Back from Kinebalu

Hi Folks,

So nice to be clean again, after sweating like a pig in the rainforest around Mount Kinebalu. No I did not climb it, it was not altitude or lack of determination that defeated us, but the price and red tape.

To climb the mountain requires a permit, license, guide, insurance, accommodation, and now meals to be booked. The meals alone costing upwards of 50 ringit, which is over ten times what I had become accustomed to paying for a good feed. And the prices were all more for non Malays

The staff at the park were sympathetic, but their hands tied. Though the staff arranging accommodation were a royal pain in the ass, repeating the company line and blatantly lying. After identifying the racket that was in operation we decided to attempt the climb in one day, but were told we would need an interview with the ranger officer. I had spoken to him before, and could not get any sense. When I climb a mountain, camp rough, put a boat to sea, I do not expect anybody to rescue me if things get dicey. It is my decision, and as a adult, one I feel qualified to make.

It appears in this case, the changes to park policy are less to do with safety and more for profit. Not surprising really, but perhaps others could vote with their feet as we did, there are plenty of other mountains to climb...