leongwk's Site

While started to decend from the Peak of Mount Kinabalu. En Ahmed from my group was felt the pain at both of his knee. It doesn't felt the pain while ascending.
Some how he was needed to carry on to keep move to keep the body warm. Rain likely will be pouring soon.

Guide Lazarus took out his pain relief medicine CNI brand ( can't recalled the name) applied to Ahmed. The deep heat of the medicine works to relief some of the pain. Step by steps, Ahmed reached Gunting Lagadan Hut at about 11.00am.

After having our lunch at the Guesthouse, Ahmed decided not to walk all the way down to Timpohon Gate if someone can carry him. The distant from Laban Rata Guesthouse to Timpohon Gate is 6 km.

I was discussing and negitiate with the Guides and porters while they are having their lunch. The deal was given at Rm150.00/km which is cost Rm900.00 bear from Laban Rata to Timpohon Gate. Its will be bear by six porters/guide to take turn. And the duration is about two hours. Ahmed has agreed with the deal since he do not want to risk his knees.

They took out the stretcher and started to assembly. Ahmed was lying down and strap firm with three straps. Sleeping bag was used as the pillow and only hands are allowed to move.

Hanson and Lazarus were given me a challenge if I could run faster than them in less than 2 hours from Laban Rata to Timpohon Gate. I had agreed with the challenge. And each of them still need to carry one or two backpack.

The stretcher was beared by four bearers at once .One person will give the command like a voice controlled gear shift as seen in the movies. Gear 1 , go..... Gear 2,3,4 and 5, including stop , change shoulder side , down steps and up step.

Upon going down from the step ladder, the two at the back will squat and moving down, to keep the stretcher as close to horizontal as possible. Even when that is at the narrow trail, two from aside will try to squat lower to get balance from the other side. They are not walking but running , shouting give way , give way .........I was given the hard time to chase after them. At the flat land and their are moving in the Gear 5, that is no way I can follow closed to them.

Changing shoulder from one side to the other is super fast and without stop down their moving. It just , shoulder 1,2,3 ,Up.....

Each year all the Guide and porter have to undergo for a few training in order to get their licience renewed.. That training were include bear-stretcher for injured or death body., massage (urut) to twisted, cramp, AMS patients, etc.

Drizzling on and off along the way. But it doesn't stopped thier running. It is exactly 2 hours when they reached at Timpohon Gate and my run was 1 hour 50 minutes.