|
|
 |
|
|
 |
Today’s relatively comfortable two day climb to the summit is a far cry from the
travails of the early explorers. In 1851, Sir Hugh Low, credited as the first
person to climb the mountain, took nine days to reach the summit plateau,
traveling in a party of 42 people. Low and Whitehead started their historic
ascents from the village of Kiau, situated on the southern flank of the mountain
near the Kadamaian waterfall and recruited their guides and porters here. This
route was steep and arduous, and when the park was gazette in 1964 and the HQ
was established, the ascent route was changed to the present one. People from
the nearer village supplied most of the guides and porters, reputed to possess
remarkable powers, became the first officially registered park guide.
Low’s discoveries focused the attention of the scientific world on Kinabalu, but
it was not until 1910 that the first botanist, Lilian Gibbs, climbed the
mountain and discovered many species new to science. Increasing interest in the
mountain’s natural riches culminated in major expeditions organized by the Royal
Society of Great Britain in 1961 and1964. Both were led by the eminent tropical
botanist Prof E.J.H.Corner, who made it clear in his report on the 1961
expedition to the government of British North Borneo ( as Sabah was then called
), that the mountain’s plant and animal life were of exceptional interest.
In 1964 the Kinabalu Park was finally gazette, covering 711 square kilometers
(271 square miles). Over the years the boundaries have changed from time to time
and today the Park covers a total of some 753 square kilometers (291 square
miles).
In the early years the road to the park was largely a narrow muddy earth track,
passable only to 4-wheel drive vehicles. This restricted access to real
enthusiasts, but when the road was finally sealed in 1981 visitor figures shot
up. Today more than 200000 people visit the park each year. Most visitors to the
park in the past came either to climb the standard trail to the summit or to
wonder at the rich diversity of the plant. Within the last years however, an
increasing number have come to enjoy more strenuous activities, including
mountain running and mountain bike races.
|
|
|
|
