Gunung Bubu 1,657m 2008

Date: 25 Oct 08 - 27 Oct 08 [3D/2N]
Location: Gunung Bubu, Ulu Kenas, Kuala Kangsar, Perak
Altitude: 1,657m ASL
Difficulty: 6.2/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
Trail length: 10.2km + 1.8km
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4
Filter: none
Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: http://loitc.multiply.com
Members: Uncle Yong, Dan, KL Tan, Doraemon Ang and 10 hikers from KL('YOU-HIN LIAU'; 'Eng Wah Lok'; 'Chee Weng Yeoh'; 'Kaw Pua'; 'Teck Chai Lai'; 'keng heng tan'; 'Chu-huan Jong'; 'Victor Chan'; 'Lawrence CY Lo')
Drivers KL
Guide: http://kimcheejong.multiply.com + my GPS
My reason to go there: There are only a few mountains at the west side of PLUS highway, Bujang Melaka, Jerai and Bubu …. I have hiked the other 2, so I thought that it would be great to do the remaining..

SLIDESHOW

Albums from other cameras:
http://powerofnature.multiply.com/photos/album/136
http://powerofnature.multiply.com/photos/album/137
http://powerofnature.multiply.com/photos/album/138
http://kimcheejong.multiply.com/photos/album/50
http://kimcheejong.multiply.com/photos/album/51
http://loitc.multiply.com/photos/album/65
http://picasaweb.google.com/liauyouhin/GBubuKualaKangsar2426OCT08?authkey=p-61X-e6seA#

Journey 
Day 1: 9:00am - 3:00pm from starting point/100m(Kem Bina Negara Ulu Kenas) to Camp Garding/945m (Long break for lunch by the river/400m)
Day 2: 8:00am - 10:00am from Camp Garding/945m to Summit/1657m (Explore other peaks at summit)
Day 2: 11:40am - 2:10pm from Summit/1657m to Camp Garding/945m (Long break at last water point/1390m)
Day 3: 9:50am - 3:20pm from Camp Garding/945m to Kem Bina Negara Ulu Kenas/100m (Long break for lunch at river crossing/450m)

Rewards of this trip 
- nice quiet campsite(Camp Garding)
- Lots of streams along the trail, very clean water
- There are streams on both sides of Camp Garding
- Relaxing hike, moderately easy hike
- Not too cold, very nice temperature during the day and night
- Clear blue sky for all 3 days, no rain

Challenges of this trip 
- There were a lot of leeches, especially on day 1
- I stumbled upon some sort of wasp colony and got bitten all over, ouch
- Venomous ants bites
- Very few sandflies 

Cost 
- Guide Fees: NIL
- 4WD: NIL
- Permit fees: RM10.00 (for 1-40pax)
- Camp site fees: NIL
- Food: approx. RM19.00 
- Transport: RM40:00 Passengers AA share petrol + tol cost - Drivers don't pay

Summary
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Camped 2 nights at Camp Garding, which is about 2 hours from the summit
- 4 people from Penang, 10 from KL 
- No guide, 4-5 people have GPS with them, however http://kimcheejong.multiply.com led the trail
- Started & ended at Kem Bina Negara Ulu Kenas
- There were leeches all the way from the carp park until Camp Garding
- Lots of bees and butterflies 
- Didn't see any Raflesia, but we saw a Raja Brookes during river break, evident of Raflesia colonies.
- Lots of hornbill encounters; there were several different calls, but I could tell exactly which species they where. (poor visual due to the thick forest canopy)
- Temperature at campsite (24°c before bed time, possibly <21°c after 3:00am)
- There are streams on both sides of Camp Garding
- Camp Garding was devastated by some sort of tropical avalanche quite recently(I think <6 months ago), what used to be a flat campsite that could accommodate 50 campers is now reduced to several small areas that accommodates perhaps 20. What used to be a stream at the right side of Garding has been transformed into a wide opening littered with boulders and other forest rubbles. However the stream on the left is still small and nice.
- Camp sites on the summit seem really good, especially on the west peak. I think it could easily accommodate 20-30.
- The LWP(Last water point) before the summit is about 1 hour from the summit