Mount Kinabalu

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Template:Mtnbox start Template:Mtnbox prom Template:Mtnbox coor dm Template:Mtnbox climb Template:Mtnbox finish Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu) is Southeast Asia's third highest mountain, behind Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar and Puncak Jaya in Indonesia, at a height which has been given as 4095 m (13,450 ft) [1] above sea level, or also 4101 m [2] from other sources. It is located in Kinabalu State Park on the Malaysian island of Borneo. The main peak of the mountain can be climbed by a person with a good physical condition, and requires no mountaineering equipment. Other peaks along the massif, however, require rock climbing skills. The mountain features a large variety of flora, including wild pitcher plants and orchids.

1 Climbing route
2 Tales
3 Biology
4 External links

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Climbing route

Climbers must be accompanied by guides at all times. The climb starts at the Kinabalu park headquarters at 1500 m (4900 ft). Accommodation is available inside the park or outside near the headquarters. From there, climbers proceed to the Timpohon gate at 1800 m (5900 ft), either by minibus or by walking, and then walk to the Laban Rata hut at 3300 m (10,800 ft). Most people accomplish this part of the climb in 3 to 6 hours. Since there are no roads, the supplies for the Laban Rata hut are carried by porters, mostly old women, who bring up to 30 kilograms of supplies on their backs. Hot food and beverages, hot showers and heated rooms are available at the hut. The last 800 m (2600 ft), from the Laban Rata hut at 3300 m to the summit at 4100 m, takes between 2 and 4 hours. The last part of the climb is on naked granite rock.

Given the high altitude, some people may suffer from altitude sickness and should return immediately to the bottom of the mountain, as breathing and any further movement becomes increasingly difficult.

A typical descent from the summit is quick but is often equally painful as the ascent: knee joints, ankle joints and toes tend to suffer as the climbers descend 3000 m (9850 ft) in five hours.

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Tales

Some believe the name Kina-balu means "Chinese widow", from "China" and the Malay word "Balu", meaning "widow". An alternative derivation is from the Kadazan dusun phrase "Aki Nabalu" meeting "the revered place of the dead".

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Biology

The mountain is famous for supporting a rich ecosystem of many endemic and very rare species of flora and fauna. The most well known are the pitcher plants and orchids, especially Nepenthes rajah.