On Wed, 23 Jun 2004, Mr. Tan Tarn How wrote:

Dear David,

I have come back from Ledang and climbed the Asahan route. I thought it may be useful to tell you the following things which was absent from your wonderful website. Please feel free to use this information and post it.

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Guides:
The Johor Parks which now takes care of climbing the mountain has made the trip much safer and less stressful (you certainly won't get lost any more!) by making it compulsory to have guides. They charge RM150 for a group of up to 10 people. These guides are friendly and very helpful. The Johor Parks authority has also cleaned up the trial and the campsite from the decades of trash thrown by inconsiderate campers, so it is a much more pleasant experience these days.

It is best that you book the guide first by calling them or e-mailing them. This is because sometimes the mountain is crowded and there may be no place to camp at the campsite of your choice, especially on the popular Air Panas/Sagil route from Johor, as it happened to me once. Or you may arrive late so they need to have someone on standby to guide you. They also have a website of all the parks in Johor, but the section on Ledang is not up yet, the last time I checked (June 2004):

Tel : 6-07-2242525
Fax : 6-07-2237472
web : www.johorpark.com
HQ Email: jnpc@johorpark.com
0127213300 (Mr Francis - Gunung Ledang Park Manager)
0127768921 (Encik Fadhil - Gunung Ledang Asst Park Manager)

For Air Panas, the post where you meet the guide is someway up the mountain.

Note that you also have to pay a hiking fee of about RM15 per person, though I can't remember exactly how much, at the Air Penas resort, which is run by a different authority from the Johor Parks. After paying that, from the starting point, follow the concrete steps skirting the waterfall, and after going up for 15 minutes when you reach the bridge which crosses the cascade to the other side, do not cross the bridge but go through the gate in the fence on your right, and continue on for another 15 minutes on the trial (the waterfall/river should remain on your left all the way) until you reach the checkpoint/post for the Johor Parks, where you will get a guide. You can park your car at the resort if you are driving.

For Asahan, the post is right at the starting point where the water works are. To find the post from the main road, you have to drive to Asahan town from Tangkat via Bekoh, and then after a few km out of Asahan, turn right just past the army camp. You can park your car at the post.

Note that the Asahan campsite is four hours of hike from the starting point at the post. There is no water along the way so make sure you bring enough when you set off (1 litre will be about the right amount). The campsite has a waterfall.

From the campsite it is another hour or slightly more to the summit. This is the most interesting part, since you have to scale quite a number of steep rocks using fixed ropes.

Tips: It's best you wear shoes that have a firm sole and preferably high ankle so you minimize the risk of twisting your ankle and your foot.

Happy climbing!