It has now been about 5 days since the climb to the tip top of mount kinabalu, and my quads and calves are still soar. I curse going down stairs and having to pee over a squatter toilet. However, despite the aches and pains the climb was quite an experience, which can be summed up into three categories; intense climb, intense people, and awesome people.
Intense climb:
Our climb up mount kinabalu began at 9am. It was hot, I was nervous. It is 6km to the accommodations (food and sleep) for the first day. The average hiker takes 5 hours to get there and by the time you get to 6km you are at about 3000 meters, which means the higher you get, the thinner the air is, the more steep the mountain is, and, of course, the harder the climb becomes. I physced myself out before I even first began the hike. I worried about my back, altitude sickness, snakes, everything imaginable. I prepared myself for the worse, and it didn't help that I had 3 boys in my group who wanted to practically run up the mountain and leave me in the dust. The first km or so, I tried to keep up with the boys, but I realized that I was killing myself and that I would never make it up if I made my mountain climb a race. I soon found my own pace and i was good. I'm glad i took my time, it gave me a chance to see everything that the boys, including Steve, were just running past. and, even with my slower pace, i still made it to the accommodations in 4 hours and 45 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the average time. and only about 15 minutes behind the boys. Go me!
When we got to our accommodation I was so relieved and excited to not have to move anymore for the day. But, my relaxation dream was soon shattered when our guide gave us the key to our tin shack with no heat and a bathroom with a cold shower located up a path from our tin shack, and she gave the two guys in our group two big, white fluffy towels and a key to their heated room with a heated shower. It's not even the cold tin shack part that bothered me here. It was the fact that we still had to hike 10 more minutes up slipper stones to get there while our buddies stayed in the same building. A few swear words perhaps came out of my mouth, other than that I sucked it up and climbed to our shack where I snuggled under covers not quite tired enough to sleep, but too exhausted to even hold a book in front of my face. I wanted to sleep because our next climb began at 245am, but sharing a twin bed with big butt Steve for heat. listening to the howling wind, and dreading what was in store for me in a few hours, prevented me from doing much of that..
245 soon rolled around and I, with quite a chip on my shoulder, rolled out of bed asking myself why I sign up for these things? Steve was like a little kid on Christmas morning. He was excited and ready to go. I struggled to bundle myself up while he made me a make-shift head lamp by duck tapping my flash light to one of my headbands. I was definitely the most fashionable mountain climber there. I brought color to a world of khaki and cargo with by brown and yellow pants topped with a pair of black and white shorts, accompanied by a hot pink tank top, turquoise shirt, black sweater, orange sweatshirt, bright blue coat, gray hat and of course my delightful duck taped flashlight headband. Everyone was jealous.
After gearing up, we headed out and it was hard. I struggled, the altitude had finally gotten to me. I had a head ache, my chest hurt, I wanted to vomit. However, I kept on truckin, shimming myself up rock walls using ropes in the dark, taking breaks every five minutes. I couldn't wait to climb down, or so I thought. I did make it to the top, I was about 15 minutes late for being there for the sunrise, but it was still amazing and really cold. And although it was painful, it was worth it for the view at the top and the stars. I think a lot of people miss the stars because they're so concerned about getting to the top in time for sunrise. I have been camping in remote places often, places where the sky is clear and you can see so many more stars than in the city, but here... mount kinabalu … you can see every single star in the universe. There were so many stars you could barely see black in the sky. Those stars are probably one of the most amazing things I will ever see.
After our cold and brief stay, enough time to take a few pictures, we began our descent. It was harder than I thought. What made it so hard was, at first, the flat rock. While walking down your toes continually slam against the tips of your shoes. (maybe if I had better shoes?) Also, we had to jump down a lot of rocks and large make-shift stairs which after 3 hours or so became pretty rough on the knee joints. It also didn't help that it had rained and the rocks and dirt were slippery and wet. I fell about 10 times, literally, and I fell every which way; on my butt, on my knees, on my wrists. I'm pretty much the best faller. Don't worry dad, I didn't hurt myself in anyway that necessitated a first-aid kit or a doctor. I eventually made it down, and it was one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life because I was proud of myself, but most of all because I could now shove some food in my face and lie down.
Our trip up the mountain was filled with more than just an intense climb, it was filled with intense people. The people that were climbing the mountain were all about khaki, cargo, vests, hats, gloves, sun screen, and hiking sticks. They looked like they just robbed gander mountain. One woman, who I named Linda after having her in a dream where she stole my car and drove me off a cliff, she will be receiving #1 psycho mother of the year award. Steve and I first witnessed this woman at dinner the day before we began our hike. She came into the only restaurant on the lower half of the mountain and let everyone else know she was there. She's the kind of woman who looks beautiful from far away, but when you get up close, you can tell that some not so great plastic surgery has been done. Anyway, while climbing up the mountain in the dark in the early morning, we happened to pass her and her what seemed to be perfect little family (husband, boy 10yrs, girl 12 yrs. old) In the pitch black these are the wonderful things she said to be a good mom and keep her kids calm while hanging on the side of a mountain. “HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE AND DO WHATEVER THE GUIDE TELLS YOU!” “I DON'T CARE THAT YOU'RE SCARED, YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU DID THIS. YOU CAN GO BACK DOWN BY YOURSELF, I'M GOING TO THE TOP.” Enough said.
Lastly, I have to mention my 2 favorite people while climbing mount kinabalu. First, my Stephen. The second day of climbing while I was feeling sick, he stuck with me the entire time. He held my hand all the way up and didn't give up encouraging me. He missed the sunrise for me, he's the best. The second person I would like to mention is Lu La. Lu La was our Malaysian guide. If you saw her, you would never ever think that she spent 4 days a week climbing up and down a mountain. She was the cutest, sweetest lady ever. While the boys hurried ahead, she stayed with me continually telling me to slow down and take my time, which helped me greatly. Every time I had a little trip, her gasp was so loud and concerned. I wouldn't fall and she would say with her Malaysian accent, “Angela, be careful.” then we would both laugh. This happened probably close to 78 times through out the 2 days. I asked her what would happen if I hurt myself, would she carry me down. She replied, “No, Stephen. He strong.” Then she giggled. However, the greatest thing she did was remind me it was April fools on our way down. In a little whisper she said, “Angela... Angela.... what is the day?”
I said, “Ummm... April first.”
Lu La, “What is the day?”
Me, “Ummm... Monday?”
Lu La, “No.........................what is that day?”
I finally got what she was telling me. She wanted me to trick Steve, and how could I resist that. Climbing down a mountain, can't have a better opportunity then that. So I went through with it, pretending as if I hurt my ankle. I continued the act until the other boys in our group became concerned and started taking out first aid. I believe that I got Steve good, he believes otherwise. Either way, I couldn't have done it without my darling little Lu La. I probably would not have made it up and down the mountain without her either. I proclaimed her my guardian angel.
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