Scaling Beaufort's Bukit Bendera in sandals
BEAUFORT: Fancy climbing up Bukit Bendera? No, this is not the Bukit Bendera in Penang but the one located in Beaufort town, about 95 kilometres from the state capital Kota Kinabalu.
Like its more famous namesake, Beaufort's Bukit Bendera, which is 1,399 metres high, is popular among climbers and hikers. In the case of the latter, the climbers are mostly from Beaufort and Membakut districts.
I had the opportunity to climb this hill for the first time when I was in Beaufort recently. I was driving when I saw the signboard ‘Welcome to Bukit Bendera' and I decided to have a go at climbing the hill. After all, I was no novice having scaled Mount Kinabalu four times and, moreover, a friend told me it was safe to climb Bukit Bendera alone.
The track was somewhat muddy as it had rained the previous night and along the way, I met three other climbers, including a woman, who were shocked to see me dressed in jeans and sandals. One of them advised me to return to the base and warned me that it was not safe for me to climb wearing a pair of sandals as the path was slippery. Since I had already made up my mind to “conquer” Bukit Bendera, I continued climbing.
The first 300 metres of the trail is filled with pebbles. Climbers will also pass a three-metrehigh waterfall and a small river after which the terrain becomes hilly and the vegetation dense.
Fortunately, the trees have buttress roots that climbers can step on safely if the trail gets slippery after rainfall.
Certain parts of the trail are steep but the ropes tied to the tree trunks make it easier for climbers to scale the hill which is covered with trees and jungle ferns. I noticed several plastic bags tied to some branches which I believe are for climbers and hikers to throw their trash into instead of littering the trail.
It took me nearly 40 minutes to get to the peak and the view of Sungai Padas and Beaufort from the top was a sight for sore eyes. Since it was already 4.30 pm then, I only spent about half an hour on the peak before making my way downhill.
Bukit Bendera is the favourite haunt of local residents who enjoy climbing the hill with their friends or families during the weekends.
Mother-of-two Siti Saheri Jamlan, 40, who is from Membakut – which is a 20minute drive from Bukit Bendera – said she usually comes with her family.
She said she prefers to climb the hill during the rainy season as that is when the trail becomes “more challenging”.
“I love to hike and it is such a healthy activity too,” she said.
Another climber Ryadome Ramos, 16, who is from Kampung Bakalau, said he usually jogs right up to the foot of the hill from his house as his village is located nearby. “The hill here is safe to climb… I've already gone up to the peak twice and hope to do it again,” he added.
MP for Beaufort Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, when contacted by Bernama, said plans are afoot to improve the trail leading to the peak of Bukit Bendera.
“There are also plans to build a new bridge and put up signboards along the route,” she added.