Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu Dubbed Desired Mountain for Rock Climbers

By Nur Adika Bujang KOTA KINABALU (Sabah,Malaysia), July 2 (Bernama) -- Mount Kinabalu has been dubbed one of the most desired mountains for rock climbers. Rock climber Caroline Ciavaldini, 27, of France said the pricey fee to gain access to the mountain, which amounted to 2,000 Euros (US$2,527.10) for foreigners including porter services, had made it unique and it inhibited mysteries yet to be explored. "I understand that a limited number of people are allowed access to the mountain at one time, and this is something very desirable for rock climbers like myself. "We (rock climbers) do not follow the trail set for normal hikers. A mountain can be conquered through various routes, and finding those unconventional routes is the real adventure for rock climbers," she said when met here on Monday. Ciavaldini had spent 18 days from June 10 with three other rock climbers exploring various routes to the mountain's peak. The sole woman in the team, sponsored by Mountain Torq Sdn Bhd, Southeast Asia's first mountaineering training centre, considered Mount Kinabalu amazing with exceptional formation of rocks that allowed better grip when climbing. Ciavaldini, who has been rock climbing professionally for 10 years, was accompanied by James Pearson of the United Kingdom, Daniel Wood of the United States and Yuji Hirayama of Japan. -- BERNAMA