Friday, August 16, 2013

The Thrills, Spills and Heroes




Whenever I sit down to write a blog for our completed climb, I try to retrospect the experience and feeling it conjure before, during and after. This year it is kind of dejavu because Day 2 (as like last year) trekkers comprising 103 of them, were barred from making it to the summit due to adverse weather conditions (sorry guys and gals!). Day 1 trekkers comprising 109 of them were luckier but only 60% made it to the summit, the rest that didn't were either struck by AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or forced to turn back due to sub-zero temperatures and strong wind close to summit.

Thank God that this year's trek went on smoothly in terms of logistics and timing (thanks to all committee members especially Engu and Samantha). There were also no major injury incidents alas for one minor fall happened to Tan Cheng Cheng with a slight bruise on her forehead.

We had a record of 250 people (1 airplane load) in our APOH contingent comprising of 230 trekkers and 20 non-trekkers. This year we had invited one of Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor (PPKKCKS) children to trek with us, his name is 18 year old Ngoh Kok Ming. He was accompanied by one of PPKKCKS caretaker. Both of them surprisingly managed to conquer Mount Kinabalu on Day 1 effortlessly. When asked them was it tough? They said it was not as they were well prepared for it months before the trek.

Joining us too was a news reporter from the Malay Mail (media partner for 2013) who gave us good print media coverage (see news article on right hand panels). China Press too had given us some coverage as they had 4 personnel trekking with us this year.

The one day trekking (up down Mount Kinabalu in 1 day) that APOH introduced for the first time in 2012 was even more popular this year as we had 8 super-fit' trekkers. Out of the 8 trekkers, only 1 made it to the summit and he is non other than Foo Jong Wee. He managed to reach summit at noon time. The others that didn't make it were either barred from summit due to adverse weather (Day 1) or didn't reach Sayat-Sayat check point on time (Day 2).

 Day 2 trekkers

 Day 1 trekkers

Anyhow, APOH donation collection amount to date is reaching RM90,000. The excitement of mountaineering has passed and now is down to efforts of soliciting donations for PPKKCKS until end-November. It is now the next mountain that we have to conquer, our RM200,000 donation collection figure!

PPKKCKS needs your help, please donate (donation form is on the right hand panel).