Gunung Tahan 2,187m

Date: 07 June 08 - 11 June 08 [5D/4N]
Location: Gunung Tahan
Altitude: 2,187m ASL
Difficulty: 7.0/10 (http://danlow.multiply.com/journal/item/50)
From: Kuala Betis, Gua Musang
Hike duration: 5D/4N
A.K.A.: G1 of Semenanjung Malaysia
A.K.A.: G6 of Malaysia
Camera: Canon EOS 350D
Lens: Tokina AT-X 124 AF Pro DX 12-24mm f/4
Filter: none
Post editing: PS CS3
Organizer: Lucy
Assistant(Equipment): Kean
Assistants(Menu and Food): Dan and Doreen
Cooks: Uncle Yong, Dan and Doreen
Kitchen helper: Lynn, Wan Lin, Khai Chern, CS, Andrew and Lucy
Drivers: Lynn, Kean and CS
Guide: Zul (Taman Negara)
My reason to go there: Long waited hiking trip, curious to see what Gunung Tahan is like and love to photograph Gunung Tahan – add into to my collection.

SLIDESHOW

With the completion of his trip I have completed the "Peninsular Malaysia G7", but the Peninsular Malaysia G7 is not what I’m looking for .. coz my quest is to complete the "Malaysian G12".
I have completed 9 `G`s out of the 12, so 3 more to go. They are Tambuyukon, Murud and Mulu.

Malaysia G List / Name / Meters / Date
G1 /         Gunung Kinabalu / 4095 / 28 Mar 06 - 29 Mar 06 ~ Done ~
G2 /         Gunung Trusmadi / 2642 / 2 May 07 - 6 May 07 ~ Done ~
G3 /         Gunung Tambuyukon / 2579 / [Q1-Q2 2009] ~ Planning ~
G4 /         Gunung Murud / 2423 / [Q1-Q4 2010] ~ Planning ~
G5 /          Gunung Mulu / 2376 / [Q3-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G6 /          Gunung Tahan / 2187 / 07 Jun 08 - 10 Jun 08 ~ Done ~
G7 /          Gunung Korbu / 2183 / 10 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G8 /          Gunung Yong Belar / 2181 / 08 Feb 08 - 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G9 /          Gunung Gayong / 2173 / 09 Feb 08 - 10 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G10 / Gunung Chamah / 2171 / 19 Jan 08 - 21 Jan 08 ~ Done ~
G11 / Gunung Yong Yap / 2168 / 03 Mar 07 - 04 Mar 07 ~ Done ~
G12 / Gunung Ulu Sepat / 2160 / 31 Aug 07 - 02 Sep 07 ~ Done ~
**************************************
G13 / Gunung Batu Putih / 2131 / [Q4 2008] ~ Planning ~
G14 / Gunung Tama Abu / 2113 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G15 / Gunung Irau / 2110 / x4 2005-2008 ~ Done ~
G16 / Gunung Benum/Benom / 2107 / [Q1-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G17 / Gunung Apd Runan / 2103 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G18 / Gunung Gerah / 2103 / [Q1-Q4 2009] ~ Planning ~
G19 / Puncak 6850 / 2088 / 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~
G20 / Gunung Batu Buli / 2082 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G21 / Gunung Tumang Batak / 2080 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G22 / Gunung Bilah / 2076 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G23 / Gunung Berembun(Wray’s) / 2075 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G24 / Gunung Belatok / 2073 / ~ No Plans in the near future ~
G25 / Gunung Junction / 2071 / 09 Feb 08 ~ Done ~

The Journey 
Day 1: 1/2 hour of 4WD ride from Sungai Relau to Kuala Juram. 4-5 hours hike - Kuala Juram to Kem Kor - Camp at Kem Kor
Day 2: 8-9 hours - Kem Kor to Kem Botak - Camp at Kem Botak
Day 3: 8-9 hours - Kem Botak to the Summit, then to G. Gedung and back to Kem Botak (day pack only), Camp at Kem Botak
Day 4: 7.5-8.5 hours - Kem Botak to Kem Kor - 4th night camp at Kem Kor
Day 5: 3.5-4 hours - Kem Kor to Kuala Juram - then took 4WD to Sungai Relau, stopping at Menara Bukit Seraya for a great view of the Tahan Range.

Rewards of this trip 
- Breath taking view from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak
- Breath taking view from Kem Botak to the summit of Gunung Tahan
- Breath taking view from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung
- Relaxing hike with sunny sky during the day
- Not sunny from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak, so no sun burn
- Not sunny from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung, so no sun burn
- Rained at night after dinner for 30mins-1 hour on 3 nights, so there were not water supply shortage at Kem Botak
- There were leeches, but not many
- Clear sky all the way
- Excellent team work, great hiking gang

Challenges of this trip 
- There were some sand-flies at Kem Botak’s water point, I got >20 bites, itched for 1 week.
- It rained for 30mins – 1 hour after dinner on 3 nights, tent got flooded, flysheets survived.
- Very muddy trail from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak.
- Very muddy trail from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung.
- Lynn’s car broke down before Kuala Betis-Gua Musang’s junction, it had to be towed away for repair, fortunately we had time to waste on day one.
- Uncle Yong had a 3cm cut on the palm(on day 3), was treated at Gua Musang’s hospital after the hike. Fortunately it was not a serious injury.

Cost 
Overall cost per person was RM146.00(driver) + RM112.00(for passenger)
- Guide Fees 5D4N: RM1,100.00/10pax
- 4WD from Sungai Relau to Kuala Juram (to and fro): RM24.00/pax
- Entrance fees: RM1.00/pax
- Camp site fees: RM4.00/pax for 4 nights
- Camera: RM5.00/each
- Food: RM47.00/pax
- Transport: Passangers AA share petrol + tol cost - Drivers don't pay - RM112.00 each passanger
- 2 person pulled out, so deposit of RM200.00 x 2 have been used to cover the group cost.

Summary 
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Camped 2 nights at Kem Botak (day 2 and 3)
- Camped 2 nights at Kem Koh (day 1 and 4)
- 11 team members + 1 guide from Taman Negara
- Trekking time was 4-9 hours daily
- Started from Kuala Juram, Merapoh
- Ended at Kuala Juram, Merapoh
- Lucy and Dan completed G7
- 2nd time for Doreen
- 3rd time for Uncle Yong and Wan Lin
- Some sandflies at Kem Botak(water point)
- Some bees and butterflies at Kuala Juram
- Some leeches between Kuala Juram to Kem Permatang
- Nice bonsai garden after Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak, all the way to Gedung
- Very muddy trail from Kem Bonsai to Kem Botak
- Very muddy trail from the summit of Gunung Tahan to Gedung
- Dry trails at all other places
- Met several other groups from Penang, S’pore, Perak, Johor and KL
- Temperature at Kem Botak (19°c before bed time, possibly <15°c after 3:00am)
- Temperature at Kem Koh (24°c before bed time, possibly <20°c after 3:00am)
- Big camp sites and well managed by Taman Negara, only 2 groups at a camp site at any one time.