Nuang via Janda Baik Trail

Date: 27/04/2013 (saturday) 
Time: 5.00am – 6.00pm 
Location: Janda Baik, Pahang 
Altitude: 1439 m (4898 ft) 
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard 
Google map: Gunung Nuang via Janda Baik 


The Fact...

Gunung Nuang is the highest mountain of Selangor with the height of 1,493 metres (4,898 ft) and it is part of the Titiwangsa Mountains. This mountain is actually border of 3 states which is Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. Hiking to Nuang’s peak can start from either Kuala Pangsoon Hulu Langat, Janda Baik or Kemensah (Gombak, near Kuala Lumpur). But of course, the most popular route is through Hulu Langat... the climb which involve a two hour hike on a very steep road, then an optional stop at "Camp Lolo", and after that there is a six hour push to the peak, and a four hour trek to the ground. (source)

My Story...

Hiking to Nuang is always being my dream since I started to like hiking. Hahaha but never got a chance cos so many story that it was very tough and require your full energy level & stamina if you want to make it in just one day thru Pangsoon, Hulu Langat. Unless...you are willing to overnight at Lolo camp & continue hiking on the next day. Sounds like very difficult to make it in one day to people like me but not to the experienced hikers with good fitness level.

Actually, I’ve beed to Pangsoon Trail before, it was 2 years back. And that time, our target only up to Lolo Camp. Konon-konon nak servey dulu lah kan tengok dulu track dia macam mana. Anyway, until today no plan for hiking thru that track... hahaha.

I found out from my fellow trekkers that there is a trail up to this mountain via Janda Baik in Pahang. And I was informed that Nuang via Janda Baik is less tough and hikers can spend less time to complete the climb (up & down). With that in mind, I planned Nuang trip via Janda Baik and of course with my hiking group. We were told it'd probably take us between 3 to 4 hours of hiking to the peak.

Initially, my target was around 10 people but out of sudden it became a hot event... total of of 23 persons joined. And it was not so easy to handle a big group hiking with different fitness level.

Looking on the unpredictable weather lately, so, I planned to start the trekking early in the morning. So, on the day of event, we set out at 5.00am as our earliest meeting time. We met first at Masjid Al-Ridhuan at MRR2 to pick up & meet up with few members before proceed to Tol Gombak at 5.15a.m to meet with other member came from other places. After that, we proceed to Genting Sempah RnR to stop for suboh prayer & having a quick breakfast.

How to get here?

From Tol Gombak, Take the E8 Karak/Kuantan Highway. Immediately after the tunnel, take the exit to the rest area (Genting Sempah) and Janda Baik.

Around 6.30a.m, we headed to Kampung Janda Baik. It's fairly easy to find, just straight drive all the way. Look for the Institut Latihan Memperkasa UMNO (ILMU). .. the banners are everywhere along the way. And when you find the ILMU on your right, you are on the right track. We met with our guide here before proceed. After passing ILMU, you have to drive straight in front for about 2km until you come to a junction. Here is where the TAR road ends. You can park your car at the designated area. The trail to Gunung Nuang is on the right... just after you cross the stream.

Tips: Parking space is limited, thus, car pooling is advisable. If you come in a big group, maybe you can park your car at Genting Sempah RnR and shared cars before drive all the way to the starting point. 

Place to park your car

After a short briefing from our guide Uteh, we started our trekking and the first challenge was to cross the stream. It was still early in the morning and the water was quite cold. Hahaha, belum panas pon lagi dah start basah. 

Ist challenge... crossing the river stream

Walking thru Orang Asli Farm

Awesome farm view along the way

Along the way, you could see agri crops like bitter gourds, french beans, four angled beans etc were planted nicely by Orang Asli village’s farmers. We thought of picking up some... nak buat ulam for lunch lah konon-konon nye kat peak nanti tapi tak amek pon... hahaha.

Continue until you see Orang Asli House

Follow the farm trail for about 20 minutes until you see Orang Asli traditional house... further walk around 10 minutes will bring you to a junction, turn into slightly right up and finally, beginning of the jungle trail that leads to Cemperoh waterfall (another 30 minutes) where you need to cross the river stream again before straight up to the mountain. 

The great scene behind

Another landmark on the trail, an Orang Asli traditional house

We rest for about 5 minutes before proceed

Further walk until you see a junction... take slightly right up

Beginning of the Jungle Trail

You need to bend to get thru this fallen bamboos

The muddy trail... maybe last night hujan lebat kot

Reached mini waterfall... 1st person yang sampai

Finally reach our 1st checkpoint... Air terjun Chemperoh, Almost 1 hour to get here

So irresistable

Chemperoh Waterfall

What I noticed, there were no check point, rest hub and proper sign at the junctions. However, after we crossed the 2nd stream (Chemperoh waterfall), plastic ribbon tied on trees can be spotted along the way, but it is better to follow the guide closely as there were few points that can easily get confuse. 

The trek getting tougher after the Chemperoh waterfal

Buah Rotan... exactly looks like Kuih Buah Rotan

Beautiful Fungus after the rain

The trail

Here the terrain was quite rough. We had to pass thru some thick bushes, several fallen trees and thru a bamboo trees. A few times we practically need to bend underneath some massive fallen bamboo trunks & trees. 

Don’t be surprised as there were so many leeches along the way. Alhamdulillah, none interested with my sweet blood. Maybe after tips given by Mom & Mariam, soaking the socks (you will use later) inside the water with tobacco and then dry it. Tips orang dulu-dulu ni, anyway it works.

Try to hide from me

The rocky trail

Entering the mossy forest

 A bit cold & more relax track... meaning you almost there

One of the less tough challenge

The beautiful mossy forest...

Finally... reached the peak

My lucky day... 
buat stock seminggu lah until the next week hikers coming

We reached the peak about 4 hours later... around 12.30pm, but only quarter of our group. The rest still at the back. There were already few hikers when we reached there and majority of them were using Hulu Langat trails. As expected, the veteran group & 2 chinese guy that overtook us along the Janda Baik trail also already there. We’re the first to start but they reached the peak first... cannot compete their stamina... huhuhu.

Alhamdulillah, I did it

Antara yang terawal sampai

Trying hard to let it go

Awesome view from Nuang's peak

At 1439 m (4898 ft) altitude... almost every trees covered with mosses

Congrats everyone

For those reach early, we spent almost 2 hours on the peak... waiting for the rest of the member (yang baru sampai) taking time for lunch & rest. Just then, we started descending. 

Descending is fairly easy on Janda Baik trail, you can enjoy the forest environment and take time to descend with relax. My friend Steve & Mariam took only 1 & half hour to descend to Chemperoh waterfall from peak without the guide. Lambat kata nye menunggu yang lain... It’s ok, as long as you safe. I was the 3rd to arrive after follow my guide Fairuz and Hazwan running all the way to the waterfall after halfway descending.

We took 1 hour break at Chemperoh waterfall before return to our starting point

We spent about 1 hour at Cemperoh waterfal. While waiting for the remaining team to descend, Some of us spent time soaking into the refreshing water to clean out dirts, solat, makan-makan & taking pictures for the last time at Cemperoh waterfal. Around 6 p.m, we started to descend to the starting point and managed to reach before 7pm. 

Air Terjun Chemperoh really calm your mind & soul

Kewajipan dimana saja & dalam apa jua keadaan

Chemperoh waterfall... every angle of it was so refreshing

Cleaning our dirty shoes before get into the car

Track thru Janda Baik is definitely a more decent trail, enjoyable, mossy environment on last half an hour to the peak, refreshing waterfall, farm view and well located river stream at the end of the hike where we can clean our dirty shoes before get into the car. Janda Baik trail is much easier compare to track thru Pangson (cakap macam pernah naik thru Pangson jer... cheh). 

To me, even if you're unexperienced hiker, you can hike thru this Janda Baik trail provided you have a good fitness level. Physical fitness is indeed a prerequisite. However, if you're looking for fun and challenging trails, I think trail thru Pangsoon Hulu Langat is the answer. Maybe, I should try before retired... Insyallah.

Summary of our hiking trip

0515am • Meeting point @ Tol Gombak 
0545am • Stop Solat @ RnR Genting Sempah, quick breakfast & drive to ILMU @ Janda Baik 
 0700am • Meet with guide @Institut Latihan Memperkasa UMNO (ILMU) Janda Baik & drive to starting point 
0730am • Safety Briefing & Start hiking 
0840am • Reach AIr Terjun Cemperoh (30 min rest) 
1230pm • Reached Summit 
1430pm • Start descend to Starting Point. 
1645pm • Arrived at AIr Terjun Cemperoh (rest for 1 hour) 
1845pm • Safely arrive at Starting Point. 
1900pm • Expedition End.

Items to bring along 
1. Water (minimum 2L each) – bring enough water since Cemperoh is the last water source. 
2. High Energy Food (Dried fruit, Kurma, Chocolate, Energy bar etc.) 
3. Breakfast + lunch (Self Provided) 
4. Good hiking shoes or Rubber shoes for the climb 
5. Disposable Raincoat / Poncho 
6. Small towel 
7. Personal First aid Kit (Minyak Angin, Plaster, Panadol, Oral rehydration salt etc.) 
8. Emergency gear: Flashlight/Torchlight, whistle, knife, lighter, 1st aid kit 
9. Small bag pack (for climbing)

Optional 
- Hiking Stick 
- Knee guard/Ankle guard 
- Insect repellent 
- Leech protection (highly recommended) 
- Extra clothes (both shirt & pants), can leave in car 
- Plastic bags for dirty shoes/clothes, can leave in car 
- Extra slippers to change into afterwards, can leave in car 
- Camera


See on the next Hiking trip to Berembun - Jersah - Perdah...

The END...