	n/a	At KM 32, Simpang Pulai-Cameron highway
1	26/5/2007	1137 hrs	Small flat area	1,105 m	N/A	n/a	Break
1	26/5/2007	1141 hrs	Small flat area	1,105 m	N/A	n/a	Continued hiking
1	26/5/2007	1149 hrs	Steep hill	1,155 m	N/A	n/a	Looks like false peak
1	26/5/2007	1220 hrs	False peak	1,335 m	N/A	n/a	Break for lunch
1	26/5/2007	1242 hrs	False peak	1,335 m	N/A	n/a	Continued hiking
1	26/5/2007	1259 hrs	Last water point	1,400 m	N/A	n/a	Break.  Collect water for cooking.  Discovered the water safe for drinking
1	26/5/2007	1312 hrs	Last water point	1,400 m	N/A	n/a	Continued hiking
1	26/5/2007	1346 hrs	Summit ridge	1,580 m	N/A	n/a	Break
1	26/5/2007	1353 hrs	Summit ridge	1,580 m	N/A	n/a	Continued hiking
1	26/5/2007	1445 hrs	Campsite	1,725 m	N/A	n/a	Arrived at campsite
1	26/5/2007	2302 hrs	Campsite	1,705 m	N/A	n/a	Time to zzzzzzzz
2	27/5/2007	1004 hrs	Campsite	1,710 m	N/A	n/a	Depart for summit
2	27/5/2007	1020 hrs	Summit	1,735 m	1,797 m	3.57%	Arrived at summit
2	27/5/2007	1023 hrs	Summit	1,740 m	1,797 m	3.28%	Snap photos
2	27/5/2007	1033 hrs	Summit	1,735 m	1,797 m	3.57%	Depart for campsite
2	27/5/2007	1046 hrs	Campsite	1,710 m	N/A	n/a	Arrived at campsite
2	27/5/2007	1049 hrs	Campsite	1,715 m	N/A	n/a	Packed backpack and photography session
2	27/5/2007	1056 hrs	Campsite	1,710 m	N/A	n/a	Depart to starting point
2	27/5/2007	1138 hrs	Last water point	1,405 m	N/A	n/a	Passed by last water point
2	27/5/2007	1151 hrs	False peak	1,345 m	N/A	n/a	Break for walking lunch
2	27/5/2007	1218 hrs	False peak	1,345 m	N/A	n/a	Continued hiking
2	27/5/2007	1313 hrs	Starting point	865 m	N/A	n/a	Arrived at starting point

 

Notes:

n/a       Not applicable

N/A      Not available

^           Reading from my Casio Protrek Triple Sensor PRG70T Series watch

 

Total trekking time on 26 May 2007 = 3 hr 53 min (including resting time)

Total trekking time on 27 May 2007 = 2 hr 17 min (including resting time) from campsite to starting point

 

26/5/2007

 

Hiking pace = Average

 

Notes:

 

I was on this survey and observation trip on the invitation of Wee from Anakhutan, Penang (http://anakhutan.multiply.com/).  Our journey started from Penang.  Stopped at Simpang Pulai police station to file in the name list of participants.  I knew that there is a water source along the way to the summit.  Stopped at half way before KM 32 mark to collect water.  I was sceptical about the cleanliness of the water at the last water point for drinking.  Decided to collect water at the halfway mark before KM32.

 

The starting point is located approximately 100 m before KM 32 mark on the Simpang Pulai – Cameron highway.  The landscape of the starting point has changed.  I was there on 13 May 2006 with a group of hikers of 12 for a day trip.  At that time, you can still see a water fall neither mini nor big) at the starting point.  Now what you can see is just a quarry.  The nature has been destroyed for the purpose of development. 

 

When reaching last water point, we discovered that the water is safe for drinking.  Collected some water to be carried to the summit.

 

Upon reaching the junction, I was confused which direction to take, left or right.  On the left, there is a marking ribbon sealing off the trail.  On the right, there was another route.  I could not remember which direction to take as more than a year, I have not been to this place.  Some of us including myself decided to explore the left trail.  Others decided to stay back.  We removed the marking ribbon sealing of the left trail.  It was raining.  After 5 minutes hike, we were asked to back trek as some of the members found a campsite. 

 

We continued trekking to the campsite, located around 5 minutes away from the junction.  I was not sure whether this was the summit.  Some hikers said this could be the summit whereas another hiker said there is another higher point away from this campsite as it could be seen from the campsite. 

 

Decided to try out the left route the next day.

 

27/5/2007

 

Hiking pace = Average to fast

 

Notes:

 

Tried the left route at the junction.  Managed to discover a higher ground with a flag pole.  Confirmed that this is the summit.  There is another way down to Irau. 

 

Before descending down from the campsite, the marking ribbon at the left route of the junction was tied back to its original position (i.e. sealing off the route). 

 

Noticed that the quarry area could be dangerous if the work is being carried on.  Landslide could occur at the quarry area as certain part of the slope is exposed to soil erosion (view at the quarry site).  The exposed area was not covered to prevent soil erosion.

 

Overall: Nice view from the summit.  Mt. Chabang, Titiwangsa range and Simpang Pulai – Cameron highway could be seen fro the summit.

 

 

There is a water source at the starting point, i.e. from the pipes used by the quarry workers.  Another water source is from the last water point at altitude 1,400 metres.

 

Author: LIM FANG HAU

Date:    10 September 2007