Eight of us arrived in 2 cars at Hutan Lipur Gunung Nuang (elevation 181m) at 6.45 a.m. after 45 minutes drive from Petronas Station, opposite Cheras Phoenix Plaza. Five of us begun our walk at 7 a.m. and the rest waited for 3 more hikers. The walk along the undulating laterite road, which has been resurfaced, was pleasant but rather uneventful. We arrived at the first pondok near Sg Lolo at 8.10 a.m. After several river crossings and a short rest at the water pump shed, we reached the Lolo Camp (elevation: 573m) at about 9 a.m. From here, it was another 1½ hr moderate ascent up the badly eroded clayey slope to Pacat Camp (elevation: 1,045m).
After a good 30 minutes rest and having re-energised ourselves, six of us forming the second group decided to push for the summit at 11 a.m. The first group comprising 5 hikers had already left for the Peak between 10.30 a.m. to 10.45 a.m.
From Pacat Camp, there was another 30 minutes of steep ascent along the muddy trail criss-crossed with roots before we came to the near vertical trail section. Here, we had to go on fours. Fortunately, there were adequate exposed roots and tree trunks to haul ourselves up as our tired leg muscles started to fail us. We reached Puncak Pengasih or false peak (elevation: 1,400m) at 12.25 p.m. where we took a left turn as indicated by the signboard to Gunung Nuang summit. Hereon, the trail wound downhill for about 20 minutes before ascending again. The downhill trail was rocky and slippery due to the green moss. Nearer the summit, the trail split into 2 paths which later converged at the summit. We hit the summit (elevation: 1,493m) at 1 p.m., about 2 hours ascent from Pacat Camp.
The weather at the Peak was cloudy and cool at 23ºC and views from the Peak were limited by the fog.
We left peak at 2 p.m. and reached Pacat Camp at 3.20 p.m. and Lolo Camp at 4.15 p.m. It took us another 1 hour 40 minutes from Lolo Camp (5 p.m.) to reach the base at 6.40 p.m. The return trip was extra difficult because of the slippery terrain caused by the afternoon rain.
I would classify this day hike to Gunung Nuang Summit totally 12 hours as torturous.
For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/2988.
