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9 ½ hours of climbing on rugged terrain merciless to our over stretched limbs. The trail had us weaving through dense forest and narrow paths. Gunung Ledang was more than we expected but it thrill to know that it wasn't a walk in the park. You'd see why… read on!
We started our hike at 7am from Ledang National Park. The initial few minutes into the trail consist of climbing up 600 over stairs. After about 15 mins of steep and narrow stairs, we got to Check Point (CP) 1, the first of 8 CP's. 
The ascent gradually moved from cement to moist forest soil. The climb from then on was a endless uphill with no flat ground to catch a breather. The landscape was magnificent with towering trees and the gush of fresh air at every inhale. Fierce looking boulders greeted us along the path, so big at times I felt like an ant next to it. 
The trail got even more exciting when we had to climb up ladders secured on tree roots propped onto massive boulders and vertical platforms. We climbed the ladders as if children would, on all fours fearing that if we lose grip we will fall 90 degrees backward. We wanted a challenge and we got it. 
For the first time after countless hikes, I finally found a trail that literally required arm strength. Ladders were not enough to test our endurance, from CP5 onwards; our arms were really put to test. Some parts of the trail required us to hoist ourselves up with just a rope! I felt like Jane (from Tarzan) pulling and tugging at the rope. 
The ultimate experience came when we had to pull ourselves up a 2-storey boulder at 45degree gradient. Every muscle and ounce of energy was needed to make this ascent. The guide later told us that many have turned back because they failed to make this part of the ascent. It must have been a waste to come so far just to stop at a fierce looking rock. 
We continued along the trail moving out of the dense forest into rocky paths. At about 1130am after 4 ½ hours of climbing, the summit was finally a stone's throw away. We reached the peak at 1215pm with a shouted of victory! As a toast to our achievement, we opened a bottled of Gatorade and gulped it down. Food was next on the agenda. Starving by now, we quickly fired up a packet of Maggi Mee and emptied two cans of tuna into our mess can. Lunch was finished in less than 7 mins! 
The view at the summit (I'm sure) would have been more spectacular if the clouds cleared a bit more. But we were the least disappointed as we had the entire summit to ourselves. 
The Lord had granted us great weather throughout the morning and it so happened the clouds decided to blow in just as we were there. But we managed to catch glimpses of Malacca. 
We begin our descent at 1245pm. We took a different trail down, this time much easier, less exciting and downhill all the way. The scenery also changed with great views of mountainous sights. 
Midway into our descent, we were met with a heart stopping encounter. Our guide suddenly stopped in his track and immediately asked us to stop. We heard of rustling of leaves then silence. Hoping to inch closer to our guide for protection, he spun around and asked us to stop. The rustling started again, then we heard loud angry snorts, then loud charging steps. Unaware of where the sounds were coming from Terence and I froze, hands clutched together, heart pounding. The snorts got louder and the steps got fiercer. My mind was reeling with many thoughts – what do it do?! Headlines flashed before my very eyes "Hikers got mauled by wild boar". My eyes prancing left and right trying to locate the vicious animal. After minutes of crazy thoughts our guide shouted "Come!" we ran as fast as we could and trailed him within inches for the rest of the journey.
Climbing Ledang was a priceless experience. It wasn't the summit that made it worthwhile but the journey (with it's ups and downs) that made it remarkable. Both Terence and I took back many life lessons while climbing the mountain.
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