Trans-Chamah-Ulu Sepat

Distance: 65km
Elevation: 5000m
Rated: 9.5/10

Pos Rekom

Trans-Chamah-Ulu Sepat, where you hike from Pos Rekom to Gunung Chamah, then do a long hike to Ulu Sepat and the journey ends at Pos Lelar. The hike is known to be very tough and even for your typical hike across 5 days, you need to be fit to do this as once you are drop off at Pos Rekom, there is no turning back. A permit is definitely needed. Though forest guide is not needed, it is strongly recommended to bring someone who knows the route well as it can be confusing at time.

The hiking trail covers 2 of Peninsular Malaysia tallest mountain, Gunung Chamah (G5) and Gunung Ulu Sepat (G7). The area where they drop you off is usually right at a bridge where there nothing around. You have to walk around 6-7km (depending on where the 4WD drop you) to Pos Rekom which is not easy to begin with... 

We took Grab Truck, https://www.facebook.com/Grabtruck4x4/ into Pos Rekom from Mines Inn Hotel at Gua Musang.

Mines Inn Hotel from Monash University Sunway


4WD into Pos Rekom
GPX File Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/04xqj5purnd96qa/Gua%20Musang%204WD%20to%20Pos%20Rekom.gpx?dl=0

https://www.strava.com/activities/2418900481
GPX File Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k65qdvtwsfxkt33/Trans_Chamah_Ulu_Sepat%20%281%29.gpx?dl=0
Once you reach Pos Rekom (6km), there a small hut on your left, we left some of our stuff in that hut in preparation to hike up Gunung Chamah since we are coming back down here after the Chamah hike. 

Pos Rekom, the hut is the first building one on the left
Pos Rekom "layout"

After that, we start our hike up to Chamah where our first stop is Camp Tengah (8.3km). Though no one stopped here at that time, so we continue on toward the second checkpoint, Camp Tongkat Ali (10.3km). This is also the last checkpoint for you to refill water, plus the distance to the peak from here is still far. We refill to the max at this point.




Camp Tongkat Ali Layout

After refilling and resting here, we continue our journey to Anak Chamah (12.4km). Most of the hiking path from Pos Rekom can be technical at some part but it was mainly easy and one can say it quite runnable. The trail up to Chamah Peak is beautiful in its own way.




Anak Chamah Layout

After some rest at the false peak (Anak Chamah), the trail starts to go down and back up again. After a short while, you will reach camp Cinderalla (13.7km). Head straight and shoot up all the way straight to the peak of Chamah (16.8km). Unfortunately, there isn't anything much up at the peak here, it more like an achievement thing to reach this peak. We stayed and rest a good while and then head back down to Pos Rekom.

After 28.3km and 10:15pm, 11 hours from the start of the hike, we reach Pos Rekom. We decided to sleep here for a while since some of us were very sleepy already. After taking in some solid food, we took a good 3.5 hours to sleep.

At 1.45am, we pack our stuff and continue our hike to Ulu Sepat. The trail starting from here to Camp Maggi is known to have a lot of wild animals crossing and you definitely don't want to encounter tiger or elephant alone in the jungle... So we decided to hike in groups from here onward. The trail from here onward is relatively flat but can be very raw at times since not many will hike through this path... Parang is relatively your good friend at this point.

Camp Sungai Peres (34.5km) will be the first campsite you will reach. You can choose to refill your water here or go for the next one which is Camp Maggi at 39.5km.


All of us are fighting off the fatigue at this point...

Camp Sungai Peres "layout"



Camp Maggi "layout"

Do note, at two of these campsites, there a lot of sandflies after a certain time of the day, so if you plan to camp at these spots, insect repellant is your best friend. After sleeping for half an hour at Camp Sungai Peres and another half an hour at Camp Maggi, the morning comes and we felt much better especially after having some hot drink.

Though do note after Camp Maggi, the hike from here will start to become very steep and will be mostly like this all the way until Gunung Ulu Sepat. Camp Maggi is also your last water point until Camp Sungai Lepir which is quite a distance. At 41.5km, you will reach Camp Sempadan, though there is nothing much here, the hike continue up to the next checkpoint, Puncak View at 42.5km.





After Camp Sempadan, though the trail may become steeper and tougher to climb, at least from here onward, the path is much clearer and isn't too raw. Marking at that time was also very clear. After Puncak View and a few more false peaks, you will start to climb down again... From here, it all the way down to Camp Sungai Lepir at 47km.



Camp Sungai Lepir "layout"

Do remember to refill here as Camp Sungai Lepir will be your last water point as the next one is at Camp Sungai Lenweng which is after the hike up to Ulu Sepat and back down the mountain. After refilling and resting, it the final push steep climb up to Ulu Sepat peak which is at 50.5km.

You will know you are close to the peak when you reach the beautiful mossy forest.





After that, you will reach a junction. go straight to the Ulu Sepat peak first, then only come back to the junction and head back down to Camp Sungai Lenweng.




For this view, you need to walk down from the peak a bit.
Ulu Sepat Peak "layout"

After all of that, it was time to go down. From here 15km, it all the way downhill, though the first few km of downhill can be quite technical but after that it almost runnable. At 55.5km, you will reach Camp Sungai Lenweng and 3 minutes later will bring you to Pos Sungai Lenweng.





Pos Sungai Lenweng Junction

 After Pos Lenweng, you will reach the same road as Gunung GBB at 57.6km, AKA the Ulu Sepat - Gereh, Bieh, Bilah Junction. If this is your first time coming down from Ulu Sepat, you definitely wouldn't notice this junction. If you do, go straight down, do not turn right which will make you start hiking up again and this is the wrong way!

At 59km, this is your last checkpoint before reaching Pos Lelar, Camp Sungai Y.

A Camp Site (6km)
Camp Site at 59km (Replace Camp Sg. Agek as Camp Sungai Lenweng and go toward the trailhead)
(The image is from GBB hike, but the road is the same nevertheless)

After this Camp Site, it all the way to Pos Lelar. 65km of climbing journey has finally come to an end. You can opt to do these two mountains separately, but by doing trans like this, you at least save on the boring 4WD ride. Oh yeah, even though you reach Pos Lelar, you still going to need to ride 4WD back to civilization!



Around 60km into Pos Kemar from Masjid Bawong

The dayhiker of CUS
Time Log for the hike:
1st June 2019
11:15 Start Hike
12:30 Pos Rekom (30m rest)
13:50 Camp Tengah
14:40 Camp Tongkat Ali (20m rest)
15:50 Anak Chamah
16:20 Camp Cinderella
17:50 Gunung Chamah (35m rest)
20:35 Camp Tongkat Ali
21:20 Camp Tengah
22:15 Pos Rekom (3h30m sleep & rest)
.
2nd June 2019
1:45 Leave Pos Rekom
3:50 Camp Sg. Peres (35m nap & rest)
6:00 Camp Maggi (1h15m nap & rest)
7:50 Camp Sempadan
8:15 Puncak View
10:00 Camp Sg. Lepir
11:55 Gunung Ulu Sepat
14:05 Camp Sg. Lenweng
16:40 Pos Lelar (end of hike)

(under 30 hours)
.
Overall it was a satisfying hike and happy that I have now completed my G7 and Peninsular G10 journey!


Last edited: 28 Oct 2019