Mt Kinabalu to reopen Sept 1
KUNDASANG: After nine weeks of rebuilding extensively damaged trails, repairing wrecked buildings and examining loose rocks and soil, Sabah Parks finally seemed ready to allow climbers on Mount Kinabalu again.
The mountain which has been closed to all visitors for over two months since a 6.0 magnitude quake on June 5 will be reopened soon.
The early morning tremor, which defaced the mountain and left all climbing trails to the peak impassable, killed 14 tourists and four guides after they were caught by huge falling rocks.
A group of reporters accompanied by park rangers were the first to ascend the mountain since its closure.
They were flagged off by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, in a one-day round trip to Laban Rata, which used to be the last stop for climbers before continuing the remaining 2.8 kilometres to the peak.
The ‘experimental climb’ climb was part of the soft opening of the Summit Trail, one of the two treks leading to the top of Mount Kinabalu.
The other trail, from Mesilau, which was the worst damaged by the quake has yet to be repaired and remains closed.
Speaking to reporters at the event, Masidi said the climb, which also involved officers from Sabah Parks and various other agencies under his ministry, was meant to gather feedback and input on the newly reopened trail.
“We give opportunity, especially to first timers to Mount Kinabalu to assess the trail. Hopefully they can give us useful input on how to make the trail better,” he said.
The trail is expected to be officially reopened starting Sept 1 but visitors can only climb up to Laban Rata as the trek further up is still closed pending full assessment by the Technical Committee set up to oversee restoration efforts at Kinabalu Park.
Masidi said the committee will meet Tuesday (Aug 11) to discuss the restoration including safety concerns on allowing tourists to climb beyond Laban Rata and a decision on when it would be safe to fully reopen the trail may be decided then.
“Sabah Parks has engaged two companies with technical abilities to help in the repairing and upgrading works of the trails and they are now assessing their recommendations.
“At the same time, we are also getting consultation from experts from Japan and Canada, we hope their advice will help us choose the right technical company to carry out the works,” he said.
Mount Kinabalu attracts thousands of professional and recreational climbers from across the globe every year and is arguably one of Sabah’s most important tourism assets.