Date: Mon 18 Oct - Sat 23 Oct 2010
A cuppa or two or three inline with the customs of hospitable folks far away from the city lights, for illustration only.
Mount Murud is the highest mountain in Sarawak at 2423m. MNS Miri is planning a guided trek to the area in October.
Day 1 Mon 18 Oct Miri – Ba'Kelalan (Lunch, Dinner)
We will fly from Miri to Ba Kelalan via Lawas. Upon arrival, check in Homestay and have lunch. In the afternoon we either go on a walking tour of Ba’Kelalan to visit temperate fruit farm and rice paddies, or trek to the view point to have a great breathtaking view of Ba Kelalan valley. Dinner and overnight at Homestay.
Day 2 Tue 19 Oct Ba’Kelalan – Lepo Bunga (Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, we will begin our trek to Lepo Bunga.
Dinner and overnight at Jungle Camp.
Day 3 Wed 20 Oct Lepo Bunga – Church Camp (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, pack up and trek up to Church Camp. Set up sleeping quarters. Lunch.
In the afternoon we will explore the area around Church Camp to study the various nepenthes, rhodendrens, orchids, moss and plants (some may want to do a bit of birdwatching) and trek up 30 mins to Batu Linanit for a superb view (weather permit) of the surrounding rainforest and also Mt Mulu and Ba’Kelalan.
Overnight with dinner at Church Camp.
Day 4 Thu 21 Oct Church Camp – Mount Murud Summit – Church Camp (Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner)
Breakfast and trek to the Summit Plateau, also known as the ‘rock garden’ to discover a unique highland forest. Lunch and then trek back to Church Camp.
Overnight with dinner at Church Camp.
Day 5 Fri 22 Oct Church Camp – Bakalalan (Breakfast, Lunch ,Dinner)
Early morning wake up call. Break camp, tidy up the place, pack up, breakfast and descend all the way down to Ba'Kelalan.
Dinner and overnight at Homestay, Ba'Kelalan.
Day 6 Sat 23 Oct Ba'Kelalan – Miri (Breakfast)
Breakfast. Fly to Lawas and take a connecting flight to Miri.
Those interested to further explore the birds around this area can opt to spend extra time to explore our feathered friends at Church camp while we wait for the climbers to return from scaling the heights of Mt Murud.
PRECAUTION FOR POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS:
Sara just had a long chat with our contact in Bakelalan. Amongst the things discussed:
a) the difficulty level of the climb.
Mr Sang cautioned that hikers have to be fit and need to be trained 3 - 4 months before the climb. Compared to Mount Kinabalu, Mount Murud is considered more difficult on account of poorly maintained trail.
The plankwalk is already rotten and it would be dangerous to walk on them. Be forewarned, it is not going to be a walk in the park.
b)Pace, local vs. city slickers
Day 2, Bekalalan to Lepo Bunga: 3 hours local pace.
For city folks maybe 5 hours. We will be staying in a jungle shelter, need to bring ground sheet.
Day 3, Lepo Bunga to Church Camp: 5 - 8 hours local pace.
This is the most difficult part of the climb including a very steep section which takes the locals 1 hour (for us probably 2+ hours). The pace will very muchldepend hikers' fitness level.
Day 4, Church Camp to Summit: 3 hours local pace.
This part is easier because the slope is more gentle.Trail will be muddy if it rains. No stream crossing.
As a contingency, we may add a provision for a breakway party to cater to those who prefer to smell the roses along the way and catch a glimpse of a few endemics (and become famous by ticking a bird that hasn't been ticked before).
The breakaway party shall wait for the summit climbers at a designated spot along the route.
PARTICIPATION IS NOW CAPPED AT 10 participants.
Confirmed participants to secure seats on the De-havilland Twin Otter as soon as possible.
Latest Costing Estimates (from Sara):
1) Homestay - 2 nights accommodation with 2B, 2L, 2D = RM30 x 10 persons x 2 nights = RM60
02) Guides* (Mt Murud) = RM100 per day x 2 guides x 4 days = RM80
03) Porters** (Mt Murud) = RM100 per day x 3 porters x 4 days = RM1,200 (for carrying food, cooking utensils, supplies for the hiking party of 15 person, porter for personal items at participant's cost)
4) Cost of food, cooking equipment and supplies*** for 15 person for 4 days = RM1,400 (very rough estimate, no shopping list or survey have been drawn up yet)
Total cost estimated to be RM4,000
OR RM400 per person based on 10 participants
OR RM500 per person based on 8 participants
Participants are responsible for purchasing their own airfare and airport tax.
Optional:
Guide (View point) = RM45 x 1 guide x 1 trip = RM45
Important notice:
a) MNS Miri (Sara) will collect $200 refundable deposit from participants to be paid before END July 2010.
b) MNS Miri (Sara) will collect $100 non-refundable deposit to be paid by participants before END July 2010.
c) MNS Miri (Sara) will collect the balance of payment END of Sep 2010.
d) There will be a $25 administration levy for non-MNS members participating. This will be used as a slush fund to organised similar trekking activities in the future.
Elevation map from MNS Miri Pulong Tau Expedition Sep 1998.
Morning mist at Church Camp by Ibanorum from Youtube.
If interested please email mnsmiri@yahoo.com or saract.wong@gmail.com
Latest update:
22nd July :
7 places have been taken up with confirmed tickets.
Latest Update (10th Sept):
ReplyDelete9 places have been taken up with confirmed tickets.
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