Trusmadi
- Trusmadi
- 2643 m.
- Prominence: 1702 m
- Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
- Location: North 5.55250, East 116.51582
- Difficulty: (YDS) class 2
- Climbed March 7th. 2026.
Trusmadi
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How to get there:
The normal point of departure is the city Kota Kinabalu, more known
as the gateway to the Borneo island highpoint Kinabalu.
From here, it takes about 2 hours to drive to the park gate, this location is
at N5.60161, E116.45261. Reservations should be made ahead of time. They have
a number of different forms to be signed, I think I wrote my name about 10 different
places and answered "NO" to a large number of questions (in Malaysian) none of
which I had any idea what was asked. Still, me being the only climber this weekend,
the entire procedure was done in less than 5 minutes. Next, an assigned guide drove me
another 25 minutes in a 4WD vehicle. The road was paved initially, then a very good
dirt road that could be driven by any vehicle. The final uphill on a slightly rougher
road, still most likely possible to drive with an ordinary car, but then with care.
This got me to the trailhead
at location N5.56991, E116.48295, elevation 1620 meter.
Route description:
This climb is a bit unusual, the distance from the trailhead to the summit is 4.9 kilometer
with a vertical gain of 1020 meter. Almost half the vertical, 490 meter is gained on
several staircases as part of a boardwalk that covers slightly more than 2 kilometer.
There is one spot only where there is a
(significant) loss of elevation.
After 2 kilometer of this boardwalk, you arrive at a hut where climbers are supposed to
spend a night. The "normal" scheme is to do these 2 kilometer on the first day, then do
a night hike to the summit, watch the sunrise, then return to the hut and onwards
to the trailhead.
It is however, possible to change this and do the summit in the first day, then overnight
and conclude with an easy stroll back down to the trailhead on the second day. I personally,
much prefer this second alternative.
The remaining 2.7 kilometer after the boardwalk ends is
a narrow jungle trail with obstacles,
most parties will not average much more than one kilometer per hour. There are steeper
sections protected by rope and even a few ladders to facilitate progress. The remaining distance
to the summit is posted every 100 meter.
After an initial uphill the route crosses a local
hump on the ridge, descends steeply, then ascends to the west summit. From here, the remaining
distance is about one more kilometer. First, down to the saddle, then a
continued jungle trail that
gets more muddy near the end. The last few hundred meter will pass some antenna, a metal
viewing spot, then finally a short uphill
to gain the summit.
A track is posted on Peakbagger.
Comments / Trip report:
This trip was organized by Bob in Normad Event (Whatsapp: +60-142412241).
I arrived Kota Kinabalu from Hanoi, Vietnam via Kuala Lumpur, the evening before.
The hotel, Howard Johnson, had nice rooms, flaky WIFI and quite a poor restaurant.
Departure at 0630 the next morning, arrival Park Gate shortly before 0900.
The registration was smooth, I would be the only person on the mountain. Soon riding
the 4WD jeep with my assigned guide to the trailhead.
We walked at 0940, and with a
good pace, reached the hut
after 45 minutes. A 5 minute
stop there to offload my backpack.
I carried post-climbing clothes, a sleeping bag and
a powerbank among other things.
It turend out that the hut had electricity so no need
for the power bank.
We continued up to the end of
the boardwalk, here the trail quickly turned into a fairly
typical, narrow jungle trail with numerous obstacles. This trail had additional signs like
"Slippery when wet" posted along the way. Slightly amusing when you read it for the 5th. time.
More steepish sections were protected by rope and also a few ladders. The meat eating
Pitcher plant
could be seen in many places. We crossed over the first hump with about
2 kilometer remaining while the west summit is crossed with slightly more than one
kilometer left. Arriving at the summit at 1310.
We had low clouds and no views.
The guide wanted a food break,
so we stayed at the summit for about 20 minutes.
Returning back, you do notice
the two uphill sections.
We were back at the hut
by 1600, so 2:30 down. The "chef" and hut keeper had arrived, starting to prepare
dinner. Being the only guest, everything went quite smoothly.
My room had 4 beds,
nice and comfortable. Early to bed with an agreed breakfast at 0800. We left the hut
around 0930, back down to the car. I got a nice picture of Kinabalu from the road.
We were back at the main gate by 1100, as agreed the day before. My car and
driver Bob were waiting.
