Description
Often called the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, Kinabalu is one of the great, massive tropical mountains of the world, rising 4000 m/14,000' out of the humid rainforests of Borneo. Although technically speaking the Himalayan outliers in northern Myanmar (Burma) are higher and could be considered part of Southeast Asia, Kinabalu is still the dominant summit between the high Central Asian complex and the ranges of New Guinea. It also makes Borneo the third highest island in the world, trailing only New Guinea and the Big Island of Hawaii.
Like other huge isolated peaks, Kinabalu rises through many life zones and habitats. The base of the main path to the summit starts in cool, dense cloud forest, and the large summit plateau is a fantastic expanse of odd-shaped rocky pinnacles utterly devoid of soil and vegetation. The highest summit is called Low's peak, an ironic name that comes from an early explorer. On very rare occasions snow even falls on the bare rock of the summit.
Climbing Notes
Kinabalu is a very popular climb with an easy trail to the summit. The greatest obstacles are the altitude and distance, but most fit hikers can do the climb in two days easily. |