“Why Did I Climb Mount Kinabalu? I Forgot, Halfway Up.”
By Rajiz, reluctant adventurer and snack enthusiast.
I am sharing my story climbing Mount Kinabalu for the first time in 2000. Hopefully it helps with your preparation physically and mentally. Let me start by saying I’m not a mountaineer. I’m more of a “mount-a-near-the-buffet” type. But somehow, after one too many travel documentaries and a dangerous combination of peer pressure. I found myself inside Kinabalu Park’s office paying for a two-day climb up Mount Kinabalu with my best friends smiling sitting next to me, I know that smile. Borneo’s biggest rock and Southeast Asia’s way of saying, “Are you sure about those legs?”
Day 1: Hope, Sweat, and Nasi Lemak
We began our journey at Timpohon Gate, which sounds cute but is actually the starting point of a slow, upward negotiation between your legs and gravity. The first hour? Easy. I was chatting, taking photos, feeling like a trekking influencer.
Then the stairs came. So. Many. Stairs. At some point, I think I climbed a stair that was emotionally abusive — it judged me. I’m convinced it whispered, “You didn’t train for this, did you?”
Lunch was a glorious moment. Never has a packed rice dish and a warm cup of Milo felt more like a Michelin-starred experience. Spirits were lifted — briefly.
Laban Rata: The Mountain Hotel of Hallucinations
We reached Laban Rata Base Camp (3,272 meters) after what felt like 40 years of wandering the wilderness. Laban Rata Resthouse was our home for the night, a cozy little place where everyone walks like a penguin because their thighs no longer function.
The view? Incredible. Sunset above the clouds made me forget the trauma of the trail… for about 30 minutes. Then I remembered we had to wake up at 2 a.m. to climb more. Who planned this? (Spoiler: me. Past Me is the worst.)
Day 2: Up at 2, Regret by 3, Summit by Sunrise
At 2 a.m., I was awake, geared up, and seriously questioning my life choices. With headlamps on and frost on our noses, we began the final ascent.
This part of the hike? Dark, cold, and steep enough to make you wonder if this is actually just a metaphor for your life falling apart. There were ropes to pull yourself up — which I only half-trusted, because they looked like they were held together by hope and Malaysian engineering.
But then, as we reached Low’s Peak, the sun began to rise. And just like that, everything made sense.
Mountains make you work for their magic — and this one delivered. Standing at 4,095 meters, watching the world light up below, I felt tiny, humbled… and also really in need of a shower.
Pro Tips (From a Survivor):
Do leg day. You’ll thank me later.
Snacks = life. Bring trail mix, chocolate, or bribe-worthy goodies.
Layer like an onion. It’s warm at the bottom and freezing at the top.
Respect the guides. They could carry you down on one shoulder if needed — and they might have to.
Book early. Only a limited number of masochists—I mean, climbers—are allowed daily.
Final Thoughts
Climbing Mount Kinabalu is like dating: hard work, questionable decisions, but often worth it. I laughed, I cried, I swore at rocks — and I’d still do it again. Maybe.
Well, after a solid nap and some deep tissue therapy.
I will update the photos once I find my memory stick of Sony DSC D700 cyber shot 1.5mp. Hang tight.
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