So this was Mount Kinabalu
Treacherous terrain of uneven rocks and endless sets of rough sandstone steps
We finally reached Laban Rata after 8 hours of demanding ascent. 6 hours later at 2:30am, we were back on the trail beginning the final lap of our climb to the top in the cool night air. At 3,668m, it was clear that we wouldn't make the summit for sunrise. Nevertheless, we pushed on up the mountain's unrelenting granite slopes, stopping every few minutes to catch our breath. We scrambled up the last set of boulders to the summit, extremely weary but elated, at 7:00am.
View from the top
Conquerors!
The next two days post-climb drifted by in a relaxing blur of island-hopping activities, buffets, naps and much-needed massages. And of course, staying in one of the most luxurious accommodations available in Kota Kinabalu was one of our best highlights post-climb as well.
I never expected the trip to turn out so well, but by God's grace, it did. We were blessed with perfect weather, excellent health (i.e. zero altitude sickness), safety, and a most lovely time together. It was an unforgettable and seamless 5-day adventure.
