The Pinnacles at Mulu National Park are a collection of 45 metre high, limestone needles that cling to the side of Gunung Api (Fire Mountain). They form a forest of silver-grey stone encircled by thick green vegetation. A trekking trail leads to a small viewpoint overlooking the Pinnacles and the ‘Pinnacles Summit Trek’ is one of most popular treks in the park. The trek to view them is one of the most popular in the park. But be warned, the Pinnacle Summit Trek is a tough and challenging one.The trek requires a reasonable level of fitness as parts of the trail are very steep. It is usually done as 3 day/2 night trip although it is possible to opt for a 2 day/1 night trip if you are in good physical condition. The first part of the journey is a pleasant 1-2 hour boat ride along the Melinau River from the Park HQ to Kuala Berar. If the water level is low, the boat has to be pushed over rocky sections so the trip takes longer. It's followed by a 7.8 kilometre jungle trek to Camp 5.
The real hiking begins the following morning. The climb is challenging, filled with fun and excitement. The trail is 2.4 km in length but rises some 1,200 metres. Vegetations vary following the changes of altitudes. The varieties of wild orchids and pitcher plants scarcely seen elsewhere can be spotted along the trek before reaching the Pinnacles. The last section of the trail is near vertical, with rope sections and 15 aluminium ladders strategically positioned to help with the climb. The vegetation is sparse although orchids, rhododendrons and pitcher plants thrive in the area, and can be seen at the side of the trail. The viewpoint area is made up of a number of pinnacles, rocks and vegetation and has excellent views of the silver-grey forest of stone that rises up from the surrounding vegetation. Fit and experienced trekkers should be able to reach the top in 2-3 hours. The not so fit but determined generally take around 4-5 hours. Most people spend an hour or so at the top, taking photos, resting and having a bite to eat before beginning the descent. The descent may take slightly longer than the climb. limestone forest
Sedikit demi sedikit tanah rizab penduduk tempatan dikatogerikan sebagai tanah milik Taman Negara dan secara beransur-ansur kawasan perburuan serta penanaman terutama bagi masyarakat orang asli (Penan) menjadi kawasan larangan. Malah secara beperingkat-peringkat industri sokongan yang tumbuh mula disaingi oleh pihak atau kuasa luar.
The chamber was discovered by three Englishmen in January 1981. Andy Eavis, Dave Checkley and Tony White (all experienced cave explorers) had been exploring the dense, unpopulated area of the Gunung Mulu National Park jungle in Sarawak, in the north of Borneo, in an expedition led by fellow Englishman Ben Lyon. While they were surveying some of the newly found caves in the region, they stumbled into what seemed to be a huge cavern. Although they did not know it, the three explorers had walked into the largest known enclosed space in the world, which they later named the Sarawak Chamber. It was three times the size of the Big Room in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, previously thought to be the largest underground chamber. The Sarawak Chamber measured 700m (2,300 feet) long, 400m (1,300 feet) wide and at least 70m (230 feet) high. The chamber is now firmly situated as the largest in the world.
The cave was in a region filled with at-that-time newly-discovered caves in the Gunung Mulu National Park, and this particular one is called Lubang Nasib Bagus or Good Luck Cave. To reach the Sarawak Chamber one must follow the river upstream from the cave entrance. This long passage has a roof of at least 230 metres high, and does require some swimming and a traverse along a ledge. The story of how it was discovered is told in a 1985 book "Underground Worlds" by Donald Jackson and also in "Giant Caves of Borneo" by Meredith, Wooldridge and
The chamber is so massive it could hold 10 jumbo jets nose-to-tail in it. The chamber is now firmly situated in the record books.
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