KUNDASANG – Despite his age, 72-year-old Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan scaled the summit of Mount Kinabalu, the country’s highest peak.
Jeffrey put all his sceptics to shame, reaching the summit at 6.30am this morning in a bid to promote good health and the Kaamatan festival, the harvest festival observed by the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) ethnic groups in the month of May.
Jeffrey was accompanied on the trek by his wife Datin Seri Cecilia Edwin.
Mount Kinabalu itself is a symbol for the indigenous people in Sabah, long revered as the final resting place of their ancestors.
Jeffrey began preparations for the hike in January, ensuring he was at peak physical condition given that the septuagenarian was still recovering from an spinal injury suffered from a car accident in 2007.
“The plan is to reach the summit where we will all change into our traditional costumes to promote the diversity of the KDM people’s cultural costumes,” he had said.
His training regime included walking around his house which sits atop a hill in Inanam every morning and evening.
Jeffrey started his expedition yesterday, leading a group of 50 other climbers where they spent the night at the Panalaban base camp, midway to the top, around 4pm.
The ascent started at 2am this morning, where the group arrived at the peak at 6.30am.
Jeffrey and the group spent about 30 minutes at the summit before descending and finally reaching the foot of the mountain – Timpohon Gate – close to 7pm, tonight.
“It was a very difficult journey especially after Layang-Layang and the last climb to the summit from Panalaban.
“Imagine climbing on big stones for 6km with big steps up and up; there are many steep wooden steps.
Then the final phase is from Panalaban, climbing granite rocks with ropes, before manoeuvering loose stones for almost 3km up to the summit,” he said.
Kitingan said the team almost did not make it to the summit at all due to heavy rain. The Kinabalu Park chief ranger had postponed the ascent to 3.30am due to the heavy downpour, with the possibility of cancelling the climb.
“But I said Akinabalu will not disappoint us. He is just clearing the path for us and we will be rewarded by clear weather. True enough it was a fantastic scenery given to us up there.
“In the end, I’m glad I was able to participate in this expedition. I’ve always believed that we can all achieve whatever we set our minds to. If you really want something, go for it.
“Climbers will be tempted to give up many times during the ascent. The key is simple. Never, ever say never. Most importantly, ignore the critics and the sceptics,” he said. – The Vibes, May 7, 2021
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