Good day to do photography

This was really an impromptu trip -decided at the 11th hour when Vincent met up with FK.

We were rushing off to beat the traffic for our regular mid-week get-together. We left FK in a hurry. That guy, FK, he was to check up the late night mail for final confirmation. Where are we off to?

T h e Q u a r t z R i d g e

Ever noticed a white cliff when you passed by the Toll house? The view of the Ridge with the Gombak toll house on the left. This was the tail end of a 14 kilometers long lime stone outcrop.

The same ridge as seen from the Batu Cave access.

The day started beautifully with Vincent ready before me. Oh! FK finally made it. He was not bad either, late by 1 minute.

On our way we picked up Beng Inn. It was going to be long climb of about 3 hours. But at 6.45 am it was too early to have breakfast! We however decided to force something down the stomach before going up the Quartz Ridge.

After the moderately heavy roti canai, we hastily ascend to the "backbone" of the Ridge. We had to be up there, like Khoo put it before 7.00 am. [Time for sunrise is brought forward]

We were in time and then up on the 2nd peak just in time to see the clouds starting to lift off from the lake surfaces and surrounding forest.  Layers of them then drifted out of the valley of the lake and pass by the gap below us.

The sun was not out of the hills yet and lighting was poor for any quality photograph

Finally, we all get to sit down on this narrow " razor sharp backbone" of the Ridge.

Vincent was slowly heaving himself up the cliff wall, actually he couldn't wait to get to the top - his 3rd kidney was working equally hard. We stayed on for a while at that peak until the reflection on the water picked up the sun’s image. Unfortunate for us, when the sky was bright, the weather for that day turned out to be hazy Now you can see Vincent in a pensive mood! He made his way up several cliff walls, heaved himself up the rope! The continuation of the Ridge on the opposite hills and the Kuala Lumpur skyline were not ideal subjects for photography.

Yes, there is a part, where the journey can be continued with the aid of ropes. One thick and a thin double After a good rest and examining the ground for fragments of quartz we continued on the upward climb.  It was one summit after another. The path was clear but always precariously moving along the sharp peak with cliff faces on both sides.  A feeling and scene not for the faint hearted.

The climb was exciting, the journey equally interesting. There were unique footing to cling onto and views from mountain peaks was always breathtaking. Here we didn't get to climb only one peak but a series of peaks. If you are a photographer, bring adequate supply of film, the view from each peak to the next get better with each new heights scaled.

Besides the journey and the views, there were the quartz formations. Regrettably, curious climbers had damaged many beautiful pockets of crystals.

For souvenir, there are many tiny fragments on the ground. Though they will not be making any impression back home, just do it for your own remembrance of the hike.

Beng Inn was coaxed to divulge the spot for the much sort after crystals as Uncle Vincent braved the climb determined to do some souvenirs hunting.  

Next there was this small zone conducive to support a moss forest. 

This is not a widespread area but climbers will experience a temperature change and an entirely different ambience.