| A small twin engine airplane is the only way to get | | | | whatever you bring, just be sure to take the |
| to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak Borneo, | | | | waste with you when you leave. |
| and looking out the window you will be | | | | The accommodations are very rustic and basic, |
| overwhelmed with the vastness of the jungle | | | | but that is the appeal of going to the Pinnacles. |
| that lay below. Once you have landed on the | | | | Everyone sleeps in one room on a row of vinyl |
| isolated runway, you truly feel in the middle of | | | | mats placed in a raised wooden platform. Nobody |
| nowhere. | | | | sleeps well however, because of the anticipation |
| A climb to the mysterious pinnacles is the star | | | | and excitement of the climb. |
| attraction of Gunung Mulu. The Pinnacles are a | | | | At 6:00 am sharp, you will meet your guide with |
| stone forest jutting 45 metres out of the earth in | | | | your water bottles filled and begin to climb. You |
| razor sharp formations. Part of the fun and | | | | must reach a certain section of the climb by 11:00 |
| challenge is getting there. Make your way to the | | | | am, otherwise you will not be able to go on. This |
| parks headquarters and you can book your | | | | section is the steepest part of the trek and has |
| multi-day excursion deep into the heart of the | | | | 17 aluminum ladders bolted and fastened into the |
| Borneo Jungle. | | | | mountain to help with the climb. It can be tricky |
| You will arrive most likely in the afternoon, so | | | | and you always need to make sure to have 3 |
| book a dorm room for the night. Meeting other | | | | points of contact at all times for safety. |
| trekkers, you can arrange to share a boat and | | | | Many people that try to climb the Pinnacles do not |
| guide to bring down the costs. It can be quite | | | | summit. It is not a high climb, but it is a technically |
| expensive to hire a private boat so it is worth it | | | | challenging climb without safety ropes. You cross |
| to make friends quickly as people tend to pair up | | | | crevasses on metal beams and balance on rocks |
| fast. | | | | while holding onto a rope over head. It is a |
| The Pinnacles is not an easy undertaking. You | | | | challenge, but the payoff is definitely worth the |
| must carry your own food to last for 3 days and | | | | effort. |
| carry your garbage out with you. The trek itself | | | | Coming off of the trail and turning a corner, you |
| involves a 2-hour boat ride to the start of an 8.9 | | | | are treated to one of the most spectacular sights |
| km trail which takes you to Camp 5 situated at | | | | on the planet. |
| the base of the Pinnacles and the entrance to the | | | | Giant white stones, jutting out of the jungle like |
| Headhunters. trail. | | | | sharks teeth, the Pinnacles are majestically poised |
| At 7:00 am you start the journey up the Melinau | | | | for your viewing. The silence is unsettling and |
| river. The water can be low and the driver and | | | | soon, clouds and mist roll in making the pinnacles |
| navigator earn their money as they pull it through | | | | even more ominous. They turn to a darker shade |
| shallow water careful to avoid rocks and logs. | | | | of grey and take on an even more dramatic look |
| Once you arrive at the trail entrance, make sure | | | | as they tower over the trees. |
| to inform the captain how many days you will be | | | | You can only sit and look on for so long however, |
| staying so that you are not stranded. | | | | because the climb down is even more difficult |
| It is now that you begin the 8.8 km jungle hike. It | | | | than the climb up and you have to be back at |
| is an adventure to say the least. | | | | camp before the sun goes down. It is a slippery |
| Within the first kilometre, you will come across | | | | and exhausting climb, but to be among the rare |
| your first of two river crossings. The water can | | | | few that venture to this part of the world and |
| be high and fast so there is a rope spanning the | | | | make it to the look out for this magical view is |
| river as a safety line to keep from falling over | | | | worth every ache and blister. |
| and being swept away. Once you are across, | | | | To explore everything in Gunung Mulu National |
| make sure to check for leaches. Even thought | | | | park could take months. The Sarawak Chamber, |
| you can't feel them, you can be sure that they | | | | the largest cave chamber in the world, rock |
| have latched on somewhere. | | | | climbing, the head hunters trail, The summit of |
| Your destination, Camp 5 is in a beautiful location | | | | Gunung Mulu and the Bario and Kelabit Highlands |
| surrounded by large cliffs, a quiet stream and lush | | | | are just a few of the things that you can do at |
| jungle. Here is where you will relax for the night | | | | Gunung Mulu. But rest assured, whatever you |
| before your climb. Be sure you bring an ample | | | | choose to do in Sarawak, it will definitely be and |
| supply of food with you, because there isn't any | | | | adventure. |
| provided. There is a kitchen so you can cook | | | | |