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Consisting of a series of 45-meter high, razor-sharp limestone spikes,
the famous Pinnacles at Mulu National Park may be found towering above
lush vegetation and situated mid-way up the slopes of Gunung Api.
The trek to view them is one of the most popular in the park. But be
forewarned: the Pinnacle Summit Trek is a tough and challenging one. The
trail itself is very steep with some near vertical inclinations and
requires a certain level of fitness in order to be negotiated.
The Pinnacles Summit Trek is usually done as a 3 day-2 night trek
although it is possible to do it as a 2 day/1 night trek. The first
stage is a 1-2 hour boat trip along the Melinau River to Kuala Berar. If
the water level is low, the boat has to be pushed over rocky sections so
the trip takes longer. Base Camp 5 is a relatively easy 7.8 km walk from
Kuala Berar, following flat jungle terrain and taking 2-3 hours. Camp 5
is situated near the Melinau Gorge that separates Gunung Benarat from
Gunung Api.
 There
is a hostel-style accommodation at the camp, and cooking facilities. The
Melinau River in front of Camp 5 is crystal clear and ideal for a
swim after the trek from Long Berar.
The real hiking begins the following morning. The trail is 2.4 km in
length but rises some 1,200 meters from Camp 5 to the viewpoint, passing
through lowland dipterocarp forest before climbing steeply through a
thick moss forest. Here, the trees are a lot smaller and everything is
covered in slippery green moss. Limestone debris also litters the trail
so trekkers m ust
proceed with care. The last section of the trail is near vertical, with
rope sections and 15 aluminum ladders strategically
positioned to help with the climb. The vegetation is sparse although
orchids, rhododendrons and pitcher plants thrive in the area, and can be
seen at the side of the trail.
After some tough climbing you finally come out onto a rocky outcrop
where the stunning view provides a good reward for all the effort. The
viewpoint area is made up of a number of pinnacles, rocks and vegetation
and has excellent views of the silver-grey forest of stone that rises up
from the surrounding vegetation. After taking some photos and a short
rest and a last glimpse of the pinnacles, it is time to begin the
descent back to camp 5 and the second overnight stay.
It is very difficult to put an exact time on how long it takes to trek
to the Pinnacles viewpoint. Fit and experienced trekkers should be able
to reach the top in 2-3 hours. The not so fit but really determined
generally take around 4-5 hours. Most people spend an hour or so at the
top catching their breath and resting their weary legs before starting
on the climb down. For many the descent is actually more difficult and
therefore takes longer, so the return trip can take anything from 5 to
10 hours depending on the fitness level of the climbers.
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