Does it snow in Mt Kinabalu? (which located near Equator)

Does it snow in Mount Kinabalu? Apparently it does as reported by veteran trekker and mountain guides. However, the local authorities are quite skeptical of the report.

"Ice occurrence, yes, but snow? Not possible,'
said Sabah Meteorological Department Director Abdul Malik Tussin.



As reported in dairyexpress.com.my:

"A report submitted to Sabah Parks by their head ranger Martin Mogurin indicated that there were signs of snow at the summit area of the 4,101m-high mountain along the Crocker Range around 4am on Jan 7.

Martin said guides at the mountain submitted a report but were unable to back it up with pictures as it was dark. Sabah Parks officials are trying to verify the report.

Sabah Parks Director Paul Basintal said he was gathering information but he has his doubts about the snow.

Sabah meteorologists, however, are firm in dismissing any possibility of snow on Mount Kinabalu as it was too close to the Equator.

"Ice occurrence, yes, but snow? Not possible,' said Sabah Meteorological Department Director Abdul Malik Tussin."

But with this frost photo at Panar Laban, we can be sure that there is frost at Mt Kinabalu. The article also reported that the cold wind are originated from Siberia!

My take is that, yes, it is possible that the temperature at the peak falls below zero Celsius. And I definitely want to believe that it snows...let it snow, let snow, let it snow.
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Good Introductory Video of Mt Kinabalu

It is fascinating to watch others' experiences in climbing this mountain. But this video is more than that, it is one of the best introductory videos of Mount Kinabalu.

I love the introduction of the mountain by Alim Biun (the Mt Kinabalu Research Officer), Balwant Singh (the race director), other famous professional mountain runners like Marco De Gasperi, Anna Frost, Kilian Jornet, and Greg Vollet, the Saloman Team Manager. The later part of the video shows the Climbathon Run in 2011 and the mountain terrain.



Just like what I had experienced when I climbed this mountain in 2010 and 2011, you will realise how unique this place is.

Anna Frost has a good recap write up of Mount Kinabalu Climbathon.



Other resources:
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Coming down from the Peak: The REAL show has just begun

Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

The highlight of the climb is not when we stood on the "podium", i.e. Low's Peak which is the highest point of the mountain. It is when we were on the way down that the real show began.

During ascent we were climbing at night, there was not much to see. It was only during descent that we realized the greatness of this mountain.








Last view of the highest point of South East Asia.

We are just so tiny.

Click on the photo to see an enlarge image. On the way down, I turned around one last time to take this photo.
Click on the photo to see the enlarged image.


Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

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Summit Trail 5.0km to 5.5km (2)

Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

Rest at Pondok Paka

Exactly this kind of terrain for the remaining parts of the trail.

Not forgetting to capture a photo or two. My lens dried.

My uncle, battered but proud. Just half a KM more to go.

The last half KM was like really really never ending walk. 




Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

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Summit Trail 2.5km to 3km (2)

Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

At this stage, we had climbed almost 40% of the trail before reaching Laban Rata. This is also the level that some of us may start to feel the impact of altitude sickness.

Wait a while. Someone need to talk in the middle of the trail. The porters can carry really heavy load.



Never ending uphill climb. At KM2.5, we were still going strong.

Take a rest before starting again.


This was the place my altitude sickness started during my first climb. But this round, I was ready. I took altitude sickness pill before the climb and I was perfectly okay up to this stage.

My uncle showed his progress happily, KM3.




Step-by-Step Terrain of Mount Kinabalu:

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Blog on the Experience of Climbing Mt Kinabalu

If you can read Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysia Language), I highly recommend this blog post "Gunung Kinabalu Trip 2013" by a lady Marathon runner and blogger called @NANNOOR.

Based on the blog,
  • this was her third times to climb Mount Kinabalu. (So she is experienced)
  • the group followed Mesilau trail (which I had not tried before and therefore had not written before in this blog)
  • she and her husband are Marathon runners, both are fit. In fact, the people in the Group (with kids) all seemed fit during the climb




It is written in Malaysia Language in three parts and it is entertaining:


Mesilau trail is 2 kilometers more than Timpohon trail. It took her 7 hour 25 minutes to reach Laban Rata from Mesilau Gate. The trail is more scenic than the Timpohon trail with more variations in terms of scenery, i.e. forest, rocks face, cliffs, etc.


My own photo in climbing to Low's Peak.
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