Of Pacak Hikers and January Trip to Gunung Datuk

Our first event for the year of 2017 was a trip to Gunung Datuk. Oh before that, a quick briefing on Pacak Hikers, our self-appointed President insisted on naming the group Pacak Hikers *I know I know, it’s lame, but how can you go against the president’s words *rolls eyes. It all started from the trip to Mount Irau, didn’t expect that everybody will get along so well after the trip, I thought it was just like a one shot meet up and then goodbye everybody. So, since we received positive feedbacks, we decided to organize a monthly trip for everybody to have a short gateway. Monthly trip, new places, new faces, new experiences. And we chose Gunung Datuk for our January trip.

Group photo: Pacak Hikers + Team Helmet 

Gunung Datuk is located in Hutan Lipur Gunung Datuk, Rembau Negeri Sembilan. With the height of 855m above the sea levels, pretty much sounds like an easy hiking trip. It’s not that hard but you will experience a steep inclination of the mountain before you reach the first check-point with the benches provided. The path is pretty well defined all the way, you might not need to worry about getting lost, but since we started hiking at 3.50am in the morning #sunriseviewmission, we decided to stick to the group of 3 and 4 and 5 during the journey to the top. Didn't know what’s waiting for us in the pitch-black night, so it is best to walk in group rather than being alone.

What I like the most about starting my journey super early in the morning; I don’t and I can’t see the trail. Your vision will be limited to most probably 10 to 20 meters ahead of you, depending on your headlamps.  You can’t really see how steep the trail can be and how far you are from the peak. All you know is you have to keep going and going and going until someone says, ‘there it is’ ‘we’ve reached the peak guys’.  Then automatically you see yourself smiling uncontrollably. I did that. :). So yeah, here's Gunung Datuk 1.0. *definitily there will be Gunung Datuk 2.0, 3.0 soon.

Gunung Datuk Itinerary (Sunrise View) 

Line up : 11 pax
Date     : 7th January 2017

Permit  : RM 5 (Bayar di pondok)

2.20 am   : Depart from KL

3.30 am   : Arrived at Hutan Lipur Gunung Datuk

3.50 am   : Start climbing

5.30 am   : Reach the peak (Subuh prayer, rest and cooking time)

7.00 am   : Sunrise view

9.45 am   : Climbing down

11.30 am : Reach starting point

 Haloo orang nogori

One with the sunrise view

One at the top

Stairway to heaven kata mereka

Puncak

The first check-point that I've mentioned earlier. 

Pondok pengawal permit.