Tebing Gila, Batu Gila... How we fared in the recce?

 Batu Gila Recce (Tebing Gila)

Our target was the cliff arch at Hulu Gombak Forest Reserve, or Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua that many know. This rock formation is located Northwest of the famous Sungai Pisang Falls, along the narrow, treacherous and cliffy Tebing Gila. Both Batu Gila and Tebing Gila are unofficial names. In the RSO map, such names are absent.

We traced an old route immediately after the tunnel over Karak Highway, on the West side of Sg Pisang but not the whole route as we diverted to use a flatter route to the start of the cliff. 

Route to Batu Gila cliff arch

Note: The route from beginning to the high cliffs and till the cliff arch are over raw terrain. We did not traverse the entire cliff. In fact, we entered the cliff ridge only from midway, not from the start of cliff. From there on, the trek was all along the narrow, treacherous ridge. Our team affixed a permanent rope to assist with climb to the top of the ridge.

Rock wall at start of cliff

Bukit Unyang Recce 14th Jan 2018

Trig Station at Unyang Peak

Brief notes

• Bukit Unyang is located Northeast of Kanching Waterfalls, in Hutan Rizab Kanching.
• Trailhead towards Bukit Unyang is located after Level 7 of Kanching Falls.
• Some old tape markers left by earlier explorers exists along the trail.
• We did most of our bushwhacking works independently of the markers but somehow we stumbled upon them from section to section.
• The last section at the false peak before crossing the saddle over to the Unyang peak is the toughest.
• At the false peak, we could see Bukit Bunga Buah, Bukit Boyan and Bukit Tunggul.
• All of the three primary obstacles are there - bamboo, thorny palm trees and thick ferns.
• The overall distance from trailhead to the peak is about 2.5 km. Time to hike is about 3 hours.
• The altitude according to RSO map is 730 metres.
• After the last river crossing post level 7, there are no more stream crossing.
• Leeches are present along the way until before the false peak.
• Good to know - the waterfall/river that flows down is Sungai Chul Tinggi.

Bukit Unyang track

Photo gallery on my personal website: https://www.jimmychew.com/Outdoor/Non-Camping/20180114-Bukit-Unyang-Recce/

In Facebook, and for discussion: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155964689258529&type=3