Fraser's Hill Challenge (16 December 2016)

The Misfits

Time check

Victory pose

8 more km to the peak

On the way down, The Gap

Old charm

Kuala Kubu Baru

Kuala Kubu Baru

Lunch stop

It was a self challenge, not a race

VT and Claudine started from the house as early as 5.30 am. Stopping by at the mamak shop opposite Sime Darby Medical Center, Claudine secured mee goreng and teh tarik on the go while VT was assigned to return with some gardenia buns from the next door's 7 Eleven.

Their next stop was Shah Alam to pick Mike up. Waze guided them right to his doorstep, well almost.....he was already riding out from his house being afraid the guards will require extensive identifications from the two!

Free parking

 

Kuala Kubu Baru was a short, one hour drive away. Arriving at the hawker center next to the post office, Calvin and Kelvin have already started on their wan tan mee breakfast. Kelvin was right. It looked delicious but received only passing marks, no flying colours!

Heading out at almost 8 am, the climb was almost immediate! Passing by Kg Assam Kumbang, Claudine had to will herself not to stop for photos. The houses built right to the edge of the river looked so rustic and charming.

It was a quiet morning with very little traffic on the road. A man on foot was spotted in a blue windbreaker, probably on his morning round of exercise.

As we climbed, the higher vantage point allowed a peek at the old trunk road. All this while, Claudine was suffering blocked nose and painful ear pressure, the side effects of a lingering flu! She was basically breathing from the mouth!!

Approximately 5 km into the ride, we came upon the first bridge. The view was so spectacular, Claudine could not resist a request for a photo stop. It was rather embarrassing as new friends Calvin and Kelvin had never made such irrelevant stops before!!! Theirs were usually "Chop Chop, Hurry Up", a roadbike ride up to the peak and down.

A little further down, we sighted the dam. Mike detoured into the SPLASH administrative building despite the boom gates and signs that prohibits unauthorized persons to enter! 2 stray dogs in the area growled at us but moved away as we approached. One even had a limp!

Sungai Selangor Dam managed by SPLASH spans 600 hectares. The tower and bridge stood faraway while in the foreground was a spillway shaped like a half eaten doughnut!

Leaving the center, we were allowed 2-3 downhill slopes, still within sight of the dam. Beyond that, it felt like a perpetual climb, manageable but one that kept us panting and slightly winded.

Still within sights of the dam, we crossed yet another bridge that spanned the river. A small trail at the end of the bridge leads to Kg Peretak.

The sceneries continue to entice from ground zero to the 12 km mark where we were greeted by the gushing waters of Sungai Chilling. The old metal truss bridge was recently repainted a bright yellow but the usual carpark for picnickers was closed for renovations.

We were more disciplined for the next hour or so. No more photos nor stopping but plain climbing. Enveloped in a lush green forest that would have made St Patrick mighty happy, we were numbed by the slopes that goes on and on.

Meanwhile, for Claudine, the heart wasn't pumping oxygen fast enough to the brain. When a man in red cruised down the hill on a mtb, it took her 3 seconds to register it as Bernie!!! Not wanting to break the climbing rhythm, introductions were made as we rode on, stopping only when we came by the waterfalls.

It was a quick and short stop before we rode on in search of Suzie. We found her resting by a pool and a stream that runs under the road to the other side before cascading down the hills.

The joy of arriving at the Gap was bitter sweet! Hoping for the shops to be opened for a renewed supply of water, they looked like they have been dormant for ages. The resthouse up the cliff, from the colonial days was abandoned. Thankfully, the Suspension Bridge could still take our weights!!!

Fearing for the impending last 8 km stretch, horror stories from previous riders, some of us decided to refuel on whatever food we brought. Mike ate a gardenia vanilla bun in 3 bites. Claudine took a little longer with her Gardenia chocolate twiggies! Bernie and Suzie ate hamster food....the only person that doesn't appeared to eat was VT.

It was difficult to climb with a dry mouth. Both VT and Claudine had long gone through their water supply. No, nobody advised them on bringing an extra bottle of water! In fact, they had thirstily gulped down their last drops at the waterfalls convinced by the 3 experts that they can purchase water at the Gap!

Wheeling up the final 8 km stretch, VT was roaring to go. With him were Mike and Kelvin who no longer wish to lead nor sweep anymore. The remaining group will not see the duo until the peak! VT on the other hand, stopped for regrouping after the first 2 km.

A Mat Salleh on Roadbike overtook us just as we started our ascent. He deserves the trophy of the day, having started from KL instead of KKB!!!

Climbing the last 8 km from the Gap, the ladies were constantly accompanied by Calvin. Bernie was always ahead sometimes disappearing for lengths. VT was always behind, left alone on lengths!!!

The first 2 km seemed manageable. The labour intensed thereafter and it took the longest time to reach the 3 km marker, 4 km marker and later, the 5 km marker. When nobody stops, the pride pushes one on.

Just after the 5 km marker, the trio spotted Bernie at rest. He was all ready to push on but Claudine called out to him to wait! He did so, reluctantly! This time, Claudine's mouth was so dry, she begged Calvin for water.

A few times, a worried Calvin wanted to go downhill to check on VT. As cars passes by, the group were tempted to stop one to enquire about their friend downhill.

When VT finally arrives, he declared he had made a stop by a running stream out of desperation to quench a nagging thirst. He calls it, "Air mineral semula jadi!"

Reassured he was alright, the remaining team moved on again. The 6th click was a struggle. Looking back after a hairpin bend, Claudine with her lack of oxygen brain spotted a white figured lady on a mtb. After waiting for the longest time for the lady to overtake her, she finally concluded it was Calvin all along!!! Hallucinations or spirits of the forest????

It took aeons to join the centimeters into meters. The word snail pace finally took form!

Gasping and panting uphill, a 2 feet green snake crossing Claudine's path was passed off with a manageable scream. Her speed probably increased by 1 mm/s, too negligible to save herself should it decide to attack!

Everything seems easier on the final 2 km. The gradient is no longer as steep as before, the breathing becomes easier, the heart does not pump as hard and when you spot the 2 men sitting by the Kedai Runcit cheering you on the final leg, a triumphant feeling awashed over you!

Don't stop!!! Keep going until you reach the iconic clock tower and quick flip out your camera to capture the time of your arrival! That's when you realize, there's a whole long queue of tourists waiting to take the same shot!!!

Poorly stocked convenience store

Riding as a team, Bernie, Calvin, Suzie and Claudine arrived at the same time. VT took a bit longer making stops for his "air mineral semula jadi". When he finally appeared from the bend, Mike showered him with brotherly love, running towards him with a bottled water!!! In fact, he had wanted to go down the hill had Claudine not assured him that he will be fine!

We did not spend too long at the peak. It was cold, misty and threatening to rain. Bernie and Suzie who were staying for the second night bid us farewell.

Going downhill was not as easy as one thinks. Leaving the clock tower, there were a few slopes to manage. We rode past colonial bungalows fashioned after the British country homes.

Thereafter, was the journey to the Gap. Yet again, there were 2-3 steep slopes to manage before the perpetual downhill slide.

Cruising downhill wasn't exactly fun all the time. Going at break neck speed, one have to be alert to the bends and holes on the road. The tarmac was not smooth and the rattling must have loosened some of our bones!

Initially, it was cold and then we were hit by rain. Mike who was leading allowed time to put on windbreakers but the rest just breezed past him not wanting further delays as he had promised a good lunch at KKB provided we get there before 3 pm. Time was running out!!!

Midway downhill, it started to get warm. By the time we reached the dam, it was a scorcher! While we enjoyed the few down hill slides at the dam area this morning, we now have to climb back up the slopes. Crawling slowly up the last slope, Kelvin stopped for Claudine while the other men roared ahead.

We passed a man collecting spring water by a slope. Mike explained the water is sometimes revered as miracle water.

The sight of Kg Assam Kumbang was a relieve. Yet, we were reminded of the slope we rolled down this morning. Now, we have to conquer it at our weary state! Climb we must if we wish to eat!!!

The victory feast planned for us was a humble plebeian meal, cooked by an old man with grey hair. It tasted homecooked, old recipes from yesteryears, delicious and wholesome. We dugged into the meal hungrily though Claudine had a ploy not to loose out to the men! Wrists too painful to hold chopsticks, she requested for fork and spoons so she can remain competitive even when it comes to eating!!!

Photo credits : 

Calvin Ooi

Suzie Juliet