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Mount Kinabalu Climbing Equipment Preparations
The best advice
when planning a trip
to such places as Mount
Kinabalu
is to use your common sense. It is better for you to divide the
climbing equipment into 2 parts. The first one would be from Timpohon
Gate at Kinabalu
Park HQ to Laban
Rata
and the second one from Laban
Rata to the summit.
You can
buy most of the things while you are in Kota Kinabalu or
Kinabalu Park HQ. Lucky for you,
climbing Mount
Kinabalu does not need any special climbing tools. You just
need a
healthy body and some minimal non-technical climbing equipment. These
are the suggested basic equipment that you need during the climb,
categorized according to the climbing phase.
Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata(0800hrs)
- It
is a day
climb, usually warm and sunny.
So
lightweight clothing like t-shirts and bermudas/shorts is sufficient.
Track bottom is okay.
- Cap/hat.
- Sun-glasses
.
- Raincoat,
in
case of rain. Disposable raincoat is
easily available in Kota Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park. Umbrella,
if
necessary.
- Good
shoes. It
is better for you to have a high cut
shoes as to prevent from ankle injury. Sports shoe is adequate.
- Rubber
sandals/slippers. Some of the climbers use
only open-toe rubber sandals with thick socks during the first part of
the climb. It can also be used in the wet bathroom during your stay in
Laban Rata.
- Sunblock cream
.
- Face
towels.
- 1
liter water
bottle. You can refill your water
during the climb on each shelter.
- Toilet
tissue
papers.
- Food
that is
light and easy to eat - like raisins,
chocolate, nuts, energy bars, glucose and some oral rehydration salts.
Other food like instant noodle, instant coffee or tea, bread, canned
sardines and tuna, if you would like to save some money for your meals
at Laban Rata.
- Plastic
bags.
- Insect
repellent (with
DEET).
- Medicines
(please refer to medical
advice).
- Waist
pouch. It
will also be used during the second part
of the climb.
- Your
backpack.
Better to have a waterproof one. If
not, pack everything in double plastic bag in case of rain. Try to
limit it to less than 10 kilograms. It would be a burden for
you
to bring more than that.
- Still or video
camera
. This is a must. Bring spare
batteries, memory cards (for digital) or film (for manual camera). You
would not want to miss anything, right?
- Walking/hiking
stick (trekking pole), but it is not necessary.
- Towels,
toothbrush and toothpaste. Soap is provided
in Laban Rata. You can have your bath in a heated bathroom there.
Laban Rata to Low's Peak (0230hrs)
- It
is a night
climb, usually cold and windy.
So, warm
clothes is essential. It reaches below 5°C at the peak!
- Torchlight.
Headlight is better as most of the time
you have to hold the rope in the dark.
- Balaclava
mask.
It will protect your face from the
cold wind.
- Gloves.
Waterproof gloves is best, but two pair of
good wool gloves is necessary. It will protect your hands from rope
burn and cold.
- Wind
breaker or
jackets, long sleeves shirts, thick
trousers/cargo pants, thick socks and good shoes.
- Ski
mask, to
protect your head from cold and the wind.
- Small
water
bottle (500ml bottle is enough). The only
place to refill you bottle is at Sayat-sayat Hut.
- Raincoat.
- Some
light foods.
- Camera
with
enough memory cards or film and batteries.
- Waist
pack
is
handy at this time as you could keep
your camera and raincoat inside.
It is not
necessary for you to bring
along your one month luggage for
the entire trip to Sabah up to the mountain. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges
reception office in Kinabalu Park HQ have a place for you to keep your
belongings and
luggage with some
nominal fee. You could contact them for further information. Most
important thing is - travel
light.
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