Mount Kinabalu summit could be open to climbers by December

- AFP

KOTA KINABALU: Mount Kinabalu’s summit may be open to climbers by Dec 1 if all restoration work can be completed by then.

However, new, alternative routes, which may be carved out, might be tougher and steeper.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said on Saturday that the path was still obstructed by large boulders and any earth movement could cause the rocks to fall and probably injure climbers.

“We would like to avoid using the place with these boulders and are considering several alternative routes but these will be steeper and more adventurous,” he warned.

He said experts have been engaged to help identify which boulders were unstable.

For now, climbers are only allowed to trek up to Laban Rata and from Sept 1, can stay overnight at the facilities available to the public.

“Only 100 climbers are allowed to climb and stay overnight per trip for now,” Masidi said adding that the safety of climbers was of utmost importance.

“The facility still needs further rectification work after the June 5 quake,” he explained.

All mountain activities were stopped following the quake that killed 18 people.
-thestar online.