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.

AHFR III 1 Nov 2009

With this third trek, I would say that I have completed all the AHFR trails. Within 25 minutes of trekking, we reached the Wild Boar Hut Rest place at 8.40 a.m. Surprisingly, the two swings in the area have been removed.

When we came to Junction 1, we took the right trail with the aim of visiting the mini waterfall. The trail became narrower and the path was padded with a thick layer of fallen leaves and undergrowth. It took about 20 minutes of downhill trek to reach the mini waterfall. The area was pristine with crystal clear water.

After a short 5 minutes photography session, we hurried up the steep gradient slope to escape from the "ambushing" leeches. We had difficulty tracing the uphill trail as it was obscured by fallen leaves and tree branches. We just pushed on uphill by scrambling through whatever openings between trees and shrubs. Needless to say, there a fair bit of ducking to avoid the sharp vines and low branches. It took us about 30 minutes to scale uphill to hit the peak of 197m asl (reported to be 233m asl) near Junction 2. From here, we proceeded downhill to Junction 3 where we took the right trail to Junction 4 and then the left trail to visit the big waterfall.

We ed around for about 20 minutes before we pushed on at about 11 a.m. to trek back via Junctions 6, 3 and 2 to Summit One. From here, we took the Pupa trail via Junction 8 and exited Entrance B at about 12.50 p.m.

Overall, a good energetic trek of over 4 hours with Ben, Woon (leader), Ting, Muru and wife.

Earlier treks are documented at http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2009/10/ahfr-trek-ii-241009.html and http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2009/09/ahfr-trek-i-270909.html.

ROUTE TAKEN


For the photographs of this trek, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/7204.

AHFR Trek II 24 Oct 2009

Following the last Air Hitam Forest Reserve Trek (AHFR) on 27 September 2009 (http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2009/09/ahfr-trek-i-270909.html), we did another trek on 24 October 2009. We started the trek at 8.40 a.m. but only entered the forest 20 minutes later at 9.10 a.m. via Entrance A.The reason being we took time to enjoy the vista view of Puchong and its surrounding areas at a limestone outcrop.



At the Wild Boar Hut rest area, we gladly accepted the invitation of a group of trekkers to join them. This time we took a slightly different route to the big Waterfall. Our original plan to visit the small waterfall failed for we were unable to locate Junction 2 twice (to & fro). Upon returning to Summit One, we decided to go back by the longer Pupa trail where we emerged from the forest via Entrance B at 1.10 p.m. Two improvements noted this time were:
1) Clear signage from Summit One to exit using Pupa trail via Entrance B and
2) Fresh trail with cut steps and rope railing from the logging trail to the waterfall area.

Total time spent was over 4 hours. It was an enjoyable trek in the pleasant company of Ken, Hong Kee, Daniel, Chia and friends.

Our next mission is to locate the elusive small waterfall and hest peak.

Trail Taken


For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/7115.

Gunung Jerai 16-18 Oct 2009

Our chartered bus headed to Kedah at about 9 p.m. from PJ and reached Cinta Sayang Resort, Sg Petani at about 4 a.m. As our bus was early, we continued sleeping on board until 6.30 a.m. when we woke up for breakfast. En route to Sg Petani, we stopped over in Ipoh for a midnight supper of the famous Ipoh steamed chicken and bean sprouts.

It was already 9.30 a.m. when we finally located Titi Hayun Resort at Yan. We quickly organized into a hiker group and a waterfall group. After several group photography sessions, the hikers took off at 9.45 a.m. for Tangga Kenari, the trail head for the climb to Regency Jerai Hill Resort while I joined the waterfall group for the Puteri Mandi Waterfall, 3km away.

After trekking for about 20 minutes, we noted that the wide muddy trail stopped abruptly at an abandoned pump house and we were forced to continue along a narrow trail behind the house. However, we backtracked within 5 minutes, following sighting of numerous leeches of all sizes springing up along the trail and ‘attacking’ us. We did a de-leeching exercise immediately upon finding a safe spot. As expected, there were several casualties.

To kill time, three of us decided to climb the Tangga Kenari 1000 Tahun ala 1000 years old stairway. The 1200 steps took us about 25 minutes to climb and 15 minutes to descent. Next, we made our way to Lembah Bujang to visit the Archaeological Museum and the nearby cascading Sg Merbok.

After lunch we went up to Regency Jerai Hill Resort by vans. At the Resort, we were treated with a panoramic view of the chequered padi fields and the fine coastline as well as the surrounding islands. Midway uphill, we did a whistle stop at the Forestry Museum to explore the surrounding area which included a waterfall and a great vista of the chequered Kedah padi fields also. In the late afternoon, a few of us took the opportunity to walk up the 3 km tar road from the Resort to the Gunung Jerai Peak hoping to catch sunset. Unfortunately, the peak area was a restricted area for Telekom Towers and thus off limit to the public. The uphill walk took about 35 minutes.

We left the following morning and reached home about 6.30 p.m.

For record purpose, the hikers took about 2½hrs to scale up to The Regency Jerai Hill Resort (960m asl) from Titi Hayun (65m asl). From the Resort, the tar road snaked up another 3 km to the Gunung Jerai Peak (1200m asl).
There is an alternative longer route named Warisan Trail running directly from the Archaeological Museum and exiting at the tar road, the location thereof is about 2 ascending road bends or 300m distance to the Telekom Towers. Based on the official trail map, there is a trail linking the Titi Hayum Trail (which goes to The Regency Jerai Hill Resort) to the Warisan Trail (which goes to Gunung Jerai Peak). Check out the hike photos at http://yeohsk.multiply.com/photos/album/42/Gunung_Jerai_16-18_Oct_09.

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/7015.

AHFR Trek I 27 Sep 2009

Last Sunday, on 27 September 2009, we decided to trek AHFR again. This time we entered the western part AHFR via Persiaran Indera/Persiaran Bukit through Taman Wawasan. This trail was much wider and clearer as well as popular with the local residents.

[On 20 September 2009, we trekked the northern part of Air Hitam Forest Reserve (AHFR) by entering the head trail situated at the end of Jalan BK 5b/5 of Taman Bukit Kinrara. We did not encounter a single soul during our 3 hours trek through the undulating trail fraught with steep ascents and descents. The trail which was covered by thick undergrowth and sharp vines was also slippery owing the rain the day before – definitely very challenging but not a choice trail for beginners.]

Starting at 8.40 a.m., we took about 10 minutes trek the steep open trail before turning right to enter the forest (Entrance A) where we were greeted by a colourful billboard (erected by the Forest Authorities) pronouncing all the rules and penalties. From here onwards, the trek was cool due to the thick tree canopies. The trail was pleasant to trek as it was clear and wider and. We hit the first pit stop (Wild Boar Hut) at 9.00 a.m. and the second pit stop (Summit One) at 9.25 a.m. where we took the 12 o’clock route. At 9.45 a.m. we came to a Y-junction (Junction 3) and took the right uphill trail. After 15 minutes, we came to a logging trail where we took the left turn (Junction 4). It took us another 15 minutes before we came to a signboard warning the public against swimming in the deep waterfall pool. The waterfall is situated at the end of a short descent on the right side. After a short photography session, we proceeded along the logging trail (passed Junctions 5 & 6) for 30 minutes until we came to a Temuan Settlement where we accepted the hospitality of settlers to look around.

We backed trek along the logging trail and just before the waterfall signboard we took another trail on the right (Junction 6) and returned to the second pit stop (Summit One) at 12.15 p.m. This trail (HINI) appeared less trekked as there was a fair bit of obstacles (fallen tree trunks and branches) along the way. From here, it was another 30 minutes of trek before we emerged from the jungle, via the same Entrance A at 12.45 p.m.

Overall, an easy and pleasant trek.


For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/6758.

Gunung Kuning Trail 2 Aug 2009

Over 30 trekking kakis gathered @ 9.30 a.m. at the17km milestone to Kampung Raja along the Simpang Pulai Highway near the Pahang/Perak boundary for the Gunung Kuning hike. The trek involved an initial steep climb up the slope of the Simpang Pulai Hwy and many ascents and descents (no less than 12 times) within the altitudes of 1400m and 1600m asl.

With mossy forest and many nepenthes plants, the trail was reminiscent of Gunung Irau trail with less mud. Unlike the much trekked and clear Irau trail, the Gunung Kuning trail could be described as "wild" with overgrowth. Apart from ducking our heads to avoid low overhead branches as well as clambering over or crawling under fallen tree trunks, we had to trudge carefully to avoid being “held back” or cut by the sharp thorny vines. The weather was not kind that day too; rain came within the first hour of trek. Needless to say, we had to keep our eyes peeled on the trail to balance ourselves on the slippery terrain.

After trekking 4 hrs, my group reached a second open hill top at 1.30 p.m. Wet and cold and with no sign of Gunung Kuning peak (1663m asl) in sight, we decided we had enough for that day and prepared to back trek after taking our lunch notwithstanding the fact that we were only 25 minutes away from the summit, as advised by our recce hiker, and thus lost the chance to view the famed white moss found around the summit area.

It was about 2.30 p.m. when we made our U-turn and reached the base at 6 p.m. after 3.5 hrs of trekking.

Post analysis:
• Trek time to summit is about 4.5 hrs for an average trekker.
• Should start early @ 8 a.m. to have more buffer time.
• Parang will be useful to clear the overgrowth and make the trail more passable.
• Only 2 cases of reported leech bites despite the rain

For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/6689.