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KOTA KINABALU: The reopening of Mount Kinabalu for climbing activities, scheduled on Monday, will definitely be good news for the “malim” (mountain guide) there, who have been “punished” since the control order was enforced. movement (MCO) in March to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The most important thing from now on is that you prepare for the climb again to avoid altitude sickness, as you have not done it for a long time.
Jahimin Waimi, 50, who has been a mountain guide since 2004, admitted to being in the same situation when climbing activities on Mount Kinabalu stopped for a month after an earthquake in June 2015.
When it resumed then, Jahimin experienced dizziness and drowsiness, which are symptoms of altitude sickness, when he was at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level.
“It happened because of the change in altitude that caused the lack of oxygen,” he told Bernama.
Jahimin, who hails from Kampung Dumpiring, Kundasang, said that he usually climbed the peak at 4,095 meters above sea level five to six times a month, according to the schedule set by Sabah Parks.
Sharing a similar experience Mohammad Somihin, 24, from Kampung Lembah Permai, Kundasang, who has been a mountain guide since 2009.
He admitted to experiencing altitude sickness too if he was “grounded” for too long.
Mohammad, who is a member of the Mountain Search and Rescue Aid Team, said his last climb before it closed was on March 17.
“The closure of Mount Kinabalu did affect our livelihood. Some of us have been farming for a living ever since, ”he added.
As for goalkeeper David Solunggin, 42, the shutdown did not affect him as he continued to climb the mountain to deliver supplies to his clients.
“I still go up the mountain once or twice a week to send supplies to workers doing maintenance work in Panalaban,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Sabah’s Minister of Housing and Local Government Masidi Manjun, who is also the official spokesperson for Covid-19 in Sabah, announced that climbing activities on Mount Kinabalu would resume on Monday.
For starters, he said, the number of hikers would be limited to 50% of capacity before the MCO applies.
“The state government, through Sabah Parks, is preparing to reopen the park gates in stages to local visitors with a strict implementation of the SOP beginning December 7, including climbing activities for Mount Kinabalu.” added.
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