DARI LABAN RATA KE TIMPOHON GATE

While started to decend from the Peak of Mount Kinabalu. En Ahmed from some groups was felt the pain at both of his knee. It doesn't felt the pain while ascending. Some how he was needed to carry on to keep move to keep the body warm. Rain likely will be pouring soon. Guide Lazarus took out his pain relief medicine CNI brand (can't recalled the name) applied to Ahmed. The deep heat of the medicine works to relief some of the pain. Step by steps, Ahmed reached Gunting Lagadan Hut at about 11.00am. After having lunch at the Guesthouse, Ahmed decided not to walk all the way down to Timpohon Gate if someone can carry him. The distant from Laban Rata Guesthouse to Timpohon Gate is 6 km. After negotiate with the Guides and porters while they are having their lunch the deal was given at Rm150.00/km which is cost Rm900.00 bear from Laban Rata to Timpohon Gate. Its will be bear by six porters/guide to take turn. And the duration is about two hours. Ahmed has agreed with the deal since he do not want to risk his knees. They took out the stretcher and started to assembly. Ahmed was lying down and strap firm with three straps. Sleeping bag was used as the pillow and only hands are allowed to move. Hanson and Lazarus were given a challenge if someone could run faster than them in less than 2 hours from Laban Rata to Timpohon Gate. And each of them still need to carry one or two backpack. The stretcher was beared by four bearers at once . One person will give the command like a voice controlled gear shift as seen in the movies. Gear 1 , go..... Gear 2,3,4 and 5, including stop , change shoulder side , down steps and up step. Upon going down from the step ladder, the two at the back will squat and moving down, to keep the stretcher as close to horizontal as possible. Even when that is at the narrow trail, two from aside will try to squat lower to get balance from the other side. They are not walking but running , shouting give way , give way ......... At the flat land and their are moving in the Gear 5. Changing shoulder from one side to the other is super fast and without stop down their moving. It just , shoulder 1,2,3 ,Up..... Each year all the Guide and porter have to undergo for a few training in order to get their licience renewed.. That training were include bear-stretcher for injured or death body., massage (urut) to twisted, cramp, AMS patients, etc. Drizzling on and off along the way. But it doesn't stopped their running. It is exactly 2 hours when they reached at Timpohon Gate.

DARI TIMPOHON GATE KE PONDOK KANDIS

Timpohon Gate, pintu permulaan pendakian. Di sini semua pendaki akan mendaftar diri. Name tag mesti ada dipakai. Selepas gate ini, hanya mereka yg memiliki permit dan tempat penginapan di Laban Rata/ Gunting Lagadan saja yg boleh masuk. Bermula dari sini, ketahanan fizikal, spritual, semangat dan moral pendaki perlu kuat!

Hentian Pondok Kandis
Orang kata "Teman sebelum Perjalanan". Ini sdr Luke Kabun, berasal dari Kota Belud, Sabah. Lebih sepuluh tahun berkhidmat sebagai Guide dgn Kinabalu Park. Seorang yg tenang dan pandai berkomunikasi dgn pendaki. Setiap minggu beliau akan membuat pendakian 3 atau 4 kali dari bawah hingga ke puncak. Aku membayar RM85 utk guide, RM30 utk permit, RM7 utk insuran dan RM400 utk penginapan di Laban Rata.
Pada hari itu sebaik saja kami sampai di Laban Rata, dia memberitahu yang bapa saudaranya baru meninggal dunia. Dia terpaksa turun semula ke kaki Kinabalu dan akan pulang ke Kota Belud! Dia akan digantikan dengan seorang guide yang lain utk terus bersamaku ke puncak Kinabalu. Orangnya lebih muda, namanya Jabadi.
Terima kasih Luke! Patutlah semasa perjalanan dari Timpohon Gate ke Laban Rata, seringkali telefonnya berdering. Barangkali saudara2 di kampungnya memberitahu perkembangan bapa saudara beliau.