some wild plants at Camp5.. noticed the weird white dots on the leaves?
I opened my eyes, searching for my spects. I rubbed my eyes feeling odd, I was alone in the dorm. I look at my watch, oh NO! I'm 10 minutes late for breakfast! What a funny kick-start of the day. Today is the day, where all the trainings paid up, just to challenge this hike to witness the triumph of Mother Nature - The Pinnacles. The Pinnacle Summit Trek begins at 6.30am, covering a 2400m steep and slippery trek elevating from 60 degrees to 90 degrees and ends with a rocky viewpoint at 1750m above sea level; 2400m trek distance from Camp5.
another pretty flower along the trek...
Along the trek is a shrub forest and mossy moist path. The mountain is 90% limestone resulting a slippery trek caused by the humidity as we climbed. The first 2000m is the hardest part. We have to stretch our legs up high and wide across to follow friends in front us. Although we're gasping for air while some urging and even craving for it, we helped each other up, hand-in-hand, hearts-to-hearts, revealing the true leadership in yonder soul, twas, "no one ever left behind or to be forgotten".
take a break, you've made it to the 900m checkpoint!!
My asthma kicks in as soon as I reached the 400m checkpoint. I was really spongy that time. Its wrong to not to inform my teachers that I have minor asthma, but this is a once in a life time experience!! I just took the risks but who knows it really happened up there. Thanks to encouragements from my buddies, I've made up to the 2000m checkpoint, palely. But I was the 5th to reach that checkpoint!!
they say the pretty ones are the poisonous ones... Haha!The following 400m is the most exiting experience. It was like flashing back into childhood where we have a board on the floor with some pawns and a dice to play with, the board was printed with number blocks and snakes and ladders. Nostalgic... Well, I'm serious here, it's as though as we're playing Snakes and Ladders, but a real life one! This is the part that the elevation comes to an extreme 90 degrees. We have to stretch more here, like Spiderman actually, and the stones are spiky and slippery!
scary enough? try free climbing it! 
two Spidermen... watch out your step! 
well of course we have aids at some dangerous parts...
you're almost there man! keep it up!
wanna see some magic? Alakazoom!!!
there you go, another Spiderman!! applause...Another hour hiking and we've finally reached the viewpoint. It has been a rough hike but as we stepped into the viewpoint, every pain in our limbs "poofs" away and all we can concentrate is indulging in the breathtaking scenery of The Pinnacles.
what a relief to see this little pole... this is the last checkpoint!!
..:;* The Mighty Pinnacles *;:..
The Pinnacles is a series of razor-sharp limestone piercing out from beneath the slopes of Gunung Api (Api Mountain) 45m up high, trying to escape the boundaries below it. This magnificent view of Nature hides a story behind it - as earth crust moves colliding each other, tensions and pressures built up. Just like human, the weaker ones, or the softer layer in this case, couldn't withstand these pressures. In result, they snapped into 2, piercing out from the crust, triumphantly standing out shining from the others. The razor-sharp peaks of the Pinnacles showed us the toughest time they've been through some million years ago. Picturing it into real life, while you faces hard times, if we just hold a breath and walk away, who knows you'll be the one who shines up to the world while the others still competing within each others.
Photo Sessions
this group photo actually get published in the local papers... Wakakaka!!
from the left, 1st row: Rizal, Mr. Hashim, Richard from the left, 2nd row: Mr. Nagaya, Mdm. Ng, Mdm. Yean
The Boy Scout Representatives
The Girl Guide Representatives
The St. John Ambulance Representatives
The Boy Police Cadet Representatives
The Girl Police Cadet Representatives
The Teenager Cadet (KRS) Representatives
left: President of Chinese Culture Club right: School Band Representative
left: President of Photography Club
right: President of St. John Ambulance
After a whole lot of photo sessions, we descend the mountain. Just as we've been told, descending is much harder and takes longer time than ascending. I reached back at Camp5 around 5pm, being the 4th to finish the hike. A dip in the breezing river with a hot cup of instant noodle, and I called that a day with a victory in my heart.
we actually "broke" into Ryan's (left) dorm to take picture with him... Haha!!
the actual footage of the group conference.. it is classified.. just kidding! this is our night briefing..by Masqueradez... 14th May 2010...
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