Gunung Stong, Baha, and Ayam

Day 2: Team 1

Baha Camp - Stong - Baha Camp - Base - Dabong
(Team 1 timing as reported by Kee Hong.)

0630
Woke up for sunrise at Lover's Rock. Had breakfast after sunrise.
0845
Left Baha Camp for Stong summit. Bashed through thick ferns along the way. Crossed Sungei Rantai ("Chain River"), and climbed up a steep slope with chain after the river. Passed by Gua Bogo ("Big Boss Ghost Cave") and a big tree.
1240
Reached Stong summit. Rested and had lunch. Played with squirals.
1330
Left summit for Baha Camp. Rained along the way down.
1720
Reached Baha Camp. Took a short break and packed up.
1730
Set off for base.
1840
Reached base. Washed up at the shower rooms before heading for Dabong. Had dinner at coffee shop near train station.
2220
Boarded Ekspres Timuran for Singapore. Overnight on train.

Day 2: Team 2

Baha Camp - G. baha - G. Ayam - Ayam Camp
(All altitudes was recorded according to my watch.)

0850
Left Baha Camp (480m). Breakfast was peanut butter with grape jam + bread + pork floss + milo.
0915
Crossed 1st river. Met team 1 who set off slightly after we arrived.
1000
Reached Beta Balak (860m), which is a campsite big enough for about 5-6 tents. Met team 1 again. Not far after Beta Balak is a T-junction that leads to Ayam turning right and to Stong going straight.
1040
Reached Sungei Baha (750m, "Baha River"). Lots of bamboos along the way, some of which we had to crawl through. Took 15 mins snack break at Sungei Baha and refilled our water bottles.
1330
Reached Gunung Baha summit (1395m). Took 30 mins lunch break, while Chuan Wi sun bathed his socks.
1400
Set off for Ayam. It rained soon after we started walking, and Chuan Wi's socks were wet again. Found lots of elephant dungs and footprints along the trail. Our guide started telling us stories about "elephant walks" where the elephants make no sound when moving, and the mystery that no one has ever been able to find the graveyard of the elephants.
1448
Reached Gunung Ayam summit (1480m). We paused only for about 10 mins before moving on, and did not take any pictures as it was still raining.
1515
Reach Ayam campsite (1470m). Quickly set up tents in the rain. The rain stopped about half an hour later. Cooked dinner. Spent our evening chit-chatting around a camp fire made by our guide before going to sleep.

Day 3: Team 2

Ayam Camp - G. Stong - Baha Camp - Base - Dabong

0700
Woke up for breakfast, pull camp and packed up. It was raining on and off last night.
0805
Left Ayam Camp (1470m).
0811
Reached Ayam summit (1480m). Took our group photo since it was raining yesterday and we did not have a chance to do so.
0850
Passed by Baha summit (1395m).
1050
Reached Sungei Baha (750m). Took 5 mins break.
1110
Reached Beta Balak (860m). Put down our backpacks and changed to daypacks before heading for Stong.
1122
Set off for Ayam. We were in a rush as we need to complete Stong before sunset.
1130
Reached Gua Bogo ("Big Boss Ghost Cave"). We were rushing like mad (took us only 8 mins to reach here), and the team protested. Stopped for 5 mins to refill our bottles, and for Irene and Ai to play "Jane" swinging around on a rattan.
1300
Reached Stong summit (1390m). Our guide was impressed with our fitness and pace, as it was not easy to complete Ayam and Stong in just 3 days. Took 30 mins for lunch and played with squirals. It started raining again when we left (oh no!).
1445
Reached Beta Balak. Rested 30 mins for snacks.
1600
Reached Baha Camp. Took 20 mins break while Chuan Wi cleaned up the garbage.
1705

Back at the base. Washed up and went for dinner. There was a weekend pasar near our dining place.
We did not cross the river on our way back, but instead took the van across the new bridge which was still under construction. Phew! What an adventure it was! I couldn't help but kept worrying that the van would some how end up in the river, as our van, shrowded in darkness and rain, slowly inched across the steel planks at several uncompleted sections of the bridge. Anyway, we survived!
We boarded the train at Dabong around 2230, while it was raining (nothing new by now).

Back to main page

Page Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next

Copyright © David Wong. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without prior permission from the author. To email me, remove the "_spamaway" from the following address: kalohimal_spamaway@yahoo.com.sg

counter

0630	Woke up for sunrise at Lover's Rock. Had breakfast after sunrise.
0845	Left Baha Camp for Stong summit. Bashed through thick ferns along the way. Crossed Sungei Rantai ("Chain River"), and climbed up a steep slope with chain after the river. Passed by Gua Bogo ("Big Boss Ghost Cave") and a big tree.
1240	Reached Stong summit. Rested and had lunch. Played with squirals.
1330	Left summit for Baha Camp. Rained along the way down.
1720	Reached Baha Camp. Took a short break and packed up.
1730	Set off for base.
1840	Reached base. Washed up at the shower rooms before heading for Dabong. Had dinner at coffee shop near train station.
2220	Boarded Ekspres Timuran for Singapore. Overnight on train.

0850	Left Baha Camp (480m). Breakfast was peanut butter with grape jam + bread + pork floss + milo.
0915	Crossed 1st river. Met team 1 who set off slightly after we arrived.
1000	Reached Beta Balak (860m), which is a campsite big enough for about 5-6 tents. Met team 1 again. Not far after Beta Balak is a T-junction that leads to Ayam turning right and to Stong going straight.
1040	Reached Sungei Baha (750m, "Baha River"). Lots of bamboos along the way, some of which we had to crawl through. Took 15 mins snack break at Sungei Baha and refilled our water bottles.
1330	Reached Gunung Baha summit (1395m). Took 30 mins lunch break, while Chuan Wi sun bathed his socks.
1400	Set off for Ayam. It rained soon after we started walking, and Chuan Wi's socks were wet again. Found lots of elephant dungs and footprints along the trail. Our guide started telling us stories about "elephant walks" where the elephants make no sound when moving, and the mystery that no one has ever been able to find the graveyard of the elephants.
1448	Reached Gunung Ayam summit (1480m). We paused only for about 10 mins before moving on, and did not take any pictures as it was still raining.
1515	Reach Ayam campsite (1470m). Quickly set up tents in the rain. The rain stopped about half an hour later. Cooked dinner. Spent our evening chit-chatting around a camp fire made by our guide before going to sleep.