Category Archives: Climbing

Bear Pepper Spray – What You Need To Know

Posted on April 2, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

It is that time of year again when Americans by the millions will be heading to the high country for camping, hiking and fishing activities. Much has been written about bears and bear pepper spray and how to defend against bear attacks. Some of it to be honest is a little bit confusing. Here’s some information about bear attacks and what you need to know.

Bears are naturally curious animals, but are not normally aggressive. They get a little bit more aggressive when they’re hungry. Some people say they’re hungry all the time and that may be more true than not. But in the fall before they hibernate and in the spring time when they come out of hibernation they can be particularly hungry and particularly aggressive.

Up in the high country where they live the condition of their natural habitat determines to some extent how hungry they are and how aggressive they are. So for example if it’s particularly dry and much of their natural food is nonexistent they may turn more aggressively towards other sources of food at lower elevations and campgrounds.

If you see a bear and a bear sees you at the same time the best thing you can do is speak softly to the bear, never turn your back and back away slowly. Never run away from a bear.

If a bear sees you and starts advancing towards you try to make yourself appear as large as you can. That may startle the bear and scare him away. If it doesn’t scare him away curl up in a ball and offer no resistance.

Many people think that a handgun is effective against bears. The fact of the matter is in studies done by fish and wildlife experts show that if you are attacked by a bear and use bear pepper spray chances are 90% in your favor that you will win that battle.

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Mount Kinabalu Climbing: Adventure and Fascination at the Highest Level

Posted on March 14, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

If you think that Mount Kinabalu climbing activities stand for some extreme actions that you could not cope with, it is highly recommended to first of all take into consideration several important details. Irrespective of the fact that Mount Kinabalu is known to be the tallest mountain in South-East Asia, it is not necessary for you to be an experienced mountain climber in order to conquer it. More than that, you only need two days to make your dream come true.

This impressive mountain is situated in the Kinabalu National Park, in the province of Sabah, Malaysia and is known all over the world for its unique flora and fauna. We need to add that, year by year, more and more tourists show a vivid interest in visiting Kinabalu National Park. In fact, their visit here is closely connected to incredibly exciting Mount Kinabalu climbing perspectives. If deciding to discover Mount Kinabalu, you will definitely not regret it, as there are so many wonderful things you can take advantage of.

There is no doubt that you are about to feel nothing else but joy and happiness during your special adventure that will turn out to be the most beautiful experience of your life. However, it is good to know that every little step you make needs to be thoroughly calculated. The truth is that you are supposed to take part in a very strict (but unbelievably pleasant) “ritual” connected to Mount Kinabalu climbing.

It is imperative to be careful about the order of things so that you could be completely satisfied with your unique adventure. On a general basis, the Timpohon Gate (right near park headquarters) is considered to be the “key element” from this point of view, as it represents the place where the whole adventure begins. Take your time, relax and admire the view from the Timpohon observatory platform, since you have a long trip ahead and you need your strength.

You need to keep your climbing enthusiasm at a moderate level and try to get some sleep (when the night falls) at one of the numerous guest houses at Laban Rata. This way, you will feel completely reinvigorated and able to go on with your climbing plans early in the morning. Otherwise said, it takes a lot of discipline to participate in a Mount Kinabalu climbing trip.

In order to do things properly, you are supposed to reach the top of Mount Kinabalu in time to watch the sunrise. This is something that you really cannot miss (because you would be terribly sorry if something like this happened). The truth is that people do not have the chance of witnessing such a miracle of nature everyday.

Afterwards, it is time for you to return to Laban Rata for having a well-deserved breakfast. Once this “mission” has been accomplished as well, it is time for you to descend the mountain.

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Climbing Tips to Improve Your Skills

Posted on February 20, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

Becoming a better climber is a goal that most climbers strive for. Most climbers simply just climb route after route and end up plateauing. Here are some climbing tips that will help you become a better climber. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the mental, physical, and technical aspect of climbing.

The first thing we’ll look at is the mental aspect of this sport. You should already know that rock climbing isn’t exactly the safest sport. There is definitely a real risk of seriously injuring yourself if you make the wrong mistake. There is this fear that might run through your mind as you prepare to climb your route and during your climb as well. This fear can hold you back from reaching your fullest potential. One way to overcome this is to visualize your climb as well as progressively improve so that you will have greater confidence in your climbing abilities. Of course, trusting your spotters and equipment will help as well.

With many rock climbers, it’s all about getting stronger. Specifically, it’s all about getting stronger fingers and forearms. If you think about the routes that you failed to complete, chances are, you failed because of a hold that you couldn’t hold onto or a move you didn’t have enough strength to do. So how do you get stronger for climbing? One thing you can do is to simply climb with the focus of doing hard moves. This might mean skipping your projects and just doing moves that forces you to get stronger. You can also work on doing pull ups as well as use a campus board to train your fingers. Adding weight such as using a weight vest will do wonders as well.

One of the best ways to increase your climbing ability is to focus on your technique. Many beginner climbers focus solely on strength and have very sloppy technique. With the right technique, you can do many moves effortlessly while people who use only strength burn out on. Watch the more advanced climbers climb and notice how they do certain moves that may seem a bit tough for you. Knowing different techniques such as knee drops, flagging, Gastons, heel hooks, etc., will make doing certain moves seem almost effortless. It should be your goal to figure out the easiest, most efficient way to send a route instead of trying to muscle your way through the problem like so many beginners do.

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Dare to Climb Mt Kinabalu

Posted on January 22, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

Mount Kinabalu is located on the island of Borneo and is protected as Kinabalu National Park. It is the 4th tallest mountain in the Malay Archipelago and is one of the largest biologically diverse sites in the world.

On Mt Kinabalu, you can find 4500 species of plant, 326 species of birds, and over 100 mammals. Besides the largest plant in the world, the Rafflesia, there are many other interesting and rare plants to be found such as dwarf shrubs, mosses, lichens, liverworts, ferns and many different orchids. One of the reasons why there so many distinctive species here is that most of the soil is low in phosphates and high in iron and metals. This is poisonous to many plants, so plants either become different or they die. When it comes to animals, you can find birds like Mountain Serpent-eagle, Dulit Frogmouth, Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, and mammals like: The Orangutan, Malayan Weasel, Oriental Small-clawed Otter, Leopard Cat and Borneon Ferret-Badger.

People mostly come here so they can try to climb the mountain. This can be a great experience but is also very hard. It is not enough just to decide and go, you have to be prepared even though this is one of the easiest peaks in the world to conquer. It is also a long way, taking two days to reach the top. Even though equipment is not required, it is highly recommended so you won’t have to worry about anything. You will need clothes for different weather conditions, water and food, sunscreen cream, first aid kit, head-mounted torch and a camera. You are probably wondering where to put all that, but don’t worry even if you forget something, it won’t be a disaster.

Before you go, you must purchase a climbing permit and pay an insurance fee. You will probably know if you are capable and fit enough for this adventure. More than 95% people succeed. You don’t have to be in super physical shape to do it. During the first part of the climb, you’ll be going through rainforest which is the easiest part. After passing Layang-Layang, you are going to climb Laban Rata which is more difficult. You’ll able to rest along the way. At the end of the day, climbers spend the night in one of the guesthouses so they can continue later. Climbers must wake up in the middle of the night in order to continue and finish the trip on time. Climbers will be heading to Sayat-Sayat and then on to Low’s Peak. The view you are going to have there is hard to explain. It is beautiful and unforgettable. Most of the climbers reach the top at around 6am, leaving enough time to get back.

Climbing Mt Kinabalu will be for sure a journey of a lifetime. You’ll get to know nature better and you’ll feel like a real winner once you reach the top. This is just one of the things you can do in Borneo.

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