Gunung Tok Wan Broga 16 Sep 2010

The last trip to Broga Hill, about 50 km from Petaling Jaya, was on 14 November 2009 (see http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2009/11/broga-hills-14112009.html).

On arrival, we saw more than 50 motor vehicles parked in the old oil palm estate which has been converted into a huge open car park area. Based on this, we estimated at least a hundred hikers in the hills.

At 7.50 a.m., it was quite a task getting through the long queue of people lumbering downhill. We took about 1 hour to reach the Broga peak (400m asl) at 9:05 a.m. A few adventurous youngsters have even resorted to sliding down the lalang slope to beat the queue heading home.

From Broga peak, we had to enter the forest to trek to Gunung Tok Wan (675m asl). We took about 2 hours to trek the undulating trail and hit the peak at 11 a.m. The dense tree canopy provided us much shade against the harsh mid-day sun that day.

After spending an hour, we started to back trek at 12 noon. We literally raced down the Broga trail to minimize exposure to the hot sun and hit the base at 2.15 p.m. Thereafter, we adjourned to Lim Sak Chan’s stall to cool down ourselves with his famous ABC.

Pleasant trekking buddies included Kathy, Ann, Yeoh, Tessie, Terry, Jean, TQ, Christina, Chew and Siew Kim.






For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/7997.

Broga Temple Trail 22 Nov 2009

Trekking up the hill besides the Broga Stone Temple could be described as easy. Starting at 8.15 a.m. the trek to the open hill top took only about 30 minutes. That morning the weather was simply beautiful and cloudy. We took our time to admire the scenic surrounding especially the mist moving about the Broga Hills.

On returning to the Temple at about 10 a.m, we proceeded to hike the opposite hill following the G7 paper trail. The trail passed through the most challenging slopes. The terrain was steep and slippery and we had to grab onto branches and tree trunks to climb uphill. At 323m asl, we decided to make a U turning instead of proceeding up another hill (for another 1 hour) as we were unprepared for such a challenging climb. The downhill trail was drier and thus easier to navigate. It took us a total of 3.5 hours to climb up to 323m asl and to return to base. The hike can be described as vigorous and exhausting.

Trekking buddies: SeeToh (Leader), Ting, Ben, Murugiah, Kachana, Randy, Choo & Elsie.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/6861.

Broga Hills 14 Nov 2009

This is my 5th trip. Following the last trip on 17.5.2009 (http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2009/05/broga-hills-17-may-09_18.html), the crowd was smaller than anticipated possibly due to the gloomy weather. Anyway, it was a fantastic day of no direct sunshine to spend on 'botak' Broga Hills. The downsides were limited views and photography due to the thick mist. Despite the daily rain, the trail was surprisingly dry and firm to trek. Things have changed:-
1) Two access laterite roads to the head trail have been created with ample car parking space on both sides of the roads. Car park fee RM2 per car
2) Stalls could be found near the head trail selling drinks and food.
3) Trails have been upgraded with steps cut into the slope. Certain sections have 2 parallel trails - one for uphill & one for downhill. Gone were the smooth slippery slopes.

After spending a considerable amount of time lepaking on the final hill peak, we decided to back trekked as the trails (beyond the final hill peak) into jungle were covered by thick undergrowth and no longer trekable. We were fortunate that the rain came after we returned to the head trail at about 11 a..m. We later adjourned to the Rock Temple and an orchid farm nearby before rounding up our trip with a scrumptious lunch at Restaurant No 52, Jalan Sg Lalang.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/6809.

Broga Hills 17 May 2009

This is my 4th trip to Broga Hills. The last trip was documented in http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/08/broga-hills-030808_7.html.

As planned, we started late at about 8.40 a.m.and took the clockwise loop. We were indeed very surprised to see more than 50 cars already parked around the access road to the trail head. Along the way, we met many people backtracking to return to the base. Broga Hills is fast turning into a popular place for weekend hikers. We can only reminisce about the peace and tranquility that we used to enjoy. On the other hand, it is good to find many people enjoying trekking.

We reached the 3rd hilltop at about 10.05 a.m. Luck was not with us again for we were unable to view the Petronas Twin Towers & KL Tower. The last time we saw the 3 towers was in July 08 - see http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/07/broga-hills-6-july-08_7.html.

After spending some time enjoying the countryside view, we continued our way downhill through the rubber/oil palm estates (which offered much respite from the hot sun) and reached the base at 11.25 a.m.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/5637.

Broga Hills 3 Aug 2008

This is the third trip to Broga Hills. The last trip was on 06.07.08 and the pictures are posted at http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/07/broga-hills-6-july-08_7.html.

As in the previous trip, we took the anti-clockwise route by following the regulars who meet up every Sunday at 6.30 a.m. We were unable to view the KL Tower and Twin-Towers this trip as it was a bit hazy. The weather was windy and cooling probably due to the haze shielding the sun. The wind did bring in a short shower towards the end of our hike near the gully section. After the hike, we lingered around the durian stall at the access road until about 11 a.m. when we proceeded to Chuan Kee at Broga Market to savour the smooth pan mee aka Tao Ma Chek (RM2.80 per bowl) and creamy ice kacang (RM2 per bowl).

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/3269.

Broga Hills 6 Jul 08

This is my second trip. The first trip was on 16 March 2008. See link at http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/03/broga-hills-1632008_17.html.

We gathered at the Cheras Petronas Station, opposite Plaza Pheonix at 5.45 a.m. and made our way to Broga Hills using the Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban (LEKAS) which cuts through Semenyih. Toll charges amounted to 50 sen at Batu 9 and 90 sen at Batu 11. It took us about 20 minutes to reach Nottingham University Entrance and then another 5 minutes to the access road to the trail head. The access road is located directly opposite a Rabbit Farm along the 1km milestone to Broga from Semenyih. For the roadmap please refer to:

Following a group of Kajang trekkers (who trek every Sunday @ 6.30 a.m.), we trekked about 5 minutes along the laterite road of the oil palm plantation, before we took a right turning into a rubber plantation. From here to the hilltop, we had to take a couple of turnings through the rubber plantation as well as crossing 2 streams and climbing up 2 steep gradients before ending at an open clearing at the highest hilltop. No visible man made markers can be found along the trail and one could easily get lost here without guidance.

Once at the hilltop, we merely followed the clearly visible path that cuts through the tall lalang downhill. Nearer towards the lowland, the highly eroded trail edges along several deep gullies before emerging into an open clearing planted with lemon grass (daun limau perut). From here, we followed the laterite road out towards Broga-Semenyih road. We completed the trek at about 9.30 a.m.

Generally, the trek could be graded as easy and the views from the hill tops were nothing less than fantastic.

Tip: The trail is quite slippery at several sections (with only lalang to hold onto) and a walking stick will be useful. Round trip by road from DU about 110 km.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/3097.

Broga Hills 16 Mar 2008

After parking our cars along the Semenyih-Broga road, we made our way in the dark to the trail head by walking about 10 minutes along the dirt road of the oil palm estate facing the Rabbit Farm. The climb to the rest place at 385m altitude took us another 30 minutes. The hilltop was treeless and pleasantly windy. The views from the hills were also lovely. At 7.20 a.m. after noting that there was no sun in sight we proceeded to the next hill by following a clear path cutting through the lalang covered hills. Fortunately, we met a friendly regular there who kindly guided us downhill using another trail through the jungle and rubber estate which took about 1:15 hr. We visited the Broga Stone Temple, the Semenyih Dam and Look Out Point at Hulu Langat enroute home.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/2833.