Dream of Flying (Habu Airstrip)

Do you know there is a runway in Cameron Highlands where planes can land and take off?

Well, it not the usual airport for passenger airlines but a small airstrip for lightweight planes to do crop dusting or aerial topdressing.

In Cameron Highlands, this short runway of about 400 metres is located in Habu (on Gunung Beluat), a small township which is 5 minutes away from Ringlet toward Tanah Rata. The runway is slightly shorter than the famous Lukla airport (Tenzing–Hillary Airport) in Nepal. This airstrip is in active service. BOH Plantations uses it for spraying fertiliser (not pesticide). During service, several bags of fertiliser are unloaded into the aircraft before it takes off for crop dusting.

Many years back, we were able to walk up all the way to the airstrip and most of the time, nobody is there as the crop dusting service is conducted only a couple of times per year. This particular time, we were lucky as flying operation is halted due to weather. We walked up to end of the airstrip and managed to catch a conversation with the pilot who was waiting for the weather to clear.

Now, this airstrip or runway is closed to public access.

The pilot Mr Collin

Retracing Rhododendron Hill Peak & Trail No. 14

Viewpoint just above Puncak Arabella in Tanah Rata. Mount Berembun is on the right and whereas Mount Batu Brinchang is right ahead (11 o'clock direction) obscured by clouds.

Rhododendron Hill and Myrtle Hill were in my exploration plans since a few years back but never had the time to set foot on them. Until recently.

These two hills bear the old, colonial names during the days of late Sir William Cameron. Existingly, they are known as Bukit Mentigi and Bukit Kemunting respectively.  

The name "Rhododendron Hill" was noted in a local paper dated 12th May 1925. J.B. Scrivenor (Director of Geological Survey, FMS) stated "Rhododendron Hill", "Myrtle Hill", "Parit Falls" and "Robinson Falls" had survived, further quoting the latter was name in honour of H.C. Robinson whereas the rest were descriptive and apt. Apparently the name Myrtle Hill did not survive; and the name Bukit Kemunting is seldom used. 

On the larger map (10 in. = 1 mile), Scrivenor recognised that Myrtle Hill and Rhododendron Hill appeared as Bukit Kemunting and Bukit Mentigi respectively; he did not understood how "mentigi" appeared as a Malay name for Rhododendron; it was R.J. Wilkinson gave that Malay plant-name to represent rhododendron and whereas Kemunting was a literal translation. Mentigi in Bahasa Malaysia refers to a small plant.

 

Myrtle Hill (Bukit Kemunting) is located at coordinates N4.49129 E101.38444. The hill is located on the left side of the main road Jalan Pahang after the golf course but before reaching Brinchang town. It is the hill behind Parkland Apartment on its South-East with Strawberry Park Resort on its North-West. Jalan Kemunting is one of the roads branching off Jalan Pahang into Myrtle Hill. Since the hill is "well-developed" with private residences and resorts, I have not attempted to check out the hill. Moreover, there is no "tourist" forest trail to walk.

On the other hand, Rhododendron Hill, more widely known as Bukit Mentigi, has a peak with a viewpoint nearby and a couple of forest trails, namely Trail No. 13 and Trail No. 14.

Trail Formats

In trekking, there are generally 3 known route formats: (1) paper trail, (2) loop, and (3) trans.

In paper trail (originated from the idea of leaving bits of papers behind for others to follow), the start point is the same as end point e.g. G. Nuang via Pangsun -- you trek to and fro between the base in Pangsun and Nuang summit on the same trail (twice).

In loop (or circular), you do not trek on the same trail but still end at the starting point e.g. Puchong Hill enter Gate A, then exit Gate B and rejoins the common trail. Tabur West has the loop characteristic but not many are aware of it. Hiking G. Cantik and then heading back to MNS-BOH chalets via BOH Tea Centre back lane will encompass the use of both paper trail and loop formats.

The third format is perhaps the least understood route formats, and very often is incorrectly labeled in many outdoor events and postings. In trans (short for transverse), you traverse by enter at one point and exit at another point. Like loop format, you do not trek on the trail twice e.g. Trans Treacher's Hill (photo album at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152486038623529.1073741930.645243528&type=3&l=e719785cd9). Trans has a major consideration -- transport logistics. You need to arrange driving so that you can get everyone back from end point back to starting point; alternatively have the belongings brought over to the ending point. A few famous trans treks include Tahan (Merapoh-Kuala Tahan), Irau-Yellow-Pass, V1 and even Apek-Saga trail in Cheras. Even Mount Kinabalu's Mesilau-Timpohon is technically a trans. 

Trans Treacher's Hill

My Klang Gates East Ridge Expedition (write-up at http://www.facebook.com/notes/jimmy-oddstuff/klang-gates-quartz-ridge-expedition-east-ridge-only-23rd-april-2011/10150168460991434) is a trans.

Trans Klang Gates Quartz Ridge (East Ridge)

To comment, head over to original posting in FB: http://www.facebook.com/notes/jimmy-oddstuff/trail-formats/10152246088636434

Simple DIY idea: Used toilet roll to keep ropes, strings and cords in place during outdoor camping trips (string packs)

Many of us who do overnight camping trips will sure bring along ropes, strings and cords to set up ridgeline for flysheet and hammocks, pitching tents and tie guylines to the ground. 

Usually, on the last day of the camping event, nylon strings and smaller-diameter nylon ropes that are still attached to tent or flysheet grommets are left untidied, in a rush to vacate the campsite. They may be left as they are (i.e. messy/tangled) or tidied back home using the standard rope care for coiling unattached rope (see pic 1 below).

Pic 1: Coiled rope

Long-deserted Bukit Permatang Kumbang

Trig station at the peak of Bukit Permatang Kumbang

It was a success solo search for this little-known small hill of about 180 metres in altitude. Initially with an on-and-off trail then complete absence of trail. An official map which I do not have but seen it states 577 feet.

An old photo from an online document

The nearby flat peak connects to a trail used by the HHH. Strangely, the trig station was not touched for years. Either the HHH folks know about this inconspicuous location and couldn't be bothered with it or they might not know it at all. I couldn't locate pics of this place on Google.

On 19th February 1989, a Flying Tiger B747 cargo aircraft crashed on the slopes of this peak. The bodies were successfully retrieved from the crash site. Today, according to the news (dated 2012), the remnants are no longer there as they were all picked up, especially by the nearby residents.

Completed: Project Clean-Up at Bukit Tabur 'Far East' (T-FE)

14 of us attended the clean-up job ala garbage collection. The (secret) event on 20th April was created (exactly) one month before, following a number of hikers who have volunteered to assist with the rubbish management exercise. All those who had expressly indicated their willingness to volunteer were the first batch brought into the invite.

The T-FE peak was littered with rubbish of all sorts – scattered everywhere, at the peak and slopes from the peak; needless to say, it was pure eyesore. My not-up-to-par videography of the rubbish (https://www.facebook.com/groups/MOTHSgroup/permalink/10151954524131681/) at the site during my recce with Ho Chiu Wah on 9th March reveals the mentality of those hikers and trekkers with lack of regards for nature’s beauty. The T-FE/T-X (Tabur ‘Extreme’) junction on the ridge also suffered the same.

In the beginning - loads of rubbish

The clean-up was not only just the collection. We developed ‘notices’ to be placed at the strategic locations where hikers can see them, and abide by them, we hope. The intention was rather one of education, not activity alone. It is to spread the message of “leave no trace”, where we hope the same message spreads all over.

A specific use of PVC bag for hikers and campers

Photo credit: Herbert Wong (photo source here)

The PVC bag like the one shown above has various uses. The intended purpose for the bags in this pic is for garbage collection by hikers. A strong point in using the PVC bag is its holding strength. Very few comes close to beating it. They can take on a heavy loads e.g. 25 kg, and higher. This is especially useful for the hiking community when garbage are collected; accidental dragging can happen when hiking over long distances and this is where it shows it power -- no tearing! This is totally unlike standard garbage bags from grocery stores; one has to wrap a second layer over it.

The additional weight compared to standard, or thicker garbage bag is really negligible. However, as for the price, it is more costly. Given the capacity, it would be a waste if the bag is not filled.

Another use for it, which is what I want to mention here, is for specific hiking purpose i.e. as a sitting mat or ground sheet. View the photos below for explanation.