Nice report and pictures!

A what a great blog! It brings back some great memories of our ascent some 15 years ago and it doesn't look to have changed that much (apart maybe from Laban Rata which looks more"luxurious" than I recall!). Congratualtions on your achievement. Can I ask - how much did your guide & porter cost and where did hire them?

Thanks everyone!

crellston - let me look in my files and ask my cousin. My cousin was the one who found Joel. Laban Rata was actually quite nice and quite "luxurious" as camping quarters go. It was clean, with running water, clean bathrooms, decent food, and very organized. Definitely had no complaints. What was it like 15 years ago?

Katsby - I love the first two paragraphs of your first post. Simple and honest.

Colduphere - haha! Shamelessly honest . Thanks so much for the words of encouragement!

Katsby - I was looking at your pictures thinking how I would not like to try the upper sections in the rain. Then I found this on wikitravel:

"Nevertheless, the mountain can be a dangerous place, especially during the rain or when there is mist. On average, every year one person gets into severe difficulty out of the estimated 20,000 people who attempt the climb. The higher slopes can be very slippery when it rains and dense fog reduces visibility to a few feet."

Thankfully you had good weather.

crellston - regarding your question about our guide. He was recommended by some hard-core mountaineers in Manila. Joel is Filipino, hence the connection. Our whole trip cost PHP 15,000 per person, or USD360, which includes accommodations (EXCEPT the last night at the Meridien), transportation (private van) around KK. guide, porter, airfare. Airfare though, was a steal.....it was a promo rate of maybe around 40USD.

colduphere - you know, when we decided to climb KK, I don't think any of us researched enough! We all thought that since SO many people had done it, it must be one of the easier climbs. My cousin even didn't use her backpack and just brought a handbag!! Definitely we were too ill-prepared. If I had read the paragraph that you posted (about the bad weather), I would have had second thoughts. As you said, thankfully we had good weather.

Guide for climbing Mt. Kinabalu is required; they will assign you one when you get your permit at the park HQ.

Thanks for coming back with the guide /cost info katsby, I may be tempted to revisit the climb as I am thinking of returning to Borneo for some diving.

15 years ago Laban Rata could not have been described as "quite luxurous " even for camping quarters. The dorms were pretty bad, no heating, hadn't been cleaned in ages and the mattresses were covered in little specks of blood (evidence of bed bugs- yuk!). I recall trying to make light of it by saying " Oh well I have stayed in worse places" my wife and friends we were travelling with simply replied instantly and in unison "I haven't!".

Glad to hear things have improved sounds like you had a great trip.

Crellston - specks of blood?!?!?!? Horrors. Although, I may have lower standards than you, or may not have been as observant.

Speaking of diving, have you been to the Philippines'? While I am not a diver, some of my friends are, and they say that the Philippines has some of the best dive spots. Period. Apo Island and Tubataha are frequently mentioned.

rkkwan - yes, we were required to get a guide as well. Those guys are incredible.