To avoid the long journey from Petaling Jaya, my group of 4 members decide to spend a night at Grand Kampar Hotel on Saturday night (7 April 2012) to prepare for the following day ascent of Gunung Peninjau (1112m asl).
We regrouped with the rest of 21 trekking kakis at Gopeng Toll rest area before making our way to Kampung Ulu Chepor, the base for climbing Gunung Peninjau. Starting at 8.50 a.m., the first 0.5 hour was an easy gentle walk along paved and rocky pathway which winded alongside Sungei Chemor. The riverside views of cascading waters were simply pleasing. After the wide stream, the mountain path ascended abruptly and steeply. We have to clamber and scramble our way up most of the time. We have to use our hands to grip and hold on to available tree trunks and branches to heave ourselves upward. The slope was wet and slippery from rain the day before. The trail was wild and rugged with fallen tree trunks and prickly vines. The steep climb continued for the next 1.5 hours till we hit the campsite called HUT Everest. Later, we find out that that was not the original trail to the campsite.
From the campsite, the path appeared more defined and trodden but it was still a steep uphill for the next 2 hours till the summit. The strong trekkers were able to make it to the summit within 3.5 hours. Sited on the small summit area was a trigonometrical station. The view from the summit was limited to Chemor town.
The last of us left the summit at 1.30 p.m. and made to the base at 4.30 p.m.
This was certainly a tough trek owing to the slippery and steep terrain. Fortunately, the weather was kind (it did not rain despite the thunderous sound roaring in the background) and all of us managed to complete the trek with limited injuries from sliding falls and prickly vines.
Wonderful trekking buddies included Elsie, Christina and Victor together with 21 others.
For the photographs, please refer to:
http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/13301.
