Whenever I sit down to
write a blog for our completed climb, I try to retrospect the experience and
feeling it conjure before, during and after. This year it is kind of dejavu
because Day 2 (as like last year) trekkers comprising 103 of them, were barred
from making it to the summit due to adverse weather conditions (sorry guys and
gals!). Day 1 trekkers comprising 109 of them were luckier but only 60% made it
to the summit, the rest that didn't were either struck by AMS (Acute Mountain
Sickness) or forced to turn back due to sub-zero temperatures and strong wind
close to summit.
Thank God that this
year's trek went on smoothly in terms of logistics and timing (thanks to all
committee members especially Engu and Samantha). There were also no major
injury incidents alas for one minor fall happened to Tan Cheng Cheng with a
slight bruise on her forehead.
We had a record of 250
people (1 airplane load) in our APOH contingent comprising of 230 trekkers and
20 non-trekkers. This year we had invited one of Persatuan Penjagaan
Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor (PPKKCKS) children to trek with us, his name
is 18 year old Ngoh Kok Ming. He was accompanied by one of PPKKCKS caretaker.
Both of them surprisingly managed to conquer Mount Kinabalu on Day 1
effortlessly. When asked them was it tough? They said it was not as they were
well prepared for it months before the trek.
Joining us too was a
news reporter from the Malay Mail (media partner for 2013) who gave us good
print media coverage (see news article on right hand panels). China Press too
had given us some coverage as they had 4 personnel trekking with us this year.
The one day trekking
(up down Mount Kinabalu in 1 day) that APOH introduced for the first time in
2012 was even more popular this year as we had 8 super-fit' trekkers. Out of
the 8 trekkers, only 1 made it to the summit and he is non other than Foo Jong
Wee. He managed to reach summit at noon time. The others that didn't make it
were either barred from summit due to adverse weather (Day 1) or didn't reach
Sayat-Sayat check point on time (Day 2).
Anyhow, APOH donation
collection amount to date is reaching RM90,000. The excitement of
mountaineering has passed and now is down to efforts of soliciting donations
for PPKKCKS until end-November. It is now the next mountain that we have to
conquer, our RM200,000 donation collection figure!
PPKKCKS needs your
help, please donate (donation form is on the right hand panel).
