Sabah - Borneo - page 132

TIMPOHON GATE TO LAYANG LAYANG
'Why am I sweating this much already?'
The trip to the summit officially starts at the Timpohon Gate (1866m) and from there
it's an 8.72km march to the summit. There is a small bathroom outhouse located 700m be-
fore the Timpohon Gate, and a convenience shop at the gate itself for impulse snack and
beverage purchases.
VIA FERRATA
Mountain Torq has dramatically changed the Kinabalu climbing experience by creating an intricate system of
rungs and rails crowning the mountain's summit. Known as via ferrata (literally 'iron road' in Italian), this altern-
ative style of mountaineering has been a big hit in Europe for the last century and is just starting to take Asia by
storm. In fact, Mountain Torq is Asia's first via ferrata system, and, according to the Guinness Book of World Re-
cords, it's the highest 'iron road' in the world.
After ascending Kinabalu in the traditional fashion, participants use the network of levers to return to the Laban
Rata rest camp along the mountain's dramatic granite walls. Mountain Torq's star attraction, the Low's Peak Cir-
cuit (RM550; minimum age 17), is a four-to-five-hour scramble down metres upon metres of sheer rock face.
This route starts at 3800m, passing a variety of obstacles before linking up to the Walk the Torq path for the last
part of the journey. The route's threadlike tightrope walks and swinging planks will have you convinced that the
course designers are sadistic, but that's what makes it so darn fun - testing your limits without putting your safety
in jeopardy. Those who don't want to see their heart leaping out of their chest should try the Walk the Torq
(RM400; minimum age 10) route. This two-to-three-hour escapade is an exciting initiation into the world of via
ferrata, offering dramatic mountain vistas with a few less knee-shaking moments. No matter which course you
tackle, you'll undoubtedly think that the dramatic vertical drops are nothing short of exhilarating.
Via ferrata may be an Italian import, but Mountain Torq is pure Bornean fun. For more information about
Mountain Torq, check out www.mountaintorq.com .
After a short, deceptive descent, the trail leads up steep stairs through the dense forest
and continues winding up and up for the rest of the trip. There's a charming waterfall,
Carson's Falls , beside the track shortly after the start, and the forest can be alive with
birds and squirrels in the morning. Five pondok (shelters) are spaced at intervals of 15 to
35 minutes between Timpohon Gate and Layang Layang and it's about three hours to the
Layang Layang (2621m) rest stop. Near Pondok Lowii (2286m) the trail follows an open
ridge giving great views over the valleys and up to the peaks.
LAYANG LAYANG TO PONDOK PAKA
'Why did I put all that extra crap in my rucksack?'