Gunung Beremban 4 Jul 2010

Leaving PJ at 5 a.m., we reached the trail head at about 9 a.m. with a 30 minutes stopover for breakfast at Bidor wet market. There are many routes to Gunung Beremban, Cameron Highlands. We decided to take the shortest Trail 5 which starts from behind MARDI staff quarters. A security guard at MARDI was kind to direct us to the trail head which is situated on top of a hill accessible via a good tar road. The trail head was clearly marked with the standard yellow signboard above a short flight of steps located between two rows of single storey houses.

We had to bypass vegetable plots before entering the forest trail. The entrance to the forest trail was slightly obscure but easily detectable. Starting at an elevation of 1,374m asl at 9.15 a.m. we took about 2 hours to hit the peak situated at 1,757m asl (official: 1,812m asl). The first 1 hour was an easy trek along a relatively gentle uphill slope to a pavilion rest stop at elevation 1,505m asl. The trail was wide and neat. Trekking was pleasant due to soft cushioning effect of the mossy trail. After the pavilion rest area, it was all the way uphill for the next 45 minutes when we hit the trigonometric station at 11.10 a.m. This section of the trail consisted of red laterite soil held together by tree roots.

The weather was beautiful and we had a clear view of Tanah Rata and Brinchang towns from the peak. We took some time to explore an alternative trail behind the trigonometric station. The alternative trail split into 2 trails: Left Trail 8 to Robinson waterfall and right Trail 7 to Mini tea plantation beside MARDI.

After the usual snack time and photography break, we left the peak at 11.45 a.m. This time we decided to explore Trail 6 home upon reaching the Pavilion Rest Area. We took less than 2 hours to trek from the peak to the Forestry Department, which is the trail head for Trail 6 to Gunung Beremban. Except for one step descent and 2 steep ascents, after the Pavilion Rest Area, the trail was relatively simple to trek. When we reached the Forestry Department at 1.35 p.m., we found that the ever thoughtful and resourceful Ben had gone ahead to thumb a lift from a kind gentleman to Mardi trail head to collect his vehicle in order to fetch us from the Forestry Department.

We left the place at 2 p.m. and reached PJ at 7 p.m. with an hour break for early dinner at Hao Yi Lou, Tapah for RM8 pax.

Trekking buddies: Ben, Murugiah, Kanchana, Chua, Jackie, May, Siew Ngoh, Elsie, Yip and Yeoh.

NB: This mountain Gunung Beremban (1,812m) is different from the higher Gunung Berembun (2,076m) situated in Terengganu.




For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/7987.