MOUNT IRAU REVISITED 2011

For the month of April 2011, the Underestimate organized an expedition to Mt Irau, Cameron Highlands. This is my second time to Mt Irau. This trip was initially planned to be a leisure one since we just came back from Mt Kinabalu in March 2011 and since then we had no activity for all the Underestimates. So, for this trip, there were 11 of us i.e Azmir, Dilla, Mayo, Cha, Bob, Kay, Reen, Ongah, Tuty, Nadia and myself. As usual, the Underestimate will do a daypack trip. The journey started at 7.30pm from Melaka to Cameron Highlands and it was quite tough. From Melaka to Cyberjaya to Serdang to Ampang to Sg Buloh R&R and straight to CH. We reached CH at around 4am and we spent the night at Sg. Pauh camp site. But it was extremely cold and most of us couldn't really sleep including me. For me, as I sleep inside the hammock with no fly, it is colder than Liang E&W...berdaghah. After Subuh prayer, we decided to pack up our stuffs and had our breakfast at Tanah Rata. We decided to rent out an apartment for the second night and everybody agreed. In term of stamina, most of us were quite ok except a few who did not join Kinabalu...but they might have done their own preparation..hehe. For me, Irau does not require too much of physical fitness but it requires strong mental since the trek is quite difficult with a lot of roots and muddy grounds. One cannot expect to be clean all the time when climbing Irau as we cannot avoid stepping on the mud. We started climbing at around 10am.

 

At the starting point before start climbing

Starts climbing

Shortly after starting climbing

Irau is famous for its mossy forest and LOTRish view along the way to the peak. I really enjoy the view here.

Look at the trek...loads of roots, slippery and muddy...mental torture ooo..Anyway the green mossy environment was spctacular...

Taking rest....not really...taking picturesss actually..hehe

Beautiful flora found along the way...there's a lot of it

Penat nampak kawan kita tu...hehe

After 2 and a half hour climb, we reach anak Irau (puncak tipu) and took a rest there. There are some other groups as well up there.

At Anak Irau..taking rest..another hour to go to the peak...

Beautiful...

Meeting new friends...

About an hour climbing from Anak Irau, we reached the peak at around 1.30 pm. The weather up there was great but sometimes it looks like it's going to rain. Luckily, it didn't rain on that day except some drizzles...

The Underestimates at the peak of Mt Irau...2110m above sea level. Congrats to all Underestimates!!

Resting and taking pictures at the peak of Mt Irau...

After resting for about one and a half hour at the peak, we started to trek down at around 3pm.

On the way down

I took 2 and a half hour to go down but the last group of Underestimate reached the starting point at 7pm. Anyway, everybody was successful in conquering the mountain with a few pains and strains here and there.

Near to the starting point

Cleaning ourselves...

We checked in at Puncak Arabella Apartment at Tanah Rata that nite. After putting our stuffs, we headed straight to Brinchang for dinner and shopping at Pasar Malam (Night Market).

The next day, our activities were:

1. Lunch at Kak Yan's Cafe, Tanah Rata..sponsored by Mayo

2. Having tea at Sg Palas Tea Centre

3. Shopping at Kea Farm

4. Had starwberry ice-cream at Al-Mashoor, Tmn Sedia.

At Sg. Palas Tea Centre

Another pic at Sg. Palas Tea Centre

After having tea...

Short visit to the factory...

At Sg. Palas tea plantation...nice view

Lastly, having strawberry ice-cream at Tmn Sedia...

After that, we headed straight back to KL, Semenyih, Serdang, Rumah Ongah, Cyberjaya and we finally reached Melaka at 3.30 am. Anyway, Irau is leaving us with sweet memories but sometimes spooky??...

Congratulations to all Underestimates!! See u in the next expedition...or maybe a leisure trip...hehe. Apa2 pun bole!

Next mountain expedition??...