Taking a a long weekend to do Mount Kinabalu we set off Friday afternoon to our accommodation at J Residence, just outside the Park. We took a taxi along the windy roads north of KK and got dropped off outside a surprising nice place with beautiful views over valleys of rainforest and mountains. We settled into our luxury 3 bedded room fully equipped with DVD player, on suite and massive windows taking advantage of the spectacular scenery (and for under £9 each, what a bargain)!

Deciding to go for an explore before dinner we wandered on the road outside the Park and found a little shop to stock up on supplies. Dinner was had at a little hostel just down the road where we chatted to some other climbers who had just got down from the mountain. Gaining some good advice about what to buy (mainly some gloves) and receiving some left over chlorine tablets, as the water on the way up isn't treated, we felt much happier about our climb. One of the guys, Adam, came back to ours to watch a DVD (Kingdom of Heaven) which was maybe a bit heavy and violent for our mood (and his as he left half way through) but put us off to sleep nicely before our big day tomorrow.

Wanting to start quite early we set off for the Park HQ for 0800 to get any paperwork, as well as our passes and guide sorted. After picking up our lunch we jumped into a taxi for the lift up to the Summit Trail Entrance Gate to start walking at 0845.

The start was a quite gentle climb with pretty waterfalls and lush rainforest to keep us and our cameras occupied but after about 0.5km the route's incline increased and we pushed our way up steeper and steeper stairs. Luckily there are rest stations with toilets and water available every kilometre or so, but it was taking us 30-40 minutes to get from one to the next. Luckily the weather was on our side and we had dry cool breeze along the route and shade provided from the trees saving us from the sun.

There are many amazing flowers and plants along the route. Our guide (who competes in the annual Climbathon every year with a best time of 3 hours 42 minuets up and down the mountain!!!) pointed out some pitcher plants to us, which attract insects to the nectar inside before drowning and digesting them for food.

As we got further up the views got more and more impressive, overlooking the rest of the Park. We stopped for lunch as the cloud cover started to surround us but were entertained by the jumping pygmy squirrels who have learnt how to get an easy meal from the climber's lunch boxes.

Carrying on our journey to Laban Rata (some 1406 meters higher than our starting point) the route got steeper turning into a bit more a scramble than a hike and as the altitude started to plays its part, the trek became quite difficult. The thin air made catching your breath hard when trying to pull yourself up the mountain and regular stops were needed, where as the locals trudged on past carrying gas canisters or food for the restaurant at Laban Rata.

After four hours the end was in sight with only 100m to go we dragged ourselves up the final rough trail to the reception building. We checked into our dorm room and took the opportunity for a freezing cold shower before resting for the afternoon (except Emma who decided to go for an explore). After a well deserved nap I venture out into the surprisingly warm afternoon sun to ring home before meeting up with Nadiah and Emma for dinner.

And what a dinner it was! A massive buffet was put on with salad, rice, noddles, soup, porridge and a selection of meat dishes, hot drinks and sweet desserts. Eating until we were stuffed we sat contented, chatting to other climbers as the sun set and the clouds formed beautiful shapes below us.

Needing an early night before our 0230 start Sunday morning we were all in bed by 8 in comfy bunk beds, but the altitude, or maybe the excitement, kept us all awake for hours.