Climbing Mount Kinabalu. On Top of the World.
After falling asleep for a few minutes, I was woken up by my soothing yet insistant alarm clock. It was dinner time. I heard raindrops outside my window. It didn't seem bad though. When I knocked on the door of the rest of the group they were all still warm and cozy in their beds. They weren't really sleeping so they figured we wouldn't walk down to the Laban Rata Lodge for dinner. The rain became stronger and louder with each passing minute. We were all hungry and we also were supposed to meet our guide at dinner to discuss the action plan for tomorrow's hike. That is if there was going to be one, because of the rain. No one goes up if it rains. We were secretly happy about the possibility of not having to go through the strenuous day that we again, over again, in the middle of the night and at a much harder level.
The massive downpour was creating waterfalls down the natural pathways created by the glorious mountain. We watched the waterfalls increase with the added strength of the rain and were enjoying the beautiful yet alarming sound, the water was creating.
After waiting a few minutes we decided to head down to the lodge and collect our food as well as find out whether we would be able to climb to the top.
After bundling up and putting on our cheap, plastic ponchos on, we head down to the lodge. Slipping and sliding, we all arrive safely a couple minutes later. Walking into the Lodge feels like walking into a warm oven. They have heat! The majority of the people staying there booked their trip ahead of time and/or paid even more than we did, for the luxury of having warmth. Although they didn't have hot showers either so at we weren't feeling too cheated.
After eating a warm buffet dinner, we were informed by our guide that if that rain magically stops sometime tonight, we are to wake up at 2am and head up to the top right after eating our "breakfast". Otherwise, we would not go and all the tour companies had strict NO REFUND policies. From the look of the conditions outside, it seemed like we would be sleeping in and just heading back down the next morning. Our guide said that it is unlikely that the rain will stop. We trusted his ten year guide experience and were quite disappointed.
However, after walking back up to our lodge we dutifully prepared our gear for the slight chance of the rain stopping and of us going up. We went to sleep at around 7:30pm bundled up in our clothes and covered all the way up to our heads with the small blankets provided.
I was woken up by my door opening and people from my group yelling at me about me oversleeping and asking me why I was still in bed because we're supposed to be leaving now. I jumped up in bed, grabbing my iPod which laid silently next to me. It was 1:55am. It was all a dream. Relieved, I noticed the sound of people scurrying around and getting ready for the climb. The rain had stopped and I didn't oversleep! Victory! Well, not yet.
Getting out of bed was a punishment of cold air hitting every part of uncovered skin, sending cold, almost painful shivers throughout my body. I quickly got dressed and threw a blanket over me to walk over next door to wake up the children. I ended up calling them that and they ended up calling me "the mother". All because I was the one who collected the group together for booking as well as my name being on the booking, which made me "the group leader" on paper. But then throughout our journey together, I was making sure everyone was ok and checking if everyone had everything they needed. So I assumed the role of the mother with pride. When Michael and Sam weren't feeling well I kept asking them if they needed any medicine, etc. also bringing a bunch of orange slices to the table and announcing that everyone should eat some, especially the people who weren't feeling well because of the Vitamin C. We all had a good laugh about me mothering everyone because myself and Birgitte, were actually the two youngest members of the group; twenty-four.
Back at the lodge, We had some bread and jam and hot tea for "breakfast" and opened the door into the cold dark night.
The hike up started up quite slowly, since most of the groups were leaving at the same time. After about fifteen minutes, the faster people trudged ahead while others were slowing down. Couple people in my group started slowing down, still pained by altitude sickness and nasty headaches. I slowed down as well but then decided to keep moving while I had the energy to do so. I passed many people resting on rocks jutting out of the path, breathing heavily in the dark, cold night. As cold as it was, I was pretty warm and the faster I walked, the higher I got, I started shedding layers.
At one point I realized that I was on my own with groups far away in front of me and many more groups far behind me. I stopped and listened to the beautiful silence surrounding me. I decided to sit down and enjoy the moment. I found a round rock to sit on. As I tilted my head back to look up I saw the black night sky overwhelmed with millions of stars. They were so close, it seemed I could just get on my tip toes and touch them. As I looked on, my eyes started darting from one shooting star to another. I couldn't believe it! It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I felt like I was on top of the world. I was so happy and lucky to be there. Before I noticed, I felt warm beads of tears escaping from my eyes. I was smiling. I was so complete and happy. I started thinking about everyone I love in my life and wishing that they could see what I'm seeing, feel the moment I am feeling. It was one of those rare moments when your body and your mind merge into one. Instead of being separated by aching muscles, worries or sadness. Everything was just like it should be. I was whole. Complete. Happy. For that brief moment, I did not feel tired, sleepy, my legs didn't hurt. All I felt was my heart beat, the stars and I was up there with them. Flying through the sky. It was unforgettable. I can still feel that moment as I am remembering it now.
After what seemed like hours, I stood up from that rock and continued climbing up. When I reached the top it was a little after 5am but the sky was already painted with shades of pink and deep purple. The world was slowly waking up and I was on top of it all.
I took out my iPod and put on 3am by Gregory Alan Isakov and sat down in a small crevice in the rocks, facing the unfolding beauty of the crisp, cold morning on top of Mt Kinabalu. Although I was surrounded by many people, I felt like it was just me and the sun there. Just a private showing of the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen in my life.
Slowly, my group started showing up with bright smiles across their faces, hiding the signs of exhaustion and muscle aches. We all made it.
As I am sitting on the bus heading to Sandakan, I am becoming joyfully overwhelmed with the sight of Mount Kinabalu standing tall in the bright morning sunshine. Bringing back memories of the pain, the sweat and of how the journey ended. A young local Malay girl sitting next to me is staring out the window in amazement at the beautiful present that nature has bestowed upon this area, upon us all. I look at her smiling proudly; "I climbed that." She looks back at me with wild amazement in her eyes and a huge smile engulfing her face. I show her some pictures from the climb. She smiles and says something in Malay which I take as a praise or maybe just words of encouragement. Who knows. But it felt good.
The massive downpour was creating waterfalls down the natural pathways created by the glorious mountain. We watched the waterfalls increase with the added strength of the rain and were enjoying the beautiful yet alarming sound, the water was creating.
After waiting a few minutes we decided to head down to the lodge and collect our food as well as find out whether we would be able to climb to the top.
After bundling up and putting on our cheap, plastic ponchos on, we head down to the lodge. Slipping and sliding, we all arrive safely a couple minutes later. Walking into the Lodge feels like walking into a warm oven. They have heat! The majority of the people staying there booked their trip ahead of time and/or paid even more than we did, for the luxury of having warmth. Although they didn't have hot showers either so at we weren't feeling too cheated.
After eating a warm buffet dinner, we were informed by our guide that if that rain magically stops sometime tonight, we are to wake up at 2am and head up to the top right after eating our "breakfast". Otherwise, we would not go and all the tour companies had strict NO REFUND policies. From the look of the conditions outside, it seemed like we would be sleeping in and just heading back down the next morning. Our guide said that it is unlikely that the rain will stop. We trusted his ten year guide experience and were quite disappointed.
However, after walking back up to our lodge we dutifully prepared our gear for the slight chance of the rain stopping and of us going up. We went to sleep at around 7:30pm bundled up in our clothes and covered all the way up to our heads with the small blankets provided.
I was woken up by my door opening and people from my group yelling at me about me oversleeping and asking me why I was still in bed because we're supposed to be leaving now. I jumped up in bed, grabbing my iPod which laid silently next to me. It was 1:55am. It was all a dream. Relieved, I noticed the sound of people scurrying around and getting ready for the climb. The rain had stopped and I didn't oversleep! Victory! Well, not yet.
Getting out of bed was a punishment of cold air hitting every part of uncovered skin, sending cold, almost painful shivers throughout my body. I quickly got dressed and threw a blanket over me to walk over next door to wake up the children. I ended up calling them that and they ended up calling me "the mother". All because I was the one who collected the group together for booking as well as my name being on the booking, which made me "the group leader" on paper. But then throughout our journey together, I was making sure everyone was ok and checking if everyone had everything they needed. So I assumed the role of the mother with pride. When Michael and Sam weren't feeling well I kept asking them if they needed any medicine, etc. also bringing a bunch of orange slices to the table and announcing that everyone should eat some, especially the people who weren't feeling well because of the Vitamin C. We all had a good laugh about me mothering everyone because myself and Birgitte, were actually the two youngest members of the group; twenty-four.
Back at the lodge, We had some bread and jam and hot tea for "breakfast" and opened the door into the cold dark night.
The hike up started up quite slowly, since most of the groups were leaving at the same time. After about fifteen minutes, the faster people trudged ahead while others were slowing down. Couple people in my group started slowing down, still pained by altitude sickness and nasty headaches. I slowed down as well but then decided to keep moving while I had the energy to do so. I passed many people resting on rocks jutting out of the path, breathing heavily in the dark, cold night. As cold as it was, I was pretty warm and the faster I walked, the higher I got, I started shedding layers.
At one point I realized that I was on my own with groups far away in front of me and many more groups far behind me. I stopped and listened to the beautiful silence surrounding me. I decided to sit down and enjoy the moment. I found a round rock to sit on. As I tilted my head back to look up I saw the black night sky overwhelmed with millions of stars. They were so close, it seemed I could just get on my tip toes and touch them. As I looked on, my eyes started darting from one shooting star to another. I couldn't believe it! It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I felt like I was on top of the world. I was so happy and lucky to be there. Before I noticed, I felt warm beads of tears escaping from my eyes. I was smiling. I was so complete and happy. I started thinking about everyone I love in my life and wishing that they could see what I'm seeing, feel the moment I am feeling. It was one of those rare moments when your body and your mind merge into one. Instead of being separated by aching muscles, worries or sadness. Everything was just like it should be. I was whole. Complete. Happy. For that brief moment, I did not feel tired, sleepy, my legs didn't hurt. All I felt was my heart beat, the stars and I was up there with them. Flying through the sky. It was unforgettable. I can still feel that moment as I am remembering it now.
After what seemed like hours, I stood up from that rock and continued climbing up. When I reached the top it was a little after 5am but the sky was already painted with shades of pink and deep purple. The world was slowly waking up and I was on top of it all.
I took out my iPod and put on 3am by Gregory Alan Isakov and sat down in a small crevice in the rocks, facing the unfolding beauty of the crisp, cold morning on top of Mt Kinabalu. Although I was surrounded by many people, I felt like it was just me and the sun there. Just a private showing of the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen in my life.
Slowly, my group started showing up with bright smiles across their faces, hiding the signs of exhaustion and muscle aches. We all made it.
As I am sitting on the bus heading to Sandakan, I am becoming joyfully overwhelmed with the sight of Mount Kinabalu standing tall in the bright morning sunshine. Bringing back memories of the pain, the sweat and of how the journey ended. A young local Malay girl sitting next to me is staring out the window in amazement at the beautiful present that nature has bestowed upon this area, upon us all. I look at her smiling proudly; "I climbed that." She looks back at me with wild amazement in her eyes and a huge smile engulfing her face. I show her some pictures from the climb. She smiles and says something in Malay which I take as a praise or maybe just words of encouragement. Who knows. But it felt good.
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