CONCLUDING VIEWS
It is about the 'NOW' moments.
Concluding Views
This book is not about the climb that took place 13 years ago. That is long past and many have started to have fading memories of the difficulties of that climb. Every now and again, the 47 climbers who hear of new forays on Mt Kinabalu will suddenly find many distant memories flooding back in recollection. We are now 13 years later and this is 2023. Tan Sri Azman Hashim would have rekindled forgotten hopes with his latest adventure up Mt Kinabalu. It is the ‘Now moments’ that make our existence relevant.
An Impact on Thousands
His almost ‘impossible’ attempt up Mt Kinabalu would have brought vivid images of their own experiences to the minds of the other 46 climbers who climbed with him in 2010. The impact of the successful climb made by him in 2023 would have reverberated way beyond this group to thousands of ‘seniors’ who will see that age should never be a limitation of what we can or cannot do. Every one of you reading this simple book of ‘recollections’ of his latest climb would I am sure, be inspired by Tan Sri Azman Hashim’s ‘bravado’ and his indomitable spirit. Your moving out to take on improbable adventures would be the correct amplification of what he is encouraging seniors to do.
The Mount Kinabalu Experience – On Top of South-East Asia
Mount Kinabalu, one of South-East Asia’s highest mountains should be one of our goals as we enter the coming years because climbing Mount Kinabalu is consonant with many of our desires to live excellent lives and to overcome the mountains that are before us!
Mount Kinabalu – Worthy of the Effort
Ask anyone who has reached the peak of Mount Kinabalu and he will share with you an enthusiastic account of the tremendous feeling that accompanies one who has made the climb successfully. With the wind blowing in your face and with cold etched on your hands, standing there tells you that you have lived the life of a winner. It is a reflection of the overwhelming determination that must be exercised to go past the pain barrier and to relentlessly move on, step by step until the peak is reached.
A Sublime Account of ‘Victory’
Traversing that great rock face and reaching Low’s peak, (a seemingly unattainable goal) brings a sense of victorious elation. It is an account of unstinting dedication and the realization that each of us can have the power to overcome if we seriously apply ourselves to the goal. A successful climb requires us to live again that dream that is inherently below the surface of those of us who once dreamt of doing great things in our lives. It is a reminder of how we cannot fail to achieve great results if only we are prepared to plan the program and program the plan.
A Wonderful Challenge to Those Who Would Commit
It is against this background that I continue to organize periodic climbs for my friends and anyone keen to climb the mountain. It is a call to excellence, a call to commitment, a call to pay the price and a call to not settling for second best! For those who are serious and who would like to be counted and be found willing, the climbs organized would be excellent platforms for accomplishment, achievement & fulfilment. There is no better way to reflect and represent what our aspirations should be in life.
Dream Your Pictures, Paint Your Dreams…
Van Gogh, that unparalleled master painter & dreamer said those words that etched him into the annals of immortality – “dream your pictures, paint your dreams”. We should have an equally clear dream – a dream of unsurpassed excellence! The question that must be asked is, “Are we painters?” It is a question that only you can answer as you read this invitation. We hope you will respond and say without reservation, “I will be climbing this mountain because it is there before me!”
Making the Necessary Selections
The people who will make this climb should meet the following criteria:
- A clear desire to climb the mountain
- A willingness to train and be fit for the climb (training done in your own home)
- A commitment to the promise to train diligently for at least 1-2 months
- An absence of serious physical impairment or sickness
- A willingness to attend 2 training sessions before the climb (for assessment & briefing)
Taking the Decision Now – No Turning Back
Your decision should be one that does not leave room for turning back. The climb will be made under the direction of someone who has climbed Mount Kinabalu 70 times. The program is woven into a structure of fun, enjoyment, camaraderie, encouragement and accomplishment. You will probably have the “time” of your life and it will bring home many precious lessons as we journey together to make our experiences richer and more secure.
The Milestones
Timpohon Gate – 6,188 feet
Kandis Shelter – 6,490 feet
Ubah Shelter – 6,816 feet
Lowii Shelter – 7,376 feet
Mempening Shelter – 8,237 feet
Layang Layang Shelter – 8,849 feet
Villosa Shelter – 9,510 feet
Paka Shelter – 10,087 feet
Laban Rata – 10,716 feet
Sayat Sayat – 12,012 feet
Low’s Peak – 13,435 feet