Gunung Daik, Pulau Lingga
Kepulauan Riau (KEPRI), Indonesia
• Height: 1165 metres
• Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
(Easy-Moderate)
• Climbing Duration: 02 days
(with overnight camping)
• Level of Fitness Required: Physically Fit
(with some climbing & robust outdoor experiences)
Gunung Daik though standing at only 1165 metres - should never be underestimated. It goes to any mountains too, for that matter.
Each mountain is unique in their own ways and have their own set of challanges too; thus each must be respected in their own set of given circumstances.
Out of the 1165 metres, only 1100 metres of Gunung Daik is scalable; whilst the remaining 65 metres is a tough perpendicular 90 degrees limestone wall that requires special & complete rock climbing equipment, to scale it.
Thus far, only one person has been successful in climbing that limestone tower/wall.
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Gunung Daik is generally an easy to moderate level of difficulty to climb.
Yet, it can also end up to be one tough climb - because it involves, at certain points, some river crossings too.
As such, these are pointers to note when climbing Gunung Daik:
• Wet Shoes - After Several River Crossings. To continue climbing with wet shoes is indeed uncomfortable and heavy for the legs; thus adding to the challenge. Bring along a pair of watershoes, if you have them; so that after the river crossings, you can then changed it into your dry hiking boots.
• Water Level in the River. The water flow in the river also can be tough to navigate through, and its challenges are much depending on the rainfall and the seasons too. Moonsoon season (November to April) with torrential rains would rise the water to a difficult level to cross, indeed. Best time to climb is therefore during the dry season (April to October) when the water is at an easier crossing level.
• Slippery Trail. Mossy rocks, plant roots and broken twigs on the forest floor make it even slippier, more so when the rain falls the night before, or during the climb. This causes the trail to be wet and easily becomes a ready-made: slides!!
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Overall, Gunung Daik can be for beginners - but they must be comfortable with the outdoors and to expend some robust moments.
Climbers too must have some level of fitness before attempting it, or any other hills or mountains, for that matter. Fitness is basic requirement for any climbing attempt. So it would be good to have a certain level of fitness and endurance for the climb.
Ideally, climbers need to have some climbing experiences, if possible; the climb itself can be an exciting adventure, more so with the river crossings and overnight camping. But it can be daunting for those with no climbing experiences.
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Gunung Daik hike is indeed a climb certainly not to rushed for completion but one to savour and enjoy, with much tales and storytelling about the mountain and the island, and the historical past of the Malay Sultanate - to absorb and appreciate, during dinner time while on an overnight camping there.
Gunung Daik was a popular iconic landmark in the Johor-Riau Sultanate of the past, as evidenced and recorded in the quatrain or the well-known pantun of the Malays:
Pulau Pandan jauh ke tengah,
Gunung Daik Bercabang tiga;
Hancur badan dikandung tanah,
Budi yang baik dikenang juga."
- musafir,
The Wandering Moose
😊😊😊
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