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).
A group photo at the trail head of GBH
(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 is just gravel and dirt (not tarred) and not pleasant to drive. Travelling time from Subang Jaya to GBH trail head is 2 hr 15 min. Make sure the petrol tank of your car is at least half filled as there is no petrol station for hundreds of kilometers.
Gunung Besar Hantu, Gunung Kecil Hantu, Lata Dinding waterfall - go straight;
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 Orkid as wild 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.
At Gunung Besar Hantu peak; in order to be able to see the mountains in the background, one has to climb on to the tree and the fallen structure
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);
(2) Lata Dinding and Lata Kijang together (via 4WD road; gradual slope).
Enjoying the cold water at Lata Dinding waterfall
The majestic Lata Dinding waterfall
Security guard checking before entering the park
A lot of parking space within the park; directly opposite is the toilet; behind the toilet about 50 meters away, there is a suspension bridge where the campsite is located
How 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;
(3) Permit fee = RM5 per person.
Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus
Tel: 06 - 7659875
Email: hutanns@ns.gov.my
Website: forestry.ns.gov.my
There is a nice campsite within the park, permit fee is also RM5 each person. The two buildings at the background are the toilet
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
Feeling hungry after the hike, we drove to Titi town for dinner, about 35km away on straight route. If we returned to Batu 14 Hulu Langat area, we need to travel 60km of winding route, that would take much longer time. Drop pin below is the Chinese restaurant that we went in Titi town; there are a few more restaurants nearby.
Click Here for Google Maps drop pin to Sin Wong Kok Restaurant.
https://goo.gl/maps/wPMmQn3pcoCKodDH7
New update on 20 April 2021 ... according to CL Chong, his group went there for camping at the new camping hall, located not far from the existing camping ground. Booking of entire hall cost RM200 per night, complete with electricity, water and toilet. Photos below courtesy of CL Chong.
A newly erected camping hall, good for wet season camping
A new kitchen complete with electricity plug points
The sifu Mr Tee Kong Tiong:
We have the opportunity 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
