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MOUNT NUANG VIA PANGSUN DAYHIKE (MARCH 2023)

Posted on by Admin
14
Mar

INTRODUCTION

With the height of 1,493 meters above sea level and ranking as the second highest mountain in Selangor  (behind Mount Semangkok), Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) is considered to be one of the most famous mountain in Malaysia, especially hikers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur! The peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) became the borders between Pahang and Selangor, and there are location where Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) become the borders between Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) are well known for various reasons!

First, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) are very easily reached via road. With 1 hour of easy drive from Kuala Lumpur, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) can be accessed by anyone. There are even visitor who opt to ride their motorcycle to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang). The road to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) also are convenient for most type of transport.

Second, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) got 2 access to the peak that can be choose. Either via Janda Baik (Pahang) or via Pangsun (Selangor). Although the peak is the same, but these two trails have a great gap of difficulties between them. Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Janda Baik are mostly considered to be easy-moderate, while Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun are mostly considered to be moderate-hard.

Third, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) and its difficulty (Via Pangsun) become one of the best alternatives to go undergo physical training for hiker and trail runner. Due to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) elevation gain and trekking distance, it become a favourite spot for those who will be challenging themselves in trail running and ultra trail event(s). Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) also provide a good simulation for those who wanted to conquer Mount Kinabalu,and those who will be going to more challenging hiking expedition like Trans-Titiwangsa V1 and above.

Fourth, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) offers decent surrounding for those who wanted to enjoy mother nature. Just after 2-3 hour hike, visitor may arrive at Lolo Camp (Kem Lolo). Here are several sites for visitor to setup camp which are vary in terms of sizes. The biggest site can accommodate 60 pax in one time. And because of this, it is normal to see visitor organized a camping expedition at Lolo Camp (Kem Lolo).

DIFFICULTY

PICTURE 01 : Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsung trail GPX. Source : LINK

Based on Picture 01 trail of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang), the total distance of 17.9km are recorded for hiking to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) and back. If we were to add 4km more, it could became a half marathon! With this information, visitors need to be aware that basically, going to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun will need them to undergo physical challenges more than compared to normal Half Marathon event.

PICTURE 02 : Elevation gain/loss of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun trail. Source : LINK

Although it starts with small elevation gain, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun will test its’ visitors’ physical capacity after halfway in! Hikers will gain more elevation starting from there and the closer you are to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang), the trail will become a roller coaster by its ups and downs! With the total elevation gain of 1,505 meter and assuming the average height of 4.3m per floor, hiking Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun will be like climbing 350 storey building!

WARNING!

Due to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun ease of access, there are many hikers who have underestimated the trail. It was normal for locals and other stake holder of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun to conduct Search and Rescue mission, almost every week due to this factor. Most of the Search and Rescue are caused by exhaustion and ill-equipped. And sadly, within these rescues, there are several fatalities which are caused by other uncontrollable factors.

PREPARATION

Starting from 2023, it is a must for visitor to use the service registered mountain guide to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang). These mountain guide came from Selangor Forestry Mountain Guide (Malim Gunung Perhutanan Selangor) are not only trained to handle their visitor, but are also to be well organized in the event of emergency occur during the hike.

It is highly advisable for hiker to go through (at least) moderate training before undergoing Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun trail to ensure maximum satisfaction and zero injuries. Visitor will also be reminded to get enough rest/sleep and to be well equipped to go to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun. For average hiker, Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun can be consider as ‘HARD’.

TO GO THERE

PICTURE 03 : Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) Recreational Forest entry

This is the entry for visitor to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun trail. Visitor may enter here and may park wherever seems suitable. There are parking lots, toilets, and other basic amenities. However, to get in here are not accessible by bus. This is also a single paved road; thus, consideration needs to be given whenever you are driving through incoming traffic.

PICTURE 04 : WAZE to Gunung Nuang Recreational Forest

For those who chooses to use Waze  the starting point of Mount Nuang via Pangsun, you may write “Gunung Nuang Recreational Forest” or simply click this LINK . It will redirect you through you Waze application

WATERPOINTS

There are 2 main waterpoint during Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun hike. The first will be encounter several times during the journer between Hut 6 (Pondok 6) to Lolo Camp (Kem Lolo). Although the water here seems clean, in general, it is not advisable for visitor to drink directly from the river.

The second waterpoint during Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun hike are at Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat). The water source/stream is not far from the main camp, but it is going to took some time to get back to Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat). The normal saying is “to go to the waterpoint going to take 10 minutes, but going back from is going to take 30 minutes”. Try to manage and plan your water intake to reduce time loss.

TENTATIVE

Tentative to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) may vary depending on several variable which may impact hiking experience at Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang). This include visitor fitness, weather and trails condition. Below are our variable and real time tentative during our hike to Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun

OUR TENTATIVE’S VARIABLE

TERRAIN : Wet – Slightly Muddy
WIND : Medium to Strong
PARTICIPANT : Inexperience to Moderate (below average)

0330 hour : Meet Up at Parking Lot | Warming Up | Briefing

0405 hour : Start Ascend

0435 hour : Hut 1 / Pondok 1 | Take 5

0449 hour : Hut 2 / Pondok 2

0504 hour : Hut 3 / Pondok 3 | Take 5

0518 hour : Hut 4 / Pondok 4

0535 hour : Hut 5 / Pondok 5

0549 hour : Hut 6 / Pondok 6

0623 hour : Kem Lolo | Subuh Prayer

0655 hour : Continue Ascend

0734 hour : Take 5 | Continue Hike

0802 hour : Take 5 | Continue Hike

0914 hour : Kem Pacat

1004 hour : Continue Ascend

1050 hour : Take 5 | Continue Hike

1200 hour : Puncak pengasih | Take 5

1208 hour : Continue Ascend

1320 hour : Puncak Gunung Nuang

1409 hour : Start Descend

1508 hour : Puncak Pengasih

1636 hour : Kem Pacat | Rest

1709 hour : Continue Descend

1913 hour : Kem Lolo | Take 5

1929 hour : Continue Descend

1958 hour : Hut 6 / Pondok 6 | Take 5

2021 hour : Hut 5 / Pondok 5 | Take 5

2054 hour : Hut 4 / Pondok 4 | Take 5

2101 hour : Hut 3 / Pondok 3

2118 hour : Hut 2 / Pondok 2

2135 hour : Hut 1 / Pondok 1 | Take 5

2210 hour : Parking Lot | Clean Up | END

ACTIVITY GALLERY

PICTURE 05 : Briefing session by Selangor Forestry Mountain Guide (Malim Gunung Perhutanan Selangor), Mr Amirul (a.k.a Mondok) to participant at parking lot’s hut.
PICTURE 06 : There are 6 hut location along the trail of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun from starting point (parking lot) towards Lolo Camp (Kem Lolo). It is advised for visitor to catch their breath whenever needed in order to sustain their energy ahead as it is going to be a long hike.
PICTURE 07 : Mountain guide make a stop during the hike in order to give ample time for participant not only to catch their breath, but also to properly store their headlamp. Improper storing may lead the headlamp to accidently turned on and may drain the battery. It is best to make sure that the battery is ready to be use whenever necessary.
  • PICTURE 08 : Another session of rest are made along the way to Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat). This is a bigger checkpoint where 15 pax of visitor can rest for a while. Still long way to go to visit the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang)
PICTURE 09 : More than half way through Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun train, we arrived at Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat) where we stopped for our breakfast. This is necessary as we have depleted our energy before and the trail after this is less forgiving.
PICTURE 10 : During our rest at Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat) to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang), group by group have arrived and start catching up with us. Although most of them starts later 2 hours compared to us, due to their physical fitness (moderate-advance), they starts to catch up with us.
PICTURE 11 : Trail to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) from Pacat Camp (Kem Pacat) to Pengasih Peak / False Peak (Puncak Pengasih) is getting steeper and more muddy/slippery. Need to be extra aware of the loose rock along the way.
PICTURE 12 : We arrived at the junction between Pengasih Peak (Puncak Pengasih) and to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang). It is normal to stop by for a while here to not only to catch our breath, but also to appreciate the changes in surrounding due to higher altitude. But it is not advised to take too long as the temperature here are normally lower than our usual surrounding, which may accelerate the process of hypothermia.
PICTURE 13 : At the junction of Pengasih Peak (Puncak Pengasih) and to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang), this are among the most recognizable situation where on a normal wet day, visitor need to step on carefully on the root.

PICTURE 14: The journey from the junction of Pengasih Peak (Puncak Pengasih) and to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) will be a little bit technical as visitor will be needed to scramble in between several large rocks. Due to high visitation, these rocks are not as slippery as we thought it could be!
PICTURE 15 : Among the signs that we are close to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) peak are this aluminium stairs. These stairs were installed by the army and volunteers in one of the conservation programs which was led by the army themselves.
PICTURE 16 : Upon arrival to the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang), we chooses to give ourselves a hot meal. We uses Emazols MRE (Meals Ready to Eat). Cold weather combined with hot meals? Splendid! Want to see whats on the menu? click HERE
PICTURE 17 : We cannot stay longer at the peak of Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) as it was cold and very windy. After our lunch, we took some group photo to remember this day! From Left : Mondok, Kak Zu, Kak Ayu and Badek
PICTURE 18 : Believe it or not, this is the same route that we used to hike up Mount Nuang (Gunung Nuang) via Pangsun! We took some time going down as the trail was a but muddy and slippery. Although we are running out of daylight, we must ensure that SAFETY FIRST!

OUR EXPEDITION VIDEO

CONTACT US

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