Next up on my report on climbing Mount Kinabalu in Borneo we’re on Day 2 Part 3 and this part covers the ascent to Low’s Peak, which is in fact the top. Having reached the 8kilometre mark by 5am and passed by the surreal terrain just above the South Peak, it was time for the final ascent to the actual peak. Confusingly the highest Peak and the actual top of Mount Kinabalu is known as Low’s Peak. It ain’t that low at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet) above sea level!
Day 2 Part 3 – the ascent up to the top of Mount Kinabalu – Low’s Peak as the sun comes up.
The terrain on the ascent is extremely unusual and even in darkness you can see it and feel the magic. If you’ve summitted Kinabalu then you’ll know what I mean. It’s like a rocky surface that looks like some kind of crater.
Passing the 8 kilometre mark
It’s actually not a steep climb to the top at all – once you’ve got to the 8 kilometre mark (above photo) it becomes a gradual gradient – nothing too strenuous – you’re over the worst and the sun comes up.
Still dark at 5:38 as we neared the final ascent for sunrise.
Our guide Jack helped Panny pass some of the rocks on the way up. I had sped on a bit to try and catch some decent photos of sunrise. It wasn’t actually that great looking for sunrise compared with some photos I had seen before. The sun was up by the time we reached the exact peak.
The exact peak of Mount Kinabalu is known as Low’s Peak and we were both excited and ecstatic to be there – one thing to note though – there are LOTS of people about at the peak, unlike the walk up where sometimes you are alone. You literally get 30 seconds – 1 minute at the very top to take your photos, as people in front of you have been quick and people behind you are waiting. It’s the main photo everybody wants. I thought I’d share all our best photos from the very top – Low’s Peak. The next installment, I’ll cover the actual terrain on the top of Mount Kinabalu – all the peaks together before we descended back down.
Dark selfie on the final ascent.
Sunrise from the top of Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia
Sun comes up as we wait for the final ascent.
Panny and I at sunrise just before the final ascent to the peak.
The final ascent to the peak
View from the peak of Mount Kinabalu
Walking the last few steps up to the peak.
Waiting in line to get the “hero photo” at the peak.
Yes! I made it to Low’s Peak – the top of Mount Kinabalu.
Panny and I plus hundreds of others at the peak of Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia
Staring back down from the peak of Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, Borneo
So once we had celebrated, drank some water and savoured the views, it really was time to head back from Low’s Peak and leave the magic trapped there forever. There is also a certain sadness about these journeys on the planet and that is – for some reason we know in our hearts and minds that we shall NEVER be there again in that place. Some things are a one off in life.
Here are my videos from the ascent to Low’s Peak and the celebration from the top:
1 thought on “Climbing Mount Kinabalu in Borneo Day 2 Part 3: The Ascent to Low’s Peak (The top)”