Safety Tips For First-Time Hikers

Saturday October 10, 2009

Going up Tabur

A word of thanks to Ms. Dlu of Corezone Malaysia for networking us with the Star reporter & Mr. Ng of Lafuma Malaysia for carrying our merchandise with message of safe trekking in their store.

Here are some safety tips for first-time hikers :

by Leong Siok Hui

>Always go with someone who knows the trail well, and never hike alone. Visitors’ movements are not monitored in Tabur, unlike in state or national parks. In the doctors’ case, their badly decomposed bodies were only found three days later, when one of their cars was spotted near the trailhead.

>If you’re scared of heights, you should give Tabur a miss. A friend of mine with acrophobia was scared stiff during our hike in Tabur. It spoilt her outing.

>Start out early. Not only could you catch an amazing sunrise, you can avoid the scorching sun due to lack of shade on the exposed ridge.

An experienced hiker lending a hand to another climber. — AGNES TAN

>Dehydration or fatigue causes disorientation. It’s easy to stumble or lose your footing when you’re groggy. Keep yourself hydrated and get in shape. Tabur is not the place to build your stamina due to its rugged terrain. Use flat, easy trails or the gym instead.

>Bring some energy bars or snacks. You never know how long you may end up on the trail, especially if someone in your group is unfit or gets hurt.

>Bring along your mobile phone. In the past, lost hikers have managed to call the police from their mobile phones.

>Avoid hiking after nightfall. You might step into a “bottomless” pit or get hopelessly stranded. In 2003, 13 hikers out of a group of 20 went missing while trying to get down the hill at dusk. They were rescued eight hours later.

>Missing hikers are not uncommon in Tabur. Try not to stray off the path unless you’re GPS-equipped or highly experienced.

>It’s prudent to register your name at the Melawati Police Station — Tel: (03) 4108 1222 — before your hike. It’ll help speed up rescue operations or evacuation should the need arise.

Tip: In the websites of outdoor gear retailers like Corezone and Lafuma, you will find groups advertising hikes to Bukit Tabur.

Related Stories:
Ill-fated hill

Bukit Tabur Accident September 21, 2009

It was first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we were outstation attending a wedding function when we received a call for help at one noon, saying that someone fell in Bukit Tabur.

To our knowledge, most of our friends have gone outstation mountain climbing in view of the long stretch of public holiday during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri .

After some contacting, two of our friends, ( they didn't want their name mentioned) a husband & wife team climbers, though they have just came down climbing Bukit Tabur West, responded to the call for help.

They related that they grabed some buns to fill their stomach, up again went to Bukit Tabur East to help search for the victims.

They manage to find the location of the fall victim but in no way, either of them was able to provide any further assistence due to the danger therein other than liasing to inform the police on the same.

At 9.48 pm, we received an sms indicating that the missing person was found with some minor injury.

We understand there isn't any special task force to tackle various problems arise out of fall or accidents or lost in the jungle for Bukit Tabur.


As hobbyist in mountain climbing, we do have limitation in helping should there be any accident happens.





We strongly advise against climbing Bukit Tabur all alone without any company, more so when you are unfamiliar with the terrain, never must anyone under estimate the danger therein Bukit Tabur, East or West


Also, let's not put the rescuer, be it police or Jabatan Perhikmatan Awam at risk of danger too.

Star Online

Tuesday September 22, 2009

Bushes cushion elderly hiker’s fall

KUALA LUMPUR: A 51-year-old man who went hiking at Bukit Tabur, Ampang, slipped and fell 30m but was saved when he landed on some bushes yesterday.

The hiker, who only wanted to be known as Lim, was stuck there for more than six hours before the authorities rescued him at 6.30pm.

Ampang Jaya Deputy OCPD Supt Amiruddin Jamiluddin said the man, who was from Tanjung Sempat, started hiking in the morning but he was unfamiliar with the terrain.

“He realised he was lost at about 12.30pm,” he said, adding that the victim slipped while trying to find his way out.

Lim called his family for help on his mobile phone at 3.30pm.

Supt Amiruddin said it took about three hours to locate the hiker.

“He suffered light injuries and was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment,” he said.

Bukit Tabur East : Terrain

Random pictures showing some parts of the terrains up the Bukit Tabur East ( Crystal Hill East)


Most part of the crystal hill at the East side is of narrow range, some stretches allow passage on one by one passing through, with vertical cliff clear seen on one side, and vegetation growth on the other covering the cliff on the other.



Trekker was seen carefully climbing by clinging and manouvering himself through rocks


Click to view original size of the picture


Some parts are rather steep with ranges of 60 to 90 degrees, if anyone with height phobia, probably he/she will be sit sliding, squat sliding to get from one spot to the other.




Take a look at the tree trunk right to the trekker in yellow t-shirt versus the girl trying to get down, this is the vertical slope that i have been trying to explain.


Passing through few steep slopes, one will have the chance to see the beautiful view of the water dam and it's water catchment.


Amidst the gentle cool breeze blows you by.

Bukit Tabur East : Entrance

There are lots of information on Bukit Tabur West on the internet, but i notice not much on Bukit Tabur East, ( Crystal Hill East Side) climbing Tabur East is equally if not more challenging than Bukit Tabur West.

I would like to contribute some information on how to get to the Bukit Tabur East, some features on the terrains, and what to look out when you venture into this part of the Crystal Hill.

There are two most distinct ways to get to Bukit Tabur East.

On the right of this Klang Gate Dam ( Empangan Klang Gate), there is a flight of stairs that go towards the river, you will need to walk down the stairs towards the river.


, crossing the river to get to the other side to get to the foothill.




During rainy season, it is not advisable to go by this way as large volume of water can swell up within very short time.






The pebbles/stones at the river bed can be very slippery too.

Best way to get to the foothill is via the big water pipe near the hill which has some government quarters or perhaps the district engineer's housing.




Park your cars by the side and walk alongside the big waterpipes.



Whether crossing the river or walk alongside the big waterpipe, trekkers will end up at the foothill of Tabur East.



Notice the arrow that shows start here, I was a few steps up from the entrance of the trail.

Unreported Accident In Bukit Tabur

We were celebrating SK Lee's birthday up in Bukit Tabur on Sunday.




Picture from Christopher Choi's album, In the picture are the regular trekkers of Bukit Tabur.


Besides catching up on each other over what happened the entire week, one topic of discussion was on the accident that happened on June 20, 2009 when a female trekker fell off the cliff at Second Rope.



There were two groups of trekkers witnessing the fell, one from opposite the mountain after they trekked past the Second Rope and another group witnessed the trekker fell in front of their very eyes when they were waiting for their turn to go down the Second Rope.

The trekker fell estimated 20 -30 meters down the vertical cliff, she was fortunate because there was a tree blocking her from going down further.

Shivers, shivers, shivers.......................

Facebook N Bukit Tabur

Thetrekkers & Bukit Tabur is on facebook now,

Click on picture above to enter site

Trekking Shoes

We would like to share what we saw, some trekking shoes that were on the feet of some trekkers up on Bukit Tabur.

1) worn out shoes, the sole/soles that can come off easily.


Click on the picture for details



Watermelon Lau has been trekking regularly in this quartz ridge the past 6 years, he volunteers himself to collect rubbish each time he goes up there.

According to him, it is not unusual to take down a pair or two, different soles of the trekking shoes that were left behind by trekkers.

Some are even branded shoes, he remarked.



We do not intend to name which brand of trekking shoes will or will not give way, we are of the opinion that, if any shoes that is almost near their retirement age, best to let them enjoy their retirement at home rather than work them so hard up on the mountain.

Unless a spare is brought along to replace the near spoilt trekking shoes when it gives way.

Isn't it easier to do things right from the very beginning ? best to wear a good pair of trekking shoes before ascending the hill.

Having to trek on shoes without sole/soles, may be some would think it is funny.

It is not so funny anymore when one need to walk with socks only on your feet, when you are half way neither up nor down the hills, especially to those who don't appreciate the free reflexology Bukit Tabur ridges offers.

Click to see the sole on the rock and Melawati Town below


2) Certain part of Bukit Tabur ( East ) will need rope climbing, seeing this young man balancing himself while coming down the slope using the rope, balancing himself by having to take care of the terrain to make sure his footware didn't come off.

For known reason, it really cause me irregular and forceful beating of heart.




He did expressed regret for wearing such footware as trekking shoes up Bukit Tabur, which he said he should have stop at the foothill instead of risking his life up on the mountain.

Click on the picture for details



3) When these three guys passed us by, we say hullo to them.

Click to see details


Further looking at what was on their feet, we were just speechless !




Definately this kind of slippers is a no no, I wouldn't even dare trying on my feet climbing any mountain let alone Bukit Tabur.


3) These are some of the trekking shoes we found on trekkers' feet on Bukit Tabur


Click to see details



Happy Feet means Happy Trekking

The Trekking Dogs

These are the two dogs that follow trekkers up Bukit Tabur.




Both are very hard working generally.

Especially the female brown dog, she will accompany trekkers up until the Location of Second Rope in Bukit Tabur. The white spotted black dog doesn't do it all the time.

For us as regulars, the brown dog had many times, waited patiently for us at the Second Rope to back trek from the end of Bukit Tabur ( Carpet Grass ) and accompany us until we reached the foothill.



Our observation shows that they might not have one owner who takes care of them, but as stray or they belong to the mechanics who operate motor workshops at the foothill.

The white male dog has bitten a girl last week coz he was aggrevated.

These two dogs will normally lead trekkers up Bukit Tabur, but at other point they will sit quietly and observe trekkers pass by and follow from behind after all the trekkers has trek passed them.

Reading some bloggers who blogs on Bukit Tabur, mentioning these two dogs by many different names, kind of makes me wonder whether they will be confused with the different dog names given by different trekkers.

The purpose of mentioning these two dogs in this Bukit Tabur blog is to bring awareness to trekkers, that we ought to be kind to the dogs.

From our experience, both are very tamed, and can be very sweet in nature. No doubt they are stinky, guess nobody baths them is the reason.

Let's be kind to them.

While we do not advocate against animal cruelty here, be very kind in treating them is a right thing to do.

There are some trekkers kick them hard and they almost fell off the cliff.


( click on the picture to see details )






but they are other dog lovers, put a dog collar on one, and feed them with canned food etc...


I am fascinated by the behaviour of these two dogs. and wonder how they come down the cliff.


Click on the picture to view details



Once I had an opportunity to watch from the opposite mountain range at the First Rope and observed how one of them came down.

Capturing them in pictures that i will look again and again and marvel at the dog's skill in climbing without going through dog training.

It's just so marvellous how they do it.


Click to view details




For these two dogs who trek Bukit Tabur, rarely you will hear them bark or purposely go near to you, just like they kind of understand sniffing is not allowed on some.

Only twice we heard the female brown dog barked, once it was at a huge monkey at the Second Rope Location, which we have never seen before in the years we trek in Bukit Tabur.

And another time the brown dog was barking at the hissing snake that camoflourged on the branches, probably alerting us to be careful.

Let us all be kind, be very very kind, be kind to them.

Everest Base Camp Trekkers Photoshot & Promote Safe Trekking

Location : At the First Rope of Bukit Tabur West

Working At : Mitigating the danger at the First Rope, to lower the risks of main rope from swinging out to the right when climbers descending the cliff.


Work Done in February 14, 2009 : Rock Climber Lau and Peter, together with Eric & some others had worked on an enhanced rope( red & white striped rope ), tying it to the main rope ( green color ) on February 14, 2009

What Happened after that : The Enhanced Rope was cut off by someone ( ????? ) between February 14, 2009 and March 19, 2009




Taking the opportunity to ride on the coverage by Star Metro, we highlight to the reporter on the danger in Bukit Tabur, with hope they will also put a little advise to the potential trekkers, who have never come here but planning to, or new trekkers who needs the information.

I took up the opportunity to assist KC and his team ( http://penguin-r2.blogspot.com )




of Everest Base Camp trekkers ( They are going in October 2009 )



in the photo shootings,




and training in Bukit Tabur.



while leaving Derrick Wong & gang, to assist Rock Climber Lau, who always put on harness,




to work on the enhanced rope at the First Rope Location.



Working On the aim again : Our effort now is to focus on safe trekking, this is the second time the enhanced rope is being tied to the main rope.



Testing By Lai Kuan



KC 's team of Everest Base camp trekkers were among the first and previlege to use the rope with enhanced feature to scale down the cliff.


We hope the work done this time will stay to benefit those who needs it.


A special thanks to Lau, who has just recovered from his bout of flu, but chose to come due to the urgency and need in Bukit Tabur, and Derrick Wong, who has purposely taken a day of leave off from work to help, and lai kuan & alex and Amelia in one way or another contributing to the community work towards trekking safely

No matter how safe this community work is meant for everyone, we would advise that it's better to be sure yourself by checking the rope thoroughly before making any descend as safety precaution.

Please take a picture, send us a mail should you suspect breakage of any sort on the rope, let's keep an eye on safety for each other to ensure safe trekking in Bukit Tabur

DISCLAIMER

On coming down or going up the ranges in Bukit Tabur, to proceed from one place to another, We WILL NOT BE and CANNOT BE held responsible for any mishaps and/or accidents whatsoever arising from your climbing here.