* * Gunung Belumut climb. 15/8/09

"Flow of salinity wound its slithery course over the curvature of my partially twisted face. Holding a Sunto trekking compass in the trembling sweaty palm, I deliriously commanded its north-pointing tip to rest and stopped oscillating. But it was just a meaningless direction search, a childish pastime, as pure absent-mindedly following the guide would lead my way to the base camp."
- T.H.

Gunung Belumut , at 1010 meter,is the fourth highest mountain in Johor. As I had never climbed it before, so I did not let the chance passed up when MNS Johor branch organized the trip. I needed to skip the half-day clinic on Saturday morning as we would start climbing early in the morning.


View Larger MapBefore the climb, all of us had a good breakfast at the famous railway station coffee shop in Kluang town. I guessed this is the 'mother' of the franchise Kluang Station Cafe. The food and the atmosphere were top rate. Then we left Kluang and took the junction into Felda Kahang Timur and Hulu Dengar. The road signs were at every corners and junctions once in the resettlement villages.

We started the ascend at 11am- considered a bit late. The first one hour of trekking was easy and effortless as the gradient was not steep. Later the trail wound through some exposed tree roots at about 45 degree, and certain parts were almost vertical.

As I huffed and puffed along the way, older members like Mr Soh and Abbot seemed comfortable and were way ahead of me. Really must salute them!

After about four and a half hours of hard labour, we finally reached the summit.


The highest part was a huge rock, and standing on it was rewarded with nice panoramic scene, including a glimpse of a reservoir, of which we gave different speculation- Lingiu or Semborong.




And there was a nearby solitary sharp-pointing rock which was quite majestic.





The descend, as usual, caused severe pain to my knees and I held up team members and they had to wait for me for the most part until quite near to camp site. It took me three and a half hour to reach the base and it was 7:30pm, just nice to enjoy the sumptuous dinner prepared by the lovely daughter of Encik Hamid. We pitched the tent by the river in the Park headquarters. I took a dip into the cold, clear and refreshing river for a good bath. Due to the tiredness, the sleep in the tent that night was sound and sweet!

* pit stop for lunch




* Batu Gigi (Rock of Teeth)