Tales of a Mountain Tortoise

Blossoms of the Willow

2012-01-31T00:22:00.000+08:00

The pussy willow branches I bought for Chinese New Year has blossom! It is definitely a sign of prosperity.

May the prosperity brings us more good adventure! :)

Prosperity and Progress

2012-01-25T00:10:00.003+08:00

We are into the 3rd day of the Water Dragon lunar new year.

May this Dragon year brings you and me many peaceful experiences, prosperous encounters and positive progressive outcomes.

發發發 for everyone! :-)

Twitter

2012-01-20T13:38:00.000+08:00

I have just discovered the fun of Twitter. Yes, I have set up a Twitter account. Gosh, I am not sure what I have got myself into, because I am already hooked on to Facebook!

Got to Smile, despite!

2012-01-19T13:35:00.008+08:00

Walking with a pair of crutches is by no means an easy task. It gets harder each time when I rest my weight on the hand grips because my armpits are feeling sore! Perhaps the technique is not right. But hell, who wants to be good with using the crutches? not me! :D

My two extra pair of "legs"

Got to smile! =)

Two things I probably cannot do this pre-CNY.

1. To queue for Lin Zhi Yuan bak gua! I love the queuing because it gives me a sense of purpose for the long wait. Crazy? but that was my way of staying happy for CNY!

2. To go shop for goodies for CNY. And that's to say, I will have to miss eating those CNY goodies since I cannot shop for them. Haiz! Now I regret for not buying the goodies earlier.

Oh well, I am so looking forward to a quick recovery. What made me happy today is that I received these images from colleagues in NP. I just cannot stop laughing, if you can guess what went on this images! =)

I was obviously in pain! haha

He is Bond ...

James Bond!

Walking is a challenging affair for now

2012-01-18T16:43:00.011+08:00

As a climber/mountaineer and occasionally a runner, I have always been weary about getting injuries. I supposed minor pain here and there is inevitable, but getting it too often and too serious is scary. Recently, especially the period when I was preparing for Island Peak and Ama Dablam, I have noticed a nagging discomfort on my archilles tendon especially the heel bone area. I felt the stiffness when out of bed in the morning. Apart from this, I also noticed some pain on the groin over the years. The groin pain amplified when I was in Nepal after the AD climb.

Kumaran, a Doctor by Profession, tried to guide me
with some stretching exercises to alleviate the pain

Frankly, I have not suffered any major injuries thus I really have little experience on dealing with it especially when it happens to me. The excruciating pain on my groin that I suffered at Lukla was a big scare to me. I cried. Because the pain was sharp, I was not able to stand on my feet.

My greatest mistake was to have ignored all the minor pain all these while. Believing that if I continue to exercise, it will heal over time and that the condition will not get worsen (it will, if I had been diligent with my pre/post-workout warm up and stretches).

So on Tuesday (yesterday), I suffered a sharp acute pain on my heel bone (Calcanus) after a round of badminton. I believe that my warm up and stretching exercises were not effective considering that I have not been working out much after my return from Nepal. So Ouch!

Badminton kakis in action,
I could only watch!

Acute pain at the heel bone

There were no swelling and redness, but the area was painful to touch. I could still walk but with an obvious limp. I went to the nearby restroom hoping to change to my jeans but the pain was too much for me to want to do anything. I decided to go home. When I got out of the vehicle, it was already too painful to walk. I literally hopped my way home from the car park. The immediate treatment was to apply the RICE treatment. It would have been better if I had ice it earlier ...

Icing my heel bone at home

It has been more than 24hrs since the pain came on. The pain hasn't gone lesser, and I am still unable to walk with the injured leg. Last evening, a concerned friend (Joe), we share the same birthday and same chinese animal horoscope but 12 yrs a part (ok, nothing to do with anything haha), sent me a set of his used crutches. With the crutches, I can move around in my flat without having to hop and risk injuring the good leg.

I am still pretty much in my high spirit, just hope that this injury won't last too long. My biggest challenge is not about the walk with a limp, but more so to recover fast enough so that my mum won't suffer. She has been extremely sensitive to my needs, and knowing very well that all the little routine things I do everyday become difficult for me. Mum is mum, she is just forever so caring. I am appreciating her more.

New year, new plans

2012-01-05T02:59:00.001+08:00

We have marched into a brand new year. New year must have new plans. I am currently planning for a climb in Mt Siguniang, the First sister Peak (5038m), from 17-25 March 2012. It will take about 9 days. I am hoping to recruit 6-8 other people with me.

Siguniang mountain range

On the summit of First Sister Peak (March 2011)

Random Thoughts

2011-12-03T12:06:00.002+08:00

I will never trade climbing for anything else. So please stop asking me when will I stop climbing. Instead, ask me when will be my next climb, but ask only if you are genuinely interested to know.

I fully understand the risk involved, the time and money spent to climb. And yes, I know I have families and friends who are worried when I climb, but hey, even crossing a road is dangerous, and you might just get run over by a train in the MRT station. I'd rather die in the mountain (ahem, touch wood!) than to die of some deadly illness or to be in the hands of some reckless drink drivers. Period.

I have so much to catch up. I want to share with you the climbs I did like Aconcagua in Feb and my recent climbs on Island Peak and Ama Dablam. As you can see, my last entry was more than 6 months ago! Haiz. I just need to get my ass down and map out my thoughts. Not forgetting that I am also rushing out my thoughts on our Everest journey. The SWET team is really behind time with our book which we have been telling people about. We had postponed our climb, we cannot postpone the writing. Yes, we will get it out somehow.

Returning to Nepal was a nostalgic experience. Everything that I saw in Kathmandu and in the Khumbu was just so familiar. Climbing Everest with SWET seemed just a recent affair when I traveled on the trails. It was definitely a nice feeling. And guess what, the SWET team Marmot shell was so eye-catching. I had strangers telling my climbing sherpas that they recognised the shell belonging to the women's team from Singapore. I felt like being watched! On the other hand, I feel proud to be part of the SWET.

At the summit of Island Peak with Dorje and donning that "SWET " shell that many other climbing sherpas were familiar with.

Jumping for joy on the summit of Ama Dablam

Year 2011 is coming to an end soon. Looking back, I have had a jolly good time climbing, from Argentina to China and back to Nepal, I can't ask for more. I will spend the last month of 2011 writing my climbing journals and hopefully it won't be long for you to read about it.

Scavenging in Mendoza

2011-03-06T00:13:00.002+08:00

The team at the start of the day one trek

Climbing and food come hand in hand. You need to eat, you need energy to stay alive, more so when in the mountain. The meaty meals before the climb was filled with excitement and in anticipation, like in heaven. After the climb, it was more like a chore than anything else. The pig-out days in Mendoza (Argentina) still lingers in my mind - the streets filled with restaurants, the wine, the sparkling drinks and the slow moving human traffic. I am still pretty overdosed with the food (sorry, the MEAT), felt like I was a huge carnivore. My stomach is still learning to digest. My stools (excuse me, please) are still in some sort of like watery state, nothing solid. I haven't eaten dinner for the past days since I returned to this lovely sunny island I called home (my lovely home, truly). The flight delay in Auckland airport was a torture to me, I declare that I never felt so homesick ever before. Seems like the Mendoza scavenging inked on me more than the climb did. Many people told me not to miss the steaks and the winery tour in Mendoza. I went for the steak, but not the wine tour, and not to mention the wine festival that I deliberately skipped.

Yummy steak before the climb

I ordered BBQ pork after the climb (more than half was not consumed, TOO MUCH)

The ribs for Klaus (the real carnivore :))

Seafood on Caesar Salad (Carmen's fav, the one Alan didn't get to eat)

It was raining in Mendoza by the time we return from the climb, and the weather has changed from hot & sunny to windy & chilly. When it poured, the streets turned into a running river. Who's complaining about the floods in Orchard Road?

Heavy downpour floods the streets of Mendoza.

What else can we do in Mendoza? I supposed that we were just not adventurous enough. In order to try to burn some calories from the eating, we went cycling! It was fun, but I kept paddling on the wrong side of the road (left hand drive) and getting head on with other road users. The road was pretty much FLAT, technically nothing too strenuous for any serious fat-burning excursion. And a late lunch added to the scale.

Cycling excursion!

Another round of eating after the cycling excursion

Ahem. We never felt hungry when in Mendoza, oh, at least not for me. Glorious food we behold, we hunt down one of the highly recommended restaurants in Mendoza by Times magazine - Siete Continentes (the restaurant name, it means 7 continents). We ordered the 7 course dinner - Siete Cocinas de Argentina. BURP!!!!! That was our last evening in Mendoza.

The journey home was tedious, as we didn't get to fly as scheduled. So the airport became our temporary home. Obviously, FOOD became our targets. We had burgers, fire wings (aka buffalo wings) and sushi!

The two mini burgers - I only managed the fries, burgers were adopted by the rest

The sushi spread we had, we bought it with the food vouchers given to us by the airline

The food vouchers - at first was one per pax, then 2nd voucher came, then more and more vouchers. We knew, the more we get, the longer we would have to wait. Sigh.

Overdose with food! I had enough!

Climbing stories another day.

Precious gems

2011-02-05T04:31:00.002+08:00

Friends are gems, so precious, you want to keep them for life.

June, a long time friend since our days organising adventure camps with Outdoor Specialist, organised a simple CNY gathering over dinner. Conveniently, it also became a send-off dinner for me, before I head to climb Aconcagua. Since my earlier days in aiming to climb Mt Everest, friends have been very supportive of me and never failed to take time to gather to give me morale support. From climbing Mustagh Ata to Cho Oyu to Mt Everest, my friends had took time to prepare gatherings, surprises and send-off party at the airport for me. Some even involved their spouses. I have always felt that I have overly abused their time spent with me. I owe part of my Mt Everest success to my friends. These are lovely people, my lovely friends.

June, forever so jolly good fellow a person

I have always called Su Ping as ping-ping an-an ... her name kept me safe :) [ i think she will have comments about this ghostly looking photo of her]

Polaroid photos put together ... I am bringing all these for the climb [as usual, i like to carry photos of friends with me during my climbing trips]

Ahem, in no way the above represent the entirety of my precious gems, but surely, they are with me in spirit.

Tranquil MacRitchie on CNY day

2011-02-03T13:44:00.002+08:00

MacRitchie was pretty quiet this morning, I saw some visitors but mostly were those who do not celebrate Chinese new year (based on assumption as they are non-chinese) . I went for a 10km jog. Pretty usual on a weekday morning, but the kayaking area was extremely quiet. I spotted a lady lying on the platform reading a book, having a good time by herself. Then it strike me to think that MacRitchie Reservoir used to be so serene and tranquil. Now with the bustling kayaking training participated by schools, that area seems very messy and noisy at times. However, MacRitchie reservoir is indeed an ideal place for kayaking training, for we do not have many choices. Got to give and take.

I ran passed families, groups of friends strolling in the trail, and a couple of others who went there to run/jog. I overheard a lady, she didn't sound like she is a local, who was amazed that the reservoir forms part of our drinking water. She plainly pointed out to her friend and said " this is the drinking water? so dirty!?" haha, I laughed to myself. Should I walk to her to explain to her about the water treatment system we have here?

Consumable Energy

2011-02-02T00:20:00.000+08:00

These are some of the usual stuff that I will have with me when I go to the mountains.

Strepsils - that's lozenges (for sore throat).
Fisherman's friend - another lozenges (more for comfort than anything).
The Natural Confectionery - my favourite soft jellies on the move on high camps, refreshingly sweet.
Skippy - Peanut Butter - I love peanut butter, it taste good no matter how I choose to eat it with.
Pills - Ginko and Ginseng pills from GNC.
Redoxon - chewable vitamin C , help to keep my immune system healthy.
Pocari Sweat - energy drink, I usually drink them when on the move. But not everyday.
Gu Gels - energy gels, not a supplement for food, but it helps a bit especially on a hard day's climb.
Electrolytes - especially good for a hot day's climb, help to replenish salt, prevent dehydration.

Plan to get some chocolates when I am in Mendoza .

Maiden ride with Bokor

2011-01-30T23:50:00.005+08:00

I finally own a mountain bike. Yayness for that! To start with, I know nuts about bike, not to mention about the bike parts, but over the past few months, with the help of a friend, Chu, I learned quite a fair bit in the hope to assemble a personal mountain bike at a reasonable cost.

I wanted a reasonable "good" bike, lightweight if possible. But I do not have a high budget for it. After some deliberation, I decided to put in some investment on the bike frame and the wheel set, and will probably upgrade the rest of the parts later. Well, I guess the other bike parts work well for now and likely for a good time, frankly, I am no expert in mountain biking, I probably cannot differentiate the performance of the parts, except that I could feel the weight of the bike :D

Voodoo "Bokor One" frame

Chu helped me to identify some bike frames, and eventually, browsing online, I settled for a Voodoo "Bokor One" frame. When I saw the bike frame right before my eye, my jaw dropped. It has a mysterious feel, just as it described as "Voodoo Black Magic Aluminum". I like the color, black!

Next was the wheel set. Highly recommended by Chu for me to get the American Classic MTB 26. I am just a follower, nevertheless, the 2011 series is really pretty, and it matches well with the black magic Bokor (matching colors are every part of a women's life). To avoid over spending, I took over Chu's old bike fork - heavy, but I am strong :) (he had upgraded to a Rock Shox SID fork.

Chic looking wheel - American Classic MTB 26

The bike is assembled at Gee Hin Chan (GHC), one of the oldest bike shops in Singapore (according to another friend, Yu Seung, the shop is in the hands of the 3rd generation. Impressive!). My bike currently weighs about 12kg, I would consider it as light compared to the bike I used to borrow from Siti. Moreover, I carry 15kg load on my shoulder to trek/climb, so 12kg sound relatively acceptable to me. Haha, well, I know it is not the same, but what's the difference other than one number is bigger than the other? No big deal for me, at least not for now at my entry level.

So, with the intention not to spend too much on a mountain bike, the rest of the bike parts are on an economical scale, meaning, nothing too elaborate but good enough to get me paddling.

It has been raining since last evening. As I am typing now, the rain has been non-stop for the last 30hours. Despite the rain, I went on my maiden ride with my Bokor! It is really nice to see my new bike getting dirty in the rain rather than being a nice display piece at home.

Getting dirty =)

AM MTB 26 2010 (left) and 2011 series. Which do you prefer? :)

New year new gear

2011-01-28T01:25:00.006+08:00

I have gotten new gear for the climb to Aconcagua! Buying climbing gear is as exciting as the climb. I have stocked up another set of gloves - a baselayer glove (mid weight) and a fleece glove and a new pair of high altitude mountain boot.

When up in the mountain, anything possibly bad can happen might just happen. Because the climb is long, there is always a possibility of losing gear, or have no time to do laundry. So having spare gear helps. I owned two pairs of Marmot Fleece gloves, and I simply love them. It helps with my decision to get new gloves when I spotted my favourite gloves at Campers' Corner come in different colors.

Baselayer glove (black - right) + a Fleece glove is one of the best layering system to keep my hands warm

With the new addition, I now have two pairs of lighweight baselayer, two pairs of midwight baselayer gloves and 3 pairs of fleece gloves (I have more actually, but my fav has been the Marmot ones). On a typical trekking day with the sun above me, I will trek with a pair of lightweight baselayer glove, and will add on a fleece glove when it gets colder. If I will to start my climb in the middle of the night, I will use my midweight baselayer together with a fleece glove. This layering system works very well for me. Layering system applies not just on our body, we need it for our hands and feet too. It is not advisable to put on just one piece of thick glove hoping that it can keep our hands warm. The baselayer helps to retain heat within our palm. Same goes to our feet, the baselayer socks help to retain heat. Keep the baselayer dry, change it if it gets wet due to perspiration or what ever shit happens.

Barunste, La Sportiva

Another new addition to my gear box. Please welcome my new pair of mountain boots - Barunste, one of the best reviewed high altitude boot. It is suitable for climbs up to 7000m. It is unlike plastic boots that feel so hardy, the inner boot is soft and easy on the feet. What I like best is the lacing system of the inner boot. It is a simple pull-and-wrap-round-and-stick-to-velco system. No need knots or hitches to stay fastened. No more worrying about having cumbersome gloves while fastening the lace. Can't wait to try it out on the snow field.

Baruntse with crampon (G12)

Midnight Ramble

2011-01-09T23:14:00.003+08:00

With less than 4 weeks to my departure to Aconcagua, the highest in South America, I am pushing my training harder. Two days ago, I organised a night walk with the team. Often than not, the summit attempt happens after midnight; anxiety caused by stress and fear would prevent us from having a good rest, not to mention sleep. The objective of the night walk was to prepare ourselves for sleep deprivation climb.

After a days work, the team met at MacRitchie Reservoir Park at 9.30pm, with a loaded pack each. We all loaded our packs with unusually heavy loads, among us, our packs weigh between 16kg and 25kg. We needed to practice load carrying as we will be ferrying our personal and team gear from camp to camp.

Klaus diligently weighs each of our packs' load

I have always encouraged everyone to take note of the load that we train with. Knowing exactly how much we each can carry is important. It is also a crucial skill for mountaineers to be able to estimate personal backpack load so as to be able to moderate the load as the expedition goes.

I am extremely impressed with the 3 petite ladies who are able to lug a backpack load of 16-18kg for 7hrs. They have started with a humble load of 10kg when we first started our team training in August 2010.Obviously, the training had paid off.

Most of us carried water with us, simply because if need to, can easily be off-loaded. Other than that, we have books, t-shirts, food etc. I have a mahjong set and two 50m condemn climbing ropes in my pack. My pack weighs about 20kg.

We called this madness midnight ramble.

A madness pose before the start of the walk

We started at 10pm. We covered a total distance of 21km, about 60% on trail, with some short breaks between distances of 3km and 4km.

One of the best pit stops we had was at an Esso patrol kiosk along Dunearn Road. It was already 4am by then. We bought sugared drinks, some of us had ice cream. I had a Magnum! one of my favourites where I indulge myself with only if I had train hard, train well.

Vinnie threw herself next to the ice cooler to enjoy her paddle pop in isolation

Carmen (L) and Seow Thong parked themselves next to the pump station

At 5am (still pretty much alive), we were happy to see this overhead bridge as that would mean that MacRitchie Reservoir Park is near

Our target was to return to MacRitchie before 6am. We walked along Adam Road, passed the PIE entrances/exits, our mood was high, we were looking forward to a hearty breakfast. We arrived at MacRitchie Reservoir Park at 5.25am. Happy with the walk, we adjourned for breakfast at Upper Thomson Road.

Our runs, stairs and Bukit Timah trail climb training is on-going till the week that we will depart. I guess we are pretty much prepared except for the packing and some last minute shopping for additional gear. How I wish I could shop for "Luck", priceless. Cheer us on, please.

Last Christmas

2011-01-08T19:35:00.002+08:00

My last Christmas was a unique one. Unique because I spent my Christmas eve on the high camp of Er Feng (二峰，四姑娘山), and on Christmas day, together with Kim Boon and the team of students from the NUS Make It Real programme, we made a planned attempt to climb Er Feng after some 5 days of ice climbing inside Shuang Qiao Gou (双桥沟）.

The view of Balang range from high camp

Impressive 4,800m
The weather was not as clear as my last climb with the Singapore Women's Everest Team in December 2005. This time, it was much colder and with thick layer of fresh snow, plus WIND. The same weather patterns to my first attempt in February 2004, then I turned around at 5,000m. Siyuan, Robert and I reached at 4,800m and decided to turn around. A few reasons to the decision to abort our climb earlier than expected. To Siyuan and Robert, it was a tough climb. I must applaud the duo as Er Feng was their first mountain, literally the first for them as they have not climbed any besides Bukit Timah Hill. Reaching at 4,800m was not an easy feat for a beginner, they were clever to conserve their energy for the descent (we descended to Rilong town on the same day - 5hrs trek from high camp).

Old Climbing Boots the Culprit
The key factor was - the poor condition climbing boots. I have loan my personal boots to Robert, and I picked up a spare boot that Kim Boon has (KB kept a few spare boots for contingencies). This spare boot was already near its shelve life, I was hoping that I could survived with it just before it disintegrate completely. So the story goes; it broke down at the wrong time wrong place, one side of the shoe soles came off completely when I was on a snow slope. I was already using cords to secure the heels of both shoes. I was worried about the descent after, as the descent on the snow filled rock slates would be treacherous. I radioed Kim Boon to inform him that I would turn around (because of my boots condition). While I made that decision, Robert had also decided to turn around with me (his spectacle was fogging up badly that hindered his vision, making his climb tougher to manage). Since Siyuan was with us, the obvious decision for him was to follow us (we were about 45mins away from the main group) though he had hope to move on.

One of the many boots that did not survive the winter (all stored in Singapore and brought over for the climb)

The main team turned around eventually, at about 5,100m due to strong wind. Disappointed they may seem, but I strongly believe it was a good learning experience for many of them. The summit is never a given, never guaranteed, no matter how much you have put in. The reality is such that a small fraction of something do not lies in our hands. That's life in the real world and we have to accept that while we win we may lose as well.

My Arcteryx Shell gets exposure (at last)
Yes, for the first time that I have the opportunity to don the lovely shell given to me by my lovely friends. It was a gift from 40+ people (expensive shell, so shared by many lovely friends :)) on my 36th birthday. As I have been storing it since I gotten it in 2006, the cords liner are peeling off.

a lovely gift from my lovely friends :) I love this shell

Next, my focus has to be the Aconcagua trip. Time really flies. We will be departing in less than a month. Looking forward to it.

Monkey Business

2010-10-27T02:12:00.001+08:00

The notorious monkeys at Bukit Timah somehow just know when the best time to make their appearances. When I was there on some weekdays, they seem to have gone into hiding, and on weekends, I would see them everywhere around the visitor centre. They could tell that every 5 quiet days at the woods, there would be 2 days filled with human visiting them.These monkeys are super hyper active, and do you know why? Because they ever took my energy gels from my hands, and they snatch my apples. These are my energy food during training, but it became theirs. I didn't offer it to them, they helped themselves by scavenging my pack for the apples, and they could sniff like a dog. So uninviting. Last Saturday, I witnessed this one monkey dried up the 100plus can.

Having drank up what was left in the 100plus can, this monkey sure can maintain his energy level to continue to haunt at visitors

Please. Please. Please, to all the ignorant visitors of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Please stop exposing your drinks or food to the monkeys. Please don't challenge them because they will come for more. Avoid eating when you are in the nature reserve, especially when you have already spotted the sight of ONE monkey, mind you, they come in a platoon if there are plenty of food to be offered. And oh please, if you cannot finish your syrup drinks, and do not wish to offer it to another human, for goodness sack, empty the cans before you put them into the bin. Please do not attempt to leave your canned drinks, fruits, sweets or whatever that is edible on the benches, you are inviting the monkeys to share your food. Many visitors like to invite their children to witness the monkeys at play. They are cute, but when they turn violent, cute is not a word to describe them anymore.

Friday 2210 not again!

2010-10-22T17:33:00.005+08:00

22 Oct should be a happy day, 3 of my friends shared the same birth date. Serena Tan (Sarina), Karen Go, and our beloved Jane Lee Yen Ling. But it turned out to be a day filled with uneventful encounters for me.

First, it was at the coaching session with my climbing students. They usually climb in small groups of 3-4 and have been taught how to ensure safe climbing, the measures to take to avoid any possible mishaps that may caused bodily injury to the climbers. The three boys were making plans to climb, and one of them went ahead to climb even when his belayer weren't ready to belay him. I spotted a long slack of ropes between the climber, who was already climbing up to the 3rd meter, and the belayer, who was still in the process of clipping the belay device to his belay loop. It was obviously an act of complacency. I punished the boys after giving them a piece of my mind. The punishment was not severe, they just had to stand on one leg (facing the wall) till we end our climbing session. They stood that way for about 30mins, that also means that they have lost 30mins of climbing.

I am not exactly proud of myself, I am not proud to the fact that the boys accepted my punishment, I am not proud that I could command that authority to punish them. I am very disappointed in fact. Disappointed that I have not taught them well, I have not instill in them the importance of safe climbing. I have failed in some ways. Or else, the boys would not have been complacent with their climbing protocols. I may have to approach this teaching in a different way.

I had that kind of not-very-fruitful coaching session feeling after I left the school, but not to the call of total distress. What I am going to share next will likely to set you thinking about the coincidences we have in life. I met with a minor vehicle collision 30mins later. The fault mainly lies in the other driver (Renault Kangoo) who was a little too impatient and was driving faster than he should have. Oh well, it takes two hands to clap, I am definitely guilty to some extend (IMO). I was in an open car park, had reduced my speed to prepare for a full stop, and had planned to reverse park into the loading bay lots. I had activated my hazard lights earlier as I have spotted the Kangoo coming from a distance. I stopped my vehicle and when I was preparing to reverse he tried to overtake and that was when his bumper hit my right mud guard, my side mirror was hit too. A little traumatized by it as I had expected him to slow down and move on only after I have reversed the vehicle into the loading bay. Well, next was some exchanges of words trying to defend each others' rights. Not the best time to negotiate for sure. We managed a win-win closure and in a amicable & non-violent way. Anyway, it was not a serious serious accident, but what freak me now is that , my first road accident happened in 2004 on 22 Oct, also a Friday! Today was my 2nd *shake head* sigh ...

22 Oct --- 2210 --- 2+2+1+0 = 5 ... freak!

End of Autumn

2010-10-17T15:06:00.006+08:00

Take a breather, slow down your pace and you will noticed that dried leaves are scattering around us. It kind of mark the end of autumn, and if our little island here in Singapore has four seasons, then we would be approaching winter.

I will imagine a winter scene here in Singapore.

We are surrounded by water, and our reservoir will ice up and become a huge ice floor. We would have a group of ice skaters, dancing on the iced reservoir like in the Winter Games.Oh, we could also dig a hole on the ice floor and do ice fishing. We do not have waterfalls here, but plenty in Malaysia, and we could do ice climbing without having to travel too far! Kota Tinggi will be a hot spot for climbers.

If we have winter here, our refrigerator could take a 3months break! We wouldn't have to worry about stale meat for a while. I can enjoy hot and spicy food without much fear of an outbreak on my face!

If we have winter here, our fashion selection can be less boring. We could wear funky beanie and hat, have a nice woolly scarf around our neck, have winter boots when shopping. Oh oh, I don't have to shower every day! Haha!

But I could only imagine, and dream about it! Having dream is great isn't? it just so spice up my life! Meanwhile, I will continue to admire the dried leaves that fall upon me and imagine about winter in Singapore :D and soon, Christmas will arrive.

Training No Enuf

2010-10-13T01:21:00.002+08:00

I was panting really hard on my last set of stairs last evening. Carmen had to push me a little by a little, as if coaxing a young kid who were at the verge of giving up. I was lagging behind her at the mid level. I refused to lift my head to look at the floor number. "Come on, this is the last set" ... I picked up my pace, breath harder and step by step went up the stairs ... "10 more floors to go" ... ouch! You mean we are only at the 20th floor? I talked to myself, and still, I refused to lift my head to confirm that. I now quite understood what is like to breath from a straw. I felt constricted all over my chest, I cannot extend my diaphragm unless I lift my head and lean back. I went on as if like having an asthma attack on the next few floors (if that's indeed how asthmatic patient felt when suffering from an asthma attack*). I cannot recall how many turns I had done as I refused to count (self denial). Then I felt a breeze entering from the window ... it was only then that I was sure I was near the top. I eventually lifted my head, more air gush through the airway that raised my chest, and I spotted a number 28, two more floors to go. What a relieve. The final push was tough, my legs felt jellied. The last set was only the 6th! Darn, I better buck up.

30 storey / Number of sets: 6
Load: 15kg (last set probably 14kg cos I almost finished my 1.5ltrs of water)
Time taken for each set:
Set 1: 7min 40sec
Set 2: 8min 08sec
Set 3: 8min 35sec
Set 4: 9min 15sec
Set 5: 9min 52sec
Set 6: 8min 25sec
Average: 8min 45sec

Mood: I thought I can be stronger since I just came back from climbing Mt Rinjani carrying 13kg load on average during the trek. But I was wrong, obviously! So TIRED!

After completing my 6 sets, and Carmen completed 8 sets

*Note: Asthma attack is typically narrowing of airways that makes it difficult for air to be exhaled (breathed out) from the lungs. When someone is suffering from an asthma attack, allow the patient to lean forward (sort of like a sit-up position with the chest near [but not touching] to the knees) to prevent further resistance to exhaling.

Climbing Nostalgically

2010-10-11T14:02:00.007+08:00

Mount Rinjani never fails to remind me the harshness of staying in the wilderness and the vast nature that we human can never conquer.

Our team comprises a group of experience endurance athletes and climbers, and half of the team had been up to the summit of Rinjani at least once. Both Jack and I had been up on the summit for 4 times, twice for Thiam Huat, and once for Clarence and Joyce. So newbies on this mountain were Catherine, Colla, Chu and Ramesh. The combination of the height and distances we have scaled and ran collectively surpassed the height and distances of Mt Everest in multiply. Past experiences and height scaled do not necessary guarantee a summit on Mt Rinjani.

I still find getting up the same slope a challenging affair. This trip, we had zero summit. None from our team managed to scramble up the slope without fear, and none of us dare to defy the wind and gravity. We aborted our attempt at 3314m (highest point is at 3726m). We had started 1hr later than the rest of the climbing teams around the base camp. By the time we arrived at 3314m, many had already turned back due to the strong wind and some climbers were really ill prepared for the cold. A fairly strong couple and a Japanese team made the summit an hour earlier. They were already descending when we were still contemplating to proceed or to turn around. Catherine was intimidated when she witnessed our climbing guide scrambling on all fours battling the wind while moving on the narrow ridge. Our climbing guide is far too tiny to hold himself up with that kind of strong wind pressing against him, going on his fours was his best way to maintain a good footing. One of the porters who followed us up requested to stop his ascent with us as he was feeling too cold (damn, he used only a Sarong to keep himself warm!). I gave him some water and food and asked him to descend lower to wait for us.

The point where we decided to abort the ascent. (Right: Joyce, Catherine and Clarence hiding to stay clear from the wind as much)

The call to abort our climb was not exactly difficult to make. I focus on asking how will the team descend if we eventually do make to the summit. Will the wind be less strong or will it get worst? I picked the safer choice. Simply because, the mountain is always there. Or perhaps I was just not too adventurous, not gutsy enough; I didn't want to gamble with nature, for we may just be wipe out completely and never live to tell our little story of battling with the wind on a single path ridge. A fall could mean returning to where we started the day before (Sembalun Lawang) not knowing how many limps can be intact, or rolling into the crater of the volcanic rim. None would be favourable.

But the remaining journey of our trek was not dampened by the failed summit attempt. We enjoyed each other's company very much. We stayed an additional night at the base camp (about 2600m), we soaked in the sun, wind, cold and dust.

The team at base camp (2,559m - my Polar AXN300 read so :))

Ramesh (Centre) descent to Sembalun Lawang shortly as he was not feeling well. A porter accompanied him.

We had carrot cake prepared by Jack at the base camp

The descent to our next campsite was filled with stunning view of Segara Anak (the crater lake). As we descended early the following day, we avoided the afternoon sun, the trek was cooling and refreshing.

Close-up view of Segara Anak as we descent towards our new campsite at the lake

Clarence jumping for joy by the lake

Catherine and Colla had a good catch

Chu tried really hard but to no avail

We stayed one night by the lake and the following day we trek from the lake to Senaru. We started at 8.15am and arrived at end of the trek by 4.20pm. Colla commented that she had never descent on a trek at that fast pace before. I am personally very impressed with Colla's performance and endurance. I guess you just do well in the things you enjoy doing.

Joyce posing by the rim of Palawangan I, overlooking the lake and the summit of Mt Rinjani, before we descent into the jungle trail towards Senaru

With Colla, our first trekking trip together, we climbed at Safra Yishun on wednesday evening.

We cajoled into feasting at Lombok Tanjung (I was biting on to an Ikan Sate)

In summary, we had fun trekking together. We didn't get to the summit of Mt Rinjani, but we hold loads of good memories. In life, we win some, we lose some. I am pretty sure, I'll be back again! :D

New Shoes

2010-10-02T10:52:00.001+08:00

I am heading to Lombok in a few hours time. I am so excited about it, even if this is my 7th visit to Mt Rinjani lol (,"). I think given to anyone, they will be as excited too as we are going CLIMBING!

Kindness begets kindness I guess. I loan out my precious trekking pole to a friend's friend (whom I now called as my friend :D) for her trek in Switzerland. When she returned the trek poles to me, I found that my trek poles have got a brand new pair of "shoes". So thoughtful of her!

The new rubber tip on my not so old trekking poles

The rubber tip is important. It is good to have one when you travel, especially if you want to slip the poles into your duffle bag, the rubber tip can prevent your poles from poking through your bag or any items inside your duffle. It also serves as a protector to the pole if you use it indoors or on pavement (concrete ground). I recalled when I went for my first 100km Trailwalker in Japan, the organiser encouraged walkers to place a rubber tip on the trek pole to protect the environment (less impact when less people poke on the trail).

woolala ... I am going, you know?

Stairway to Acon!

2010-09-29T01:23:00.004+08:00

The stairway

Training resume! At last, I am back to climbing stairs at Blk 21 of Tiong Bahru estates :) Too far from home, but I still find this block a better place for me.

We had our first stairs training (the Aconcagua team), but not all members made their first appearance. One has gone overseas, another is busy at work.

Among us, we are making short overseas climb to prepare for the grueling climb next year. Thiam Huat and I will be heading to Mt Rinjani this weekend. Seow Thong and Klaus are taking 3weeks off to climb Kilimanjaro. Carmen and Erdina are left here to train on their own.

Being our first stair climbing training (especially for Seow Thong and Thiam Huat), I set a very realistic target for everyone. 3 sets of 30storey stairs with a 10kg load. Our aim is to progressively increase the number of sets from 3 to 10 and the load of our pack from 10kg to 18kg (or more).

As we progressed to our 3rd set, I gave a quick hint to Seow Thong and Thiam Huat to push for another set, and left them with no room for negotiation. Oops! haha, the duo gladly went for another set. Kudos, they have completed 4sets of 30storey. That's great isn't? clap clap clap :)

Front (L-R) Seow Thong, Carmen / Back (L-R) Thiam Huat, Phei Sunn

Phei Sunn will be climbing Aconcagua this December, while the rest of us will make our attempt in Feb 2011. It is indeed bored to stair climb alone, glad we can be in each others company.

Mountaineering is such a sport that requires individual's commitment and discipline to prepare the body for a grueling climb, while still very much a team sport as support from fellow climbing mates have effects to a successful journey.

Carmen (centre), Phei Sunn and I got into this familiar space, where we used to train together for Mera Peak (Nepal) and Siguniang Shan (Four Sisters mountain, Sichuan, China)

This ever familiar scene, climbers with loaded backpack plodding the void deck

Have a look at Phei Sunn's slim and well toned legs (I am so envy of her)

This hyper bunny carries about 15kg or more and still smiling

Phei Sunn did 10sets, Carmen and I did 6sets (pale in comparison)


Our trekking boots: La Sportiva (Red - Joanne's), Trezeta (Brown - Carmen's), Lafuma (Purple - Phei Sunn's) I love my La Sportiva boots - much thanks to Campers' Corner

What a cold looking corridor (spooky?) :D

30storeys/ 6sets: average 9mins (very leisure pace)
Load: 10kg
Mood: Happy go lucky as this was our first team training on stairs

New Toy

2010-09-14T23:02:00.001+08:00

I have shelved up training for a while. Ace Adventure Challenge is just round the corner. Everything seems going fine but somehow, I still wished I have another week to work on details. In the midst of drawing out all my gadgets like the climbing & abseiling ropes, the biners, check point signages, reflective tapes and so on, I realized I have misplaced the four precious rope ladders I built. Panic button activated!

As I danced on the hot pan, one good friend introduce a new toy to me.

I tried climbing on it, it is really not an easy task. It is similar to those SOC ropes course that the army guys used to train on, like those knotted ropes. But for this, it is the horizontal stick that the climber could stand on (provided you step on the two corners with good balance, else you'll slip), next, it is all about arm power. Somehow, even when you have a good placing on the rungs, you will still need a considerable exertion of the arms. This is worst than the rope ladders I have. Anyone keen to try it?

Mountain Biking

2010-09-05T19:14:00.001+08:00

I went for a ride on Friday morning. Ok, not a deliberate effort for a ride ride, but rather to recce part of the race route that I am planning (ace adventure challenge). Oh my, I am so rusty with my biking skills. I find getting over narrow paths a big challenge, I just cannot keep my handle bar still. Worst, I kept focusing so near to the front wheel that I was not able to fully scan what's really ahead. I was not able to anticipate the obstacles so I kept falling or having to stop. So myopic! Metaphorically speaking, it is the like of the ability to see a bigger picture in life than to focus on small gain and to cry over spilled milk.


Mud filled legs are common, but somehow, I am dirtier than others (clumsy!)

And because I am clumsy, I tend to return with bruises and cuts. I guess I am better with carrying the bike than to ride on it. Anyway, I do enjoy riding, just that I am so out of touch with it now, it will take a while before I get back my confidence (which was already lacking).

The bruise I inflict on my own, actually, there are more on the inner thigh. Ouch!

I depended on riding to stay fit when I was preparing for the Cho Oyu climb back in 2007. Then, I was also busying preparing a race, and had not much time to hit the stairs for training. Lots of trail recce on bike and that helped me to maintain my cardiovascular fitness.

If you enjoy mountain climbing, and have no motivation to do stair climbing, you can try picking up mountain biking. It is not a full replacement of stair climbing, but mountain biking can compensate the lack of it.

A keen student from Swiss Cottage

2010-08-27T03:57:00.002+08:00

Lihui (SWET) and I went to Swiss Cottage Secondary School to deliver a talk. Nothing too special, but one of the students came forward to find out a bit more about the psychological challenges that we faced before and during our climb on Mt Everest. For a young mind like his, he focus not on how we physically got to the top, rather about how we manage disappointment and stress. He came prepared, through my conversation with him, I knew that he had done his research about us and about Mt Everest. I am totally impressed.

I snapped a shot of his little note book which he drew images of the team and the quotes we represent. Sweet Boy! Lihui and I did not hesitate to put our signatures on it.

Playground for a good purpose

2010-08-22T23:38:00.001+08:00

I haven't got a clue when have all the fitness facilities around my estates gone to. We used to have a fitness corner with benches for sit-ups, chin-up bars, and stumps for leg raise etc. That corner was my usual hang-out place after a run. I would cool down with some stretches on my legs then make a point to do 30 sit-ups before I slowly crawl home. Now, the facilities we have are for the young children and for the senior citizens. After an evening run, I was looking for a suitable place to do crunches and sit-ups, so I settle for this nicely done up playground, and I found a nice spot for myself :D

Nicely done up playground for the young children

The rungs here look suitable for me :)

So, here I go, a nice spot for sit-ups and the ground was just right (well cushioned) ...

I caught a glimpse of dusk falling upon my flat ... pretty nice actually!

Ugly Toe Nail

2010-08-18T02:06:00.004+08:00

Sorry, I know this is disgustingly ugly!

Ouch ...

Do all climbers have ugly toe nails like MINE?

I wished that the half a piece of the nail would get off my toe quickly. I am so worried that it will get ripped off each time I wear my jeans or slip my feet into the sneaker (not wearing toe revealing shoes lah), cos I hate the pain!

Did my usual stair climb earlier. My sets and timing on a 40-storey:

Set 1: 9:19 mins
Set 2: 10:12 mins
Set 3: 9:50 mins
Set 4: 11:29mins

Training mood: I am pushing myself a little better than my last session

I still have a long way to go to get into shape.

saw trash along the stairs. yaks!

Rinjani once more

2010-08-13T00:07:00.002+08:00

Glad it is happening. I will be climbing Rinjani again. This will be my 7th visits to Mt Rinjani. I'll never get tired of this beautiful trek.

I love climbing to Mt Rinjani because it offers very scenic trek. The view is especially spectacular when we reach the ridge of the mountain shoulder as shown below.

View of Segara Anak from the ridge at near dusk

The final trek to the base camp will be cooling as by then we would be at the altitude of 2600m there about. The camp site is pretty exposed, it is located on a ridge, but not too narrow. We will have monkeys visiting us so we have to be mindful of our food, got to keep the food out of their sight.

Our kitchen tent

With my "room-mate" Susan at base camp, she's a real tough lady

The climb up the the summit is challenging and fulfilling. Even if one decides to abort the last bit of the summit climb will have no regrets making the attempt. Getting to the summit becomes a bonus.

View from the summit of Mt Rinjani

After the summit, the descend on the scree slope can be really fun, but scary for some. The trick is, you either stay ahead of other trekkers, or keep a distance from the front trekkers. Because, as one descend, one will trigger dust from the scree.

Descending the scree slope

The spectacular views don't end after the summit. The trek to Segara Anak has stunning views. As we are making a steep descend to the lake, the trek can be treacherous. I have witnessed climber falling from height due to complacency. That is why I would suggest to stay one night at the base camp after the summit and not head down to Segara Anak immediately.

With Sharlene, she was feeling tired from the descent, but she was motivated by the view of the lake (background)

I have always enjoy camping by the lake shore. Not only we can visit the nearby hot spring, our guides would help to catch some fishes for dinner.

Hot spring near Segara Anak, popular with the locals too.

Claris, happy with the catch! Fishes for dinner.

Well, the excitement don't end here. The trek out to Senaru can expect a view of the summit trail.

Summit view from the other side of the crater rim.

So you see, the trek offers views after views, and are so spectacular, that explain why I kept going back to Mt Rinjani. The locals are friendly and helpful. I am loving it!

Back to mundane stairs

2010-08-05T00:34:00.003+08:00

I know I have to start training some how. I am getting unfit and worst of all, I have put on much weight. Training has to start from ground zero as I have been slacking for quite sometime. Good fitness requires diligence to maintain. I admit, I have not done much to keep fit, other than my weekly sport climbing on easy routes :p .

I chose to start stair climbing, because it has lesser impact on my joints (so long I do not carry too heavy pack too soon). I pick a 40storey HDB block (because that's the nearest block near to where I live where I am familiar with), Tiong Bahru blocks (my fav. actually) are too far for me. I carried a day pack that weighs about 7kg, I have completed each set at an average of 10.5 minutes per set. I managed 3 sets. I plan to start slow. I will increase the weight of my pack and the speed of ascend gradually.

My day pack: loaded a laptop, 4L of water, a book and some misc stuff

Somehow, I didn't really enjoy climbing a 40 storey stairs, even when I was training for Mt. Everest. I always find it harder, and less motivating compared to a 30 storey stairs. Actually, there are 30-storey blocks just opposite my flat, I find it kind of weird to train around my own estates (haha, so difficult to please!). Oh well, got to bear with it, because I do not want to put in extra time to travel to further estates like Tiong Bahru. Will need to push myself a little more for now. Adaptability is key.

I was happy to complete my 2nd set on a 40 storey stairs

Since I laid off from training for a while, I was expecting some kind of muscle aches the following day. Surprisingly, all's well! I have not really push hard enough., I guess :(

My training schedule will be such:
Tue evening: Stair climb with load
Wed: Sport climb
Thu: Morning or late afternoon run at MacRitchie
Sat or Sun: Bukit Timah trail with load (this will call for a higher discipline and commitment :P)

Spotted a tire, so tempted to pull it off ... (for AAC race :p)

Mt Kinabalu Climbathon Again?

2010-08-01T16:15:00.003+08:00

I have registered for the Mt Kinabalu Climbathon, scheduled for 23-24 Oct 2010. What prompted me to register? Maybe I am getting bored or maybe I need something to stir me up to start hitting the road again. Life after Everest is the same old thing, minus the discipline to train every day. I need a push, I know that's a shame.

Both Joyce and Ivy recently completed the ultra run in Spain

Last year, I took part in the climbathon mainly because someone had pulled out from the event, and needed someone to replace so that the pre-booked accommodation will not go to waste. Ivy was there for the same reason. In fact, it was Ivy who asked me to tag along. I was excited, but did not have high hopes about my performance as I was suffering from a back injury then. I didn't do well, considering that I was turned back at the summit plateau (too slow for the cut-off time), but I was very happy with my results. Had I not pushed on, I might as well be turned back earlier. As a mountaineer, I have learn well to accept that you reap what you sow. No efforts = No results, cannot expect for miracles to happen.

The "World's Toughest Mountain Race" ... that's how they market the event. The distance is about 21km, not too long I supposed. The challenge is not in the distance, but the altitude and the enduring stairs that go up and up. When I attempted it last year, I reckon my advantage was that I had been to above 5000m for a long period of time 6 months prior, and one month prior to the event, I had also spent one week rock climbing at Mt Kinabalu.

Someone ever asked me would I climb Mt Everest again? I said, "Why not! but on a different route, perhaps". Because, repeating a feat is tougher than when you did it the first time.

The same for Mt Kinabalu Climbathon. I fear that I might have to turn back earlier than my first attempt.

Time to head up the slopes!

When is my next climb?

2010-07-23T11:09:00.006+08:00

Captured this big poster when I was in Germany recently. I was captivated by the Tibetan prayer flags. It look so real when I stood in front of it, and so close to my heart. For a long time, such prayer flags accompanied me on most of my climbs, it gives me a sense of serenity, peacefulness and yet huge sense of uncertainty. I see them everywhere in Nepal and China. So it kind of like bringing back fond memories about my mountain life and wondering what lies ahead for me after Everest. I can't help but to ask the simplest question ever - When is my next climb?

Outside Himalayas - Cerro Aconcagua

2010-07-04T13:16:00.011+08:00

To promote a greater climbing culture among Singaporeans, Adventure Quests is launching a series of high altitude climbing expedition. First in the line-up is Mount Aconcagua, and I have the privilege to be the leader of this expedition.

Standing at 6,962m above sea level, Aconcagua is the highest mountain outside the Himalayas. Lies on the border of Chile and Argentina, rises high on the Andes Mountain range, Aconcagua is one of the icons of the appraised Seven Summits circuit and attracts climbers from all over the world.

Cerro means Hill in Spanish. Cerro Aconcagua is definitely more than a hill. It has scree slopes as daunting as the slope up to Camp 1 of Cho Oyu (8,201m, the 6^th highest in the world), and to bring you closer to understanding the scree, imagine climbing the slopes leading to the top of Mount Rinjani multiple times. The steep 2.5km high south face offers extreme mixed routes, which are amongst the most difficult on earth. Climbers that had resulted to serious injuries and even death often underestimate Aconcagua. The extreme cold, stormy winds and altitude make this Cerro a serious undertaking.

According to some expert mountaineers that have climbed the Himalayas, Aconcagua represents an even greater physiological distance. For instance, the Himalayas have vegetation up to 4,900m while in the Central Andes Mountain range the vegetation reaches only to 3,900m.

Traditionally, there are three guided routes on Aconcagua: Normal Route (the North West ridge, also the first ascent route), Polish Glacier and the Guanacos Glacier Route; there are also up to 33 routes on different faces & ridges leading to the summit with variety of difficulties where only few in the world are able to climb it. From the technical point of view, Aconcagua presents all types of difficulties on rock, ice and snow. Anyone who wants to confront the ascent should have excellent physical fitness, good climbing technique with considerable experience, and most importantly, a lot of enthusiasm and perseverance.

Having climbed several peaks above 6,000m and with clear knowledge about the effects of altitude on climbers, I have chosen to make an attempt via the Normal Route (supposedly easier) and will follow the philosophy of climb high sleep low strategy. The Normal Route will take us along the North West Ridge of the mountain that is not too technically demanding. However, the demand on our physical and mental toughness will not diminish with climbing a less technically challenging route. Aconcagua will stand as tall as it has been, we will be as deprive of oxygen as those climbing on the other side of the mountain, the cold remains and the stormy wind will continue to howl.

Our Brief Itinerary

This will be a 24 days climbing expedition starting from 5^th to 28^th February 2011.

To arrive at the base camp of Aconcagua, we will start from Mendoza. Mendoza is 760m above sea level in western Argentina. The city of Mendoza is an important hub for land transportation. The city’s bus station has several daily services to all Argentinean provinces, as well as to Chile. We will spend one day exploring the charming city of Mendoza, and being in the heart of wine country, it is wiser not to get too high before getting high on the mountain.

We will leave Mendoza early the following day and be driven to Los Penitentes at 2,580m above sea level. Another day of short distance drive will bring us to the trailhead. We will start our approach walk to Confluencia Camp at 3,360m. All expedition food and equipment will be carried by mules allowing us to enjoy the trek with a daypack. We will spend an additional day at Confluencia Camp for active acclimatization.

The trek to our base camp at Plaza de Mulas (4,250m) will take about 8 to 9 hours. This is a long and difficult day but we will enjoy the impressive views of Aconcagua and the surrounding peaks.

We will establish our high camps from Plaza de Mulas and will practice faithfully the philosophy of climb high sleep low as we ascend. There are three high camps before the summit and we will have to ferry our personal gear to the high camps during the acclimatization phase.

Altitude at each Camp:

Base Camp – Plaza de Mulas – 4,250m

Camp I – Plaza Canada – 4,900m

Camp II – Nido de Condores – 5,400m

Camp III – Camp Berlin – 5,900m

Regardless the choice of our climbing route, it is the high altitude and the potentially extreme weather that challenge our climb. While we cannot fully predict the weather, we can better prepare ourselves with adequate training and be vigilant with our health and be aware of altitude sickness.

Training

Being fit at sea level do not necessary mean that one will be as fit at a higher elevation. As we climb higher, we consume lesser oxygen; this is stressful to our body, and yet we have to force our body to get used to working with limited oxygen intake. The best way to get our body adjusted to the higher elevation is to get our body working actively. To stay active at high altitude, it means our body must be able to recover fast after a hard day’s ascend. To be able to perform in the mountain, we need to build strong and high endurance fitness.

The best training for mountaineering is to carry a weighted pack up and down stairs or hills several days a week and spending an average of 3 to 4 hrs each time. Begin slowly with increasing weights and hours. Supplement this with long endurance run focusing on how long you can last and not how fast you can complete. Often then not in the mountain, we are not able to move very fast with diminishing oxygen intake as we ascend, the ability to keep moving is essential. Cycling can be very helpful as it is a good form of aerobic conditioning. While strength is important, endurance training should be our primary focus.

Have discipline with your training. Remember, when you miss a training session, you miss a chance to train, when you miss a chance to train, you miss a chance to get closer to the summit.

Health

Staying healthy in the mountain is important. When we train well, our body is able to fight better. Ensure proper hydration during the climb. One of the best ways to gauge if you are well hydrated is to check on the color of your urine; the clearer the better, it is possible to have your urine crystal clear – just drink up and then pee as often as you wish.

Talk to your doctor, and ask for specific medication for general ailment. Cough, flu, sore throat, diarrhea are common during long expedition. Prepare vitamins to support your immune system, e.g Vitamin C.

Go for a medical check up to be sure that you are medically fit to climb. Visit a dentist at least 2 to 3 weeks before the departure date; it is no fun to suffer from toothache at high altitude.

Ensure that you have sufficient rest leading to the departure. Plan your work properly to avoid having to work late and be deprived of adequate rest. Insufficient rest prior to the climb can have strong effect on your performance in mountain. When you don’t sleep well at sea level, the harder it will be for you to sleep well at high altitude.

Altitude Sickness

No one is immune to the effect of altitude; even the climbing Sherpas in the Himalayas may get thrown off the mountain because of mountain sickness. It is normal to have headache, temporary loss of appetite, shortness of breath and nausea during the approach trek, especially during the first 5 days of gaining altitude. What is important is to monitor the severity of the effects on us.

Acute Mountain Sickness, commonly known as AMS, is caused by a lack of oxygen when we travel to higher elevations. We cannot fully prevent AMS, but we can apply strategies to reduce the severity of it. Part of the strategies include:

Adequate training – though being fit is no guarantee against developing AMS, good fitness will enable us to recuperate fast and avoid developing sever symptoms like loss of coordination, vomiting
Have sufficient rest & be well hydrated before embarking on the climb; do not just consume plain water, add isotonic drinks or electrolytes during the climb
Avoid fast ascend, no rushing of climbing schedule, no more than 1000m ascend within a day when climbing above 3000m
Allow proper acclimatization cycle by engaging in active acclimatization – climb high sleep low strategy
Avoid dynamic movement when arrive at altitude; jumping and running around the camps are a strict no no. Getting up fast when at rest can induce headache
Descend to a lower elevation if symptoms persist or get worst
Do not be shy to inform your climbing mates that you are not well

The climb will be challenging for the novice and experience climbers alike. With the right attitude on altitude, the chance on reaching the top will increase. When the mountain allows us to sneak up, we have to be ready for the climb. If you have been looking at climbing a peak, consider joining us on this expedition.

Let’s climb on!

Contact Adventure Quests for more information about climbing Aconcagua:

Adventure Quests

187 Sims Avenue

#02-02

Singapore 387497

Email: info@adventure-quests.com

Tel: +65 6841 3314

Inspirational Speaker - Nicholas James Vujicic

2010-07-03T04:09:00.008+08:00

Few days back, I had the opportunity to attend an Inspirational Talk by a very inspirational personality, Mr. Nick Vujicic. Nick was born without limbs - no arms, no legs. Something that we can never imagine how, and will never ever be able to empathize with, his way of living.

I supposed many of us had some how or rather chanced upon a video about Nick over the Facebook. I have the privileged to hear from him in person. Thanks to SWIBER Holdings. SWIBER had invited Nick to Singapore to speak to their employees, and had extended this rare opportunity to some schools, Chris Church Secondary School was one of the schools that Nick spoke at. My team and I (Everest Team) had given a talk to SWIBER, but frankly, our story of perseverance, tenacity & resilience are nothing compared to Nick's.

Nick's life story is like a movie, a story that I never thought could have happened in this life time of mine, and I could have only imagine that Nick's amazing journey will only happen in a movie. If you have not read about Nick, you should spend sometime to find out about his story.

A few quotes that he said make very good sense to me, and these are very basic thoughts that we took for granted. These thoughts are not new to me, but the impact is greater when it came from Nick:

"You don't know what you don't know till you know"

"You don't know what you can achieve till you try"

"What is the point of having arms & legs when you don't know what to do with them"

"You don't need arms & legs to love"

Nick's strong faith in GOD has brought him to be who he is today. I am not a Christian, and in whatever that we each believe in, we are in the same direction. And my take is, when we believe in something or put faith to something, it must be for the good of ourselves or the people around us. If we haven't have faith in any religion, we should have at least some faith in ourselves.

In Nick's sharing, he said not to get angry with what we already have instead angry with what we don't have. For Nick, I bet he can't and certainly won't be angry with what he have. And I wonder what Nick would be like if he had been born with arms and legs like you and I. One thing that I can attest is that, we will have one less person to inspire us and to show us the true meaning of life.

As long as we are alive, we can love everything and anything, and yes, we don't need our arms and legs to love.

Cerro Aconcagua (6962m / 22,841ft)

2010-06-15T12:34:00.003+08:00

Have you ever thought about climbing Aconcagua? I have, and I will be leading the climb with Adventure Quests in Jan/Feb 2011.

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere, located in western Argentina, near to the Chile border. It is also one of the 7 highest mountains of each continent (highest in South America), hence also commonly known for being one of the Seven Summits. In fact, Aconcagua is the highest point outside Asia. The peak was first attempted in 1883, but the first summit was made in 1897 by a Swiss guide. In December 2008, a 10yr old boy from Colorado became the youngest person to summit Aconcagua.

We are planning an attempt on the normal route. It is not technically demanding, but the altitude, extreme cold, and stormy winds make the climb a serious undertaking.

If you are keen to know more about our plans on Aconcagua, or if you are interested to find out more about climbing at altitude, come join me on Sat, 26 June from 1.30pm to 2.30pm at 187 Sims Ave. (Location Map)

RSVP at info@adventure-quests.com

Climbing Up is Optional

2010-06-14T04:45:00.062+08:00

Arriving at the top of a mountain is never guaranteed, so is stepping onto the foothill of a mountain. My last two visits to Belumut were met with some unforeseen incidents. First visit was that my group and I arrived at the foothill only to know that the mountain was closed for climbing due to some conservation work going on, obviously there were contradicting information since even the Police Officers were not aware of the closure and had endorsed on our request to climb. Second visit was that our group arrived pretty late at the foothill and was rejected entry to climb. We negotiated and contributed some “coffee money” to the in-charged, we had also agreed to descend and return to the foothill not later than 5pm. Unfortunately for me, I had slipped off the ground (in simple words, I fell lah, before I land my feet on the bridge leading to the trail head) and was hurting badly on my back, I only managed to reach at the Crown Rock check point, and some others were forced to turn back due to the time constraint we had.

The "Crown Rock" check point, 3km from the foothill and another 3km to the summit.

I spent one Saturday climbing up Gunung Belumut with four others. I am glad that all went pretty well this time, though not all bed of roses. This is probably one of my many reasons why I like adventurous treks like this, where shit happens! Of course, there was nothing like shit that really happened. (all smiles!)

In the past, I noticed that there were different charges made by the park office. I have no idea what are the charges I will have to pay for this climb. The first surprised I got was at the Police Station. I have prepared a name list with our passport and contact numbers but apparently it was not good enough. I was told that I need to prepare the list with a letterhead, and to include the contact numbers of all trekkers. We spent about 40mins before we got officially reported; and paid M$2 for it (2 ringgit). In the past, we did not have to pay, and the station officer would just endorse on the name list that we provided. Two ringgit for an administration fee is not expensive, in fact it is very reasonable, but the 40mins wait was not justifiable. If I had provided a more formally written letter of request to climb, the wait would have been shortened. Now I know.

The Police Report & the Receipt.

Next, when we arrived at the foothill, we were told to engage a local guide and it is mandatory for all trekking groups. I am not against it; I believe this is one way where lost trekkers can be avoided. Surprise indeed, but I do welcome this new policy, my only question is that will there be sufficient guides available when required. The cost of the guide is M$100 (one hundred ringgit), I am not aware of any guide to trekkers’ ratio though. We have to pay some conservation fee, which somehow, we were not made to pay (Shhhhhhh)! :D

Belumut had been closed for conservation work a year ago. Last Saturday was my first climb to the top since its opening. The rubbish had been cleared, especially the site nearer to the botak hill which used to have piles of canned tins and plastic bags. Obviously there were more fallen trees along the trail; and some old trunks had been removed. At the summit, it is still the same-old same-old, there used to have a signboard in the early 90s, but it collapsed eventually. It will be nice to have the signboard re-erected.

The Rock on the summit! Can you spot the old signboard stand? It now acts as a step for trekkers to climb up to the rock. There used to have a tree on the right of the rock which posed a threat as many would lean and depend on it and hoping that the tree would be able to hold them in case a fall occurs! Glad that it is now gone!

We started our climb at 10am, and return to the foothill at about 4.30pm. On an average, we took about less than 4hrs to climb from foothill to the summit, and 2.5hrs on the descent.

Three men on the Rock! (L-R: Wing Feh, Ian Ho, Randy Kang)

Views from the summit rock.

I wore my Asics trail shoe which is light weight and with good traction.

"Safe happens" - This plaster was given to me by Randy who insisted that I should "seal" up the leech bite scar. Yes, there are many leeches in Gunung Belumut, like it or not, they are always there!

I really love and enjoy climbing up Gunung Belumut! Going up is definitely an option, but if you decided to go up, you must come down. When you do not feel well, just make a U-turn, simply because the mountain is always there.

I treated myself to a can of Coke, ...

while the rest, a durian feast! :)

Easiest Way to Climbing

2010-06-09T02:27:00.005+08:00

After weeks of heat wave, it finally got cooler this morning. I went to Bukit Timah Hill for a short trek, it was drizzling, the pitter patter sound of the rain drops made my trek so romantic. Yes, romantic, all alone with the most familiar trails of Bukit Timah Hill.

I did 3 sets of stair climb each at the Summit Path, the Rengas and the Jungle Fall Path. It got crowded really soon, and someone recognised me as being one of the Everest Team members. We then started a short conversation that went:

Trekker: What are you training for?
Me: Gunung Belumut. I am bringing a group up this weekend.
Trekker: What? You are training for a hill in Malaysia? You still need to train for it meh?
Me: Of course! We need to be well prepared for any mountain trips. (Smile)
Trekker: But you have climbed the highest, what is Belumut to you? You scared you pun-cik is it? (with a sneer!)
Me: Errr, YA! (Smilessss, but roll my eyeball after turning away)

Alright, now, what is wrong with this trekker? Being impressed or trying to be sarcastic? Who can remain fit without keeping fit? No mountain is too easy not to prepare for it. The easiest way to climb is to be prepared for the climb. There are no shortcuts to climbing, but you can choose the easiest way, that is to train and to practice often. I was hoping not to bump into the same trekker again as I really do not know how to be diplomatically correct anymore (gosh, was I being impatient?).

As I moved on, I met many other hill walkers. Bukit Timah Hill has many visitors, it is not just the mountaineers/trekkers who use the stairs for training. Many visitors are regular hill walker who visit the hill to keep fit and to enjoy the nature, or a family outing for some.

The didn't-seem-to-stop drizzle did not deter others from walking to the hill top. I was already singing to myself... rain drops keep falling on my head .. pitter patter pitter patter... oh, so romantic!

A summit shot! My first, after so many visits =)

Looking up to the Rengas Path, this is the path I find hardest among all as the steps are high and stretchy.

One of the best & faithful trekking boots I ever owned, La Sportiva.

I like to use this day pack for day trek, it is frame-less so it goes easy on my back. One of my friend called it the "no back-bone" bag. Noticed that I have a yellow brolly with me? Yes, it came in handy, nothing beats being prepared! That's the easiest way to climb!

Spot me, not Stop me

2010-06-05T01:25:00.006+08:00

I went climbing at SAFRA Yishun, SASC (SAFRA Adventure Sports Centre) on a Friday evening. There were no other climbers except for the small group of us. The climbing centre was very quiet, I guess it must have been due to the heavy downpour in the late afternoon that stop climbers from visiting the centre. This is one of the major disadvantages for having an outdoor climbing facility where the usage is very much dependent on the weather. It can get very hot in the afternoon which made climbing unbearable when its not raining. Oh well, in this case, it works well for us, we have the entire climbing walls to ourselves.

Marzuki came with a t-shirt that read: SPOT ME not stop me. I like, and seriously, regular climbers (I am guilty of it too) tend to neglect the basic supporting technique of spotting a climber. Spotting is highly recommended for beginners, and/or when someone is making a hard/tricky move just less than 3meters from the ground. When climbing on a top rope system, if a climber slipped off from the wall just below the 3rd meter, it will be difficult for the belayer to arrest the fall immediately, and when on lead, a climber is not being belayed till the first runner has been secured. Hence, in both cases, a spotter will help to minimize the chances of a climber hitting the ground directly.

We have the wall to ourselves, hence the waiting time was minimal, but that also means that we have little rest time in between routes. There are pretty nice routes on the middle wall, it is a little overhanging but the big colorful jugs make the climb less hard. There are a couple of 5c routes, the 6a & 6a+ routes are a little punishing for those who have laid off for a while but, still doable :) Beginners can start with "rainbow" tiles, meaning, you climb on the wall with all handholds/footholds that are available for grabs. When one has built a better endurance, one can attempt on routes like a 5c. Usually, the routes are marked with a color tape, or the route is set with one uniform color. There is always a debate on grading, your grade vs my grade, and to fully appreciate the grades, one should climb on lead. But well, you do not necessary have to really bother with the climbing grades, just climb on "rainbow" tiles. Yes, just climb and be happy, that is exactly what we are doing, enjoy the climbs and have fun.

Talk about happy, little Zea is probably the happiest girl hanging around the climbing wall. Zea is the daughter of Beng Choo and Roszani. She enjoys watching us climb and inspecting our equipment, and she also likes to pick up the small stones from the ground to lay them out neatly on the bench. I guess she enjoys visiting the climbing centre (not her first anyway) because she gets to run around the climbing area. Plus Beng Choo & Roszaini allow her to get dirty with her hands and clothes which give her freedom to express her emotions; indeed, getting dirty should be part of a child's growing up. Her favorite quote has been: " I don't want!"... and if you want to get close to her or get her to "hi five' with you or even to trick her to wash her hands with you so that you can get to carry her (which I did), you got to phrase your questions or sentences appropriately to avoid being rejected. Glad that she did not reply with her favorite quote when I asked her to take a photo with me :)

Climb ON, when ready!