Gunung
Bintang (1862M) located at Bintang Hijau Forest Reserve
Range, and it's situated in Sedim, Kulim, Kedah.
The trek starts at Sungai Sedim, (one of the spot for white
water rafting sport in Kedah). The trails start at the end
of mountain bike trails, and continue by the old unused logging
trek all the way to the waterfall.
There is no doubt that the Asian Elephant still exists at
the foothills even at the summit. Along the trails, you can
see a lot of footprints. Beside that, you also can see some
Sumatran Rhinoceros, Tapir, Wild Deer and the most scary is
the Malayan Tiger footprint!.
The first portion of the trek was along an old logging road
which has a lot of hardy resam ferns also make this portion
of the hike monotonous. Leeches is everywhere is this treks.
From resam ferns to bamboo clumps to bushes the vegetation
change slightly.
The first campsite was located by the very picturesque Sungai
Kerian Watefall. Cold, crystal clear water tumbled down a
15meter rock wall to a small pool below with a lot of fallen
logs.
The second portion after the waterfall began to changes.
More tree cover and more montane type with gnarled tree trunks
enveloped by a carpet of mosses, succulent herbaceous undergrowth
and pitcher plants suspended mid-air and in clumps on the
forest floor. The mossy forest here very nice with orchid
laden limbs around the trees.
Here is the place to fill up your waters bottles and continue
uphill with a lot of chopstick bamboos, moss covered tree
trunks and some brown squishy mud, and be careful a lot of
Green Viper at this area. At this place we still can see Elephant
footprints and Rhinoceros too. Wondering how this big large
mammals can reach this stage!
Then a series up and down with uphill stretches typically
ending in a false summit. Here is the place to take fill out
your water bottles.The actual peak is on the left and we continue
to climb. The real peak have a pyramid shaped metal structure
marked the highest point as well as the metal signboard. But
this pyramid structure have been destroy by this big mammals
(Elephant) when they bypass this small summit. (A lot of elephant
footprints here, they also celebrate party here at summit!)
The campsite is a few meter away, towards the others side.
It is quite small, but can fit around 8 tents. Here we setup
our tents, cook, and rest! Very Cool and strong wind here!
So make sure your tent is fits enough in the ground.
The next morning, we have surprise by Maybank! (it's a TIGER
!!!). A very fresh tiger footprints! Everywhere near to our
tents area ! Very fresh foot prints, less than 3 hours footprints
mark! So everyone so shock and pack our stuff and get down
as fast as possible!.
The slogan for this mountain - "Share the trails with
wildlife" , from the starting point until summit ! I
can make a bet, you can see a lot of different kind of animals
footprints everywhere!
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