Trans Slim

With Hiking Passion Adventure group

*picture credit to Alax Lim, Joyce Teo, Robert Thong, Chan Wai Kok 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿*

Been aiming to do this, for quite a while. And since I've failed to clear Mt Tumang Batak, twice, previously, due to insufficient manpower, to help clear the trail, consider this, as a "kill 2 birds with 1 stone" situation. And when we heard that quite recently, a team of hikers has managed to reopen the trail, and got through, we decided that it's time to pounce. Little did we know....
Armed with a 5 years old GPX map (why 5 years old, why not most recent GPX trail map, one might ask? Well, try looking online, via multiple platforms, and see, if y'all can find any). As most hikes, especially difficult ones, I would always do a very thorough research, on the elevation loss/gain, water sources, etc. But, in the case of Trans Slim, infos are super-scarce. We know/heard of groups that went in, and out, successfully. But, no one seems to want to share their route/trail/map. Don't ask me why. Been pondering on that, for a lot of times. With a group of like-minded enthusiasts, we went in. And right from the start, we encountered problems, after problems. Apparently, the team that went in, a week (maybe 2?) earlier, did as what we've heard them did. However, most parts of the whole trail, were left unmarked, especially all of the important sections, leaving us scrambling, finding our way through. We've spent, and wasted, hours, just to clear sections of the trail, based on the map that we have, since said sections, were not marked with ribbons, which, is weird. What other way could this previous team used then? What was supposed to be a 47km trail, became what I've recorded. And at the time of this noting (21:43, March 20, 2022), half of our team members, are still not out yet, too tired, and had to spend the night, on the trail.
Nonetheless, Trans Slim, and by extension, Mount Tumang Batak, I can finally clear it off my list.

PS: I'd honestly say, that all the while I've been hiking, this is the first time, I am totally scared, of hiking alone, especially in this area, where tigers, grey/black panthers, sun bears thrives, and roams. Discovered a few numbers of paw tracks, of unknown animal origins. Never hike alone, especially when it's dark. Always be careful, when going down to any water sources, because, we're not the only ones, that needs water, to survive.

Here's my personal itinerary;

07:49 Sg Geliting Water Treatment Plant (km0, 118m asl) 3.890757, 101.519172

00:00 River Crossing (km3.9, 404m asl) 3.885713, 101.53752

00:00 Sg Merah Campsite (km6.9, 431m asl) 3.884965, 101.54162

12:04 Sg Durian Campsite (km15.8, 807m asl) 3.86942, 101.566913

00:00 Wildlife Sensor (km25.1, 1810m asl) 3.859587, 598205

17:02 Mount Chondong Geliting (km25.3, 1825m asl) 3.859133, 101.598337

00:00 Dengkur Campsite (km32, 1534m asl) 3.841854, 101.596283

02:01 Mount Tumang Batak (km42.6, 2082m asl) 3.530538, 101.593842

03:30 Pisang Campsite (km44.2, 1636m asl) 3.824223, 101.595985

05:25 Duit Campsite (km47.4, 1866m asl) 3.814547, 101.597323

08:07 Mount Liang West (km49.8, 1933m asl) 3.802504, 101.591887

08:15 Mount Liang East (km49.9, 1934m asl) 3.801978, 101.590937

10:00 7E Campsite (km52.2, 1395m asl) 3.799688, 101.57744

11:39 Lubok Hantu Campsite (km57.1, 584m asl) 3.790785, 101.5528

00:00 River Crossing (km59.2, 411m asl) 3.790618, 101.541388

00:00 River Crossing (km59.9, 372m asl) 3.792585, 101.537677

00:00 River Crossing (km61, 292m asl) 3.796768, 101.531905

13:10 Sg Dara Water Treatment Plant (km61.68, 272m asl) 3.797082, 101.527688