Gunung Yong Yap - Gunung Bubu - Gunung Tok Nenek (YYBBTN) Dayhike / TNBYY

Distance: 42km(full route), 38km(Yong Yap single)
EG: 2,400m(full route)
Rated: 8.0/10 (full route), 7.5/10 (Yong Yap single)


Gunung Yong Yap, it is the sixth tallest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia or also known as G6. Though, most hiker will often do Gunung Bubu and Gunung Tok Nenek together which is known as Trans-YYBTN. Averagely, it take 3 days 2 night to complete the trails, but on 8/7/2018, we attempt to complete in under one days, daypack trip. The starting point of the trail head is at Loijing. 

To get here, first you need to GPS to this location (this is the turning point): "4.661016, 101.484274". The original trail head point is "4.6800500, 101.4688200" but I notice if you directly type in this location, they will sent you to a different turn point. Once you reach "4.661016, 101.484274", turn left at the road sign "Hutan Simpanan Kekal Loijing". The road to the trail head is OK, it was tar when we were entering toward the trailhead. 

Toilet are the surau in their kampung, there river there you can take bath at (if you manage to come out before dark), carpark is RM15/car, permit is required from the Department of Forest and guide is not compulsory but recommend to bring someone who familiar with the trail as there are a few junction... (you don't want to accidentally do Trans-V2 now, dont you....)

To the "Junction" from Monash University Malaysia

Turn Left here if you coming from Simpang Pulai or Cameron Highland

The road to the trail head of YYBTN

The entrance to YYBTN trail head

https://www.strava.com/activities/1689407284

GPX File Link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4gyiarieri7zb2p/Yong_Yap_Bubu_Tok_Nenek.gpx?dl=0

GPX File Link (Only Yong Yap):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lrsi1mho7b91wrb/Yong_Yap.gpx?dl=0

With a full marathon distance, 42km in the jungle and an elevation of 2,900m, you can see why 3D2N is the more normal method of completing the mountain. The trail is actually quite welcoming with the first few km starting off on the 4WD and slowly convert into farmland trail, then to jungle trail. Also note, you going to have to cross a "million" river on this trip, so if you not prepared, your leg will be badly wrinkled. I applied Vaseline at the start of the hike and at the top of Yong Yap peak which did help prevent it from wrinkling too bad.

At the 6km mark, you will reach the first major junction which is the split between going Gunung Tok Nenek and Gunung Yong Yap, aka, Junction YY/TN. 

Before crossing the river, turn left go to Tok Nenek. Crossing the river, head straight, go to Yong Yap

The slope is steady upward from the start all the way to Camp Sungai Jerok, which is around the 14-15km mark. Please note that this is your last water point and you better refill here as the next water point is only after you complete all three peak and come down at Camp Belumut which is at that time pace, 7 hours of no water point (<< please note this is kinda averagely fast, it might take till 9 hours for some)

Your last water point!

From here onward, it a steep climb toward Gunung Yong Yap. Pass Camp Balak Pecah, we reach the Simpang YY/BB. From where you coming, turn left will bring you to Gunung Bubu straight and turning right will bring you up to Gunung Yong Yap.

And a steeper climb await ahead

After this simpang, going up Yong Yap here will be steep and fun, keep your hiking pole as you won't be needing them here. A short hike later will bring you to Yong Yap Peak, the first peak and the 6th tallest Peninsula Malaysia mountain. (18km/42km of your journey)!

Yong Yap Peak

Once coming down from the peak, you will reach back the junction. This time head straight toward Gunung Bubu. A series of up and down will bring you to Gunung Bubu which really isn't much here to see... It more like a camping spot for some up here. (23.5km/42km)!

Gunung Bubu

Continue on down and up for a few more km and you will reach Gunung Tok Nenek (also note, there a junction in between here that will bring you to Trans-V2 trails, take note at Puncak Kambing, don't turn right at that junction!!) The view up at Gunung Tok Nenek is the reason why you doing this Trans-YYBTN. The view here is spectacular and amazing! This spot was my longest resting time of all the "checkpoint". (27km/42km)!

After Gunung Tok Nenek, it all the way down toward the car park! Before that, stop at Camp Belumut to refill after the 7 hours of running out of water situation!

Water Point or Last Water Point if you coming from the other direction

After refilling and drinking straight from the river (no filter nor tablet though in my case), it was a downhill rush toward the car park, in my case, I was rushing to get back to the car park before dark! Along the way, there are plenty of camp site you can stop! Though, before you reach Simpang YY/TN (probably around the 33km mark? I could be wrong so take it with a pinch of salt as I was busy getting down), the trail here can be a bit confusing as some you have to walk along the river. It easy to get lost here in the dark so please take extra cautious here! Once you reach the junction YY/TN, turn right and shoot straight for the carpark!!

The time log for my hike is as following:

5.20am – Start Hike

6.25am – Camp Simpang YY/TN

8.00am – Camp Ages [5-10 min rest]

8.45am – Camp Sungai Jerok (Last Water Point) [5-10 min rest]

9.30am – Camp Balak Pecah

10.10am – Simpang YY/BB

10.35am – Yong Yap peak [15 min rest]

11.00am – Simpang YY/BB

12.50pm – Bubu Peak [5-10 min rest]

2.15pm – Puncak Kayung

2.30pm – Tok Nenek Peak [20 min rest] << Best View, take your time here

3.30pm – Camp Belumut (Water Point) [5-10 min rest]

4.00pm – Camp Hari

5.30pm – Camp Simpang YY/TN

6.35pm – Car Park

13 hours and 15 minutes for the whole journey including rest time. 42km around the jungle with close to 2,900m of elevation. Won't say it an easy hiking trail, but it certainly rewarding and fun in it own way! I really did enjoy the hike the whole way!.... ok, maybe except the part from Yong Yap to Bubu since I kinda know Bubu view is really nothing and I wasn't looking forward to it...

The time span during this trip for the group range from 12hrs30mins to 23hrs00mins, daypack Trans-YYBTN is not easy but it not impossible. Though, I would still think it might be easier if this was done in 3D2N!

Edit: 22 Jan 2019

On 19th January 2019, there was an event known as TNBYY Dayhike Challenge, it the same route but reverse as of the above. Fastest known time for finishing this route was recorded with the time record of 7hours22mins around the mountain.

I am able to manage to break the sub12 time span as follow:

7.00am - Start hike
7:55am - Simpang TN / YY
9:13am - Camp Hari
9:46am - Camp Belumut (LWP)
10:41am - Tok Nenek Peak (10 min rest)
11:00am - Puncak Kambing
12:20am - Bubu Peak (5 min rest)
1:45pm - Simpang YY / Bubu
2:15pm - Yong Yap Peak (5 min rest)
3:10pm - Camp Balak Pecah
3:35pm - Camp Sungai Jerok
4:20pm - Camp Agas
5:40pm - Simpang TN / YY
6:40pm - Car Park

(11 hours and 40 minutes)

Last Edited: 22 January 2019