Gunung Irau
Ξ June 24th, 2007 | → | ∇ Holiday, Hiking |
This past weekend just did a trek to Gunung Irau, the famed “green mossy forest trail” in Cameron Highlands.
A rather tough trek, the whole journey took a total of 10 hours, from 9.30am in the morning to 7.30pm in the evening.
We had checked in the dorm the night before at the Malaysian Nature Society’s cosy abode in the middle of the Boh Tea Plantation.
The next morning, we started with a drive up Gunung Brinchang. There we met our first obstacle with the cars having difficulty going up the steep uneven road:
With some hassle, we managed to get moving and then proceeded into the forest.
Some truly unique sight found in certain parts of the world can be seen here in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia: The moss-covered forest.
Plenty of steep slopes to challenge the trekkers’ physical endurance.
Lots of large rainforest tree trunks to step around/clamber on.
G. Irau Jungle trek:- total 2.35km one way.
As we climb on, we find ourselves surrounded by mists/fog/cloud.
It’s peaceful here.
Jungle walk no#14. It takes 30mins just to do 0.4km.
Darling Li Li during one of the rest breaks. We were given various biscuits and chocolates for consumption during breaks to keep our energy up.
More steep slopes and tree roots. Some tree roots need to be passed underneath.
As we go deeper into the forest, the moss starts to become thicker and more dense.
Unlike other mountain treks, there is a strong emphasis on using hands to grab tree branches/roots to hoist oneself up the path, or to let oneself down.
There are moss covered trees all around. The ground however is muddy like heck.
This sign here had suffered some sort of burn.
The cloud obscures the view of the sky and the mountain side.
A typical path, roots below, branches above. Sorta like a tunnel.
Some eerie tree formation with cavities between the trunk-roots.
Trees covering the path.
Another weird formation:- a tree stump sticking out from the ground, covered with moss and seaweed-like-coral-kinda greenies.
Nearing our destination.
Some places required climbing over rocks… ouch, sharp! bring your gloves!
Another green tunnel, moss-covered branches above, tree roots below.
We’re here! The peak’s a little underwhelming. Not much of a view, it serves rather as a sort of marker signifying the limit of the climb. The journey’s more interesting.
A typical participant’s shoes when reaching the peak. Three words: MUD! MUDDY! MUDDIER!
(Bubbles: hhmmm… did someone say MUD?! I am a pig, I heart MUD!)
Going back is faster since everyone did not stop for photos anymore. Overall still ~9 hours climb though.
Verdict: The green moss-covered forest is special and the best part only comes near the end, so no skipping the rough and long climb early on. The green moss-carpet has been destroyed by constant trampling by too-many tourists. The last part of the trail is the portion still in the better condition because presumably less people made it that far. Bearing this in mind, there’s another trail I recommend to see the moss-carpet which me and my ex-schoolmates encountered. It is near G. Beremban at Tanah Rata. It has less moss-covered trees, but more moss-covered ground.
on July 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I heart Bubbles . Bubbles heart MUD, therefore I heart mud …NOT. Those were my shoes, btw.
on March 21st, 2008 at 4:33 am
Nice website!!