Mount Kinabalu

G and the younger boys are back from their mountain climbing adventure. They, and some friends, left last Friday to fly to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah (East Malaysia on the island of Borneo) to climb Mount Kinabalu, the fourth tallest mountain in SE Asia (13,435 FT). They arrived in KK a day early, spent the night at a backpackers lodge, and started the climb Saturday morning around 10 o'clock and arrived at their stopping point for the day around 2 o'clock (after trekking 3.5 miles).

Sunday morning they had to get up at 2 o'clock to finish their climb to the top (1.86 miles of climbing up a rock slope) so that they would be able to view the sunrise. They were able to get this picture taken at the top right about when the sun was coming up (too bad KD had his eyes closed!)

The weather was very cooperative for them (it's rainy season there) so they felt very fortunate to only have to deal with a little fog the first day and the chill the second morning.

Overall, they all said the climb itself was not as difficult as they thought it would be, but they all said it was colder up there than they had anticipated (and prepared for)! KL was especially chilled, but anyone that knows him knows he has no fat on his body for protection so it's no wonder his lips were purple and he looked miserable in most of the photos! I guess there were a few moments when he thought he couldn't continue, but he pressed on and made it to the top. I am so proud of my little guy!

After making it to the top, and spending some time admiring the view, it was time for them to hike all the way back down. Everyone says that is actually the toughest part of the "climb" and G said he has to agree with them. Apparently his legs were shaking like crazy coming down but they all made it with no mishaps. The only glitch in the trip was KD and G coming down with something (bug? food poisoning?) and having to spend their extra "fun" day lying around their hotel room close to the bathroom! I am happy to report both are very much on the mend now, so it wasn't a long-lived issue!

Here are some scenery pictures from the climb...G said the forest they went through was just gorgeous with some fun and amazing plant life:

This is a pitcher plant.

And some other pictures of the boys, G and friends:

This is the place they spent Saturday night.

2 a.m. and ready to go....

Still dark out...

The whole gang at the top.

Coming back down. Walking on this surface was hard on their legs. It was something about the angle that fatigued them quickly.

I accidently put this photo in here twice and I can't figure out how to delete it....so you will just have to look at it twice! Sorry!