Hiking Gunung Besar Hantu (GBH) and Lata Dinding on Sunday, 13 Sept 2020 ... This was my first time hiking this mountain in Negeri Sembilan and I find this mountain is as challenging as Gunung Nuang. At an elevation of 1,462m, GBH is about 30 meters lower than Gunung Nuang.
Do CLICK HERE to view 68 high-resolution photos courtesy of yours truly, KC Leong.
Note: the advertisement (in between the posting) is inserted by Google which I have no control over them (and I could not disable them).
(left: KC Leong, Edance, Felicia Hew; Vindy, Sylvia Ong, Tee Kong Tiong)
The reason that many of us have never hiked this mountain was due to the travelling time, and also it is being over-shadowed by Gunung Nuang. From the Google Maps, the direct distance apart between Gunung Nuang (Pansoon) and GBH trail heads are just 12km away. But the travelling time is almost double compares going to Nuang trail head. Arriving at GBH trail head, one has to travel through the zigzag country road; many kilometers before reaching GBH trail head, the road condition is untarred and not pleasant to drive.
Lata Kijang waterfall is to take the left road
The first section of the hike was walking on 4WD gravel road gradually gaining in elevation. There is a big and flat clearing with the name Kem Orkit as orchid flowers were seen flourish there. After Kem Orkid, it is steep ascent until GBH peak. In order to hike this mountain, one must undergo training in hiking around 5-7 hours; otherwise, one would feel the tiredness at the end of the outing.
View at the peak - the view at GBH is not attractive as the view is blocked by the trees, compares to Gunung Kecil Hantu (GKH) with a better and unobstructed view.
Arriving at Kem Orkid
When we arrived at Lata Dinding waterfall at 3:30pm, all other hikers have left; we have the whole waterfall to ourselves. Contrary to a hiker friend's previous experience at Lata Dinding where there were many leeches, on that afternoon, there was not a single leech. Even with the wet ground that day, there was not any leech at all.
Accomplishing GBH and Lata Dinding in a trip requires one to hike moderately fast pace in order to return to trail head before dark. Below is a popular mix for a day-trip:
(1) GBH and GKH together (distance apart of two peaks is only 1.5 km);
The majestic Lata Dinding waterfall
Security guard checking before entering the parkHow to apply permit:
(1) Obtain permit on-site at the park office - one can only clear security guard and enter the park at 8am when the ranger reports for work; for long hike, this method is not favourable due to late start;
(2) Apply online - write email to Negeri Sembilan Forestry with the participant names and particulars; once the officer confirms the submission, payment can be done online upon advised with the bank account number. With the proof of transfer of payment, permit would then issue (communication via email). With the permit, the security guard would allow entry into the park even before 8am.
Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus
Tel: 06 - 7659875
Emel: hutanns@ns.gov.my
Web: forestry.ns.gov.my
GBH Trail map showing two peaks and two waterfalls (click on the map for a bigger display)
Duration for GBH and Lata Dinding:
A-B = 30 min;
B-D = 2 hr 20 min;
D-E = 1 hr 15 min;
E-F = 25 min;
A-F = 4 hr 40 min (GBH);
C-L = 1 hr 15 min (Lata Dinding).
We started the hike at 7:15am, returned to trail head at 6:30pm with a round trip of 11 hours.
Round trip distance:
GBH + GKH = 22km;
GBH + Lada Dinding = 30km;
Lata Dinding + Lata Kijang = 25km.
Google Maps Drop Pin:
Click Here for trail head of GBH and GKH (Taman Alam Liar Negeri, Kenaboi) ...
https://goo.gl/maps/bft2VejvFZmBnvP16
The sifu Mr Tee Kong Tiong:
We have the chance to meet Mr Tee Kong Tiong in this hike, the senior who was lost in Mount Korbu for three days sometime on 2 Aug 2020.
To summarize that incident, he concluded that "puteri blinded his vision and thoughts". At one y-fork junction, there was a clear trail on the left but he entered the not-so-clear trail on the right. After a few hours, he arrived at another campsite, and decided to stay overnight as it was almost in the evening. Then next day, he continued the wrong path. It was during the end of the second day, then only he realised that he was on the wrong path.
During the conversation, he said that it did not occur to him that there were 16 ladders to climb and he did not see any of them (when walking in the wrong path).
Posted by KC Leong