Mount Tahan, roof of the peninsular (G1)

View of the Mount Tahan massive hiding in the clouds, 2187m asl.

        The expedition team at the trailhead of Gunung Tahan.

I went to Mount Tahan in July 2005 along with my KTJ hiking buddies, Peter, Nooh, Azman and Azman's elder bro. Mount Tahan located in the Tahan range is the highest mountain in peninsular Malaysia standing at 2187m above sea level. The Tahan range is part of the Tenasserim range which goes up all the way to Southern Thailand. It feels very different from the mountains located in the Titiwangsa range because its vegetation is not as dense and the mountain itself is more rounded and less jagged. Nevertheless, it is no easy meat to conquer Tahan. Its name itself means "endurance". Only those who have enough endurance and can withstand all the challenges will be able to reach its summit!

One of the many river crossings.

One of the highlights of climbing Gunung Tahan is the many river crossings that have to be made. The mountain is a source to a multitude of streams which eventually forms river complexes that flow throughout the Peninsular to provide crucial freshwater to the populace. The two main rivers straddling this area is the Tahan River and the Tembeling River. We had to cross these rivers several times because it criss crosses the trek. The Tahan River in particular is very pure and clear and water can be drank right of the stream. 

Mountain buddies, Peter & I.

The clouds opening up and unwrapping the massive Gunung Tahan in the backdrop.

We were blessed with good weather for the first half of the trail but after lunch, the weather on the way to the top was basically wet and stormy. The clouds usually build up by mid day due to the high levels of humidity of the tropical climate. This is then followed by a tropical downpour for most part of the afternoon hence it is always wise to time your journey well to avoid getting stuck in the middle of a tropical storm while on an exposed ridge where the danger of being struck by lightning is very real.

Peter in a Green Hornet-like raincoat after being inspired by Jet Lee.

We took a break for lunch at Puncak Botak which is a barren  and exposed false summit. We could not stay there for long since the weather was rapidly deteriorating by the minute. We cooked ourselves a reliable quick meal in the form of maggi noodles and ate a bunch of bananas and chocs to stash up that precious energy required to push for the summit. 

Drenched & soaking wet by the torrential highland downpour.

Carpet-like clouds blanketing the mountains of the Tahan Range at dawn's early light.

On the summit of Gunung Tahan, the Roof of the Peninsular.

Azman & I hiking into the Tahan valley beneath. In the backdrop is Gunung Gedung.

Kem Kor, the basecamp. 

Only four of the five team members managed to reach the summit as Azman's elder bro found the going to be too tough for him and decided to stay put in base camp (Kem Kor). The day we reached summit was a rainy and wet day and we were all drenched in cold rainwater. Peter in particular was suffering from the cold as he was soaked up and the cold got into him. However the next morning we were blessed with great views of the rain forest and below and also the surrounding mountains of the unique Tahan Range.

A "pit stop" at the tree post.