A hike up Bukit Kutu at Kuala Kubu Baru; Part I

The old abandoned chimney near the peak of bukit kutu

I recently did the hike up Bukit Kutu at Kuala Kubu Baru. Joining the hike, organized by the Malaysian Nature Society Nature Guides Interest Group was a rather last minute decision of mine. I have heard lots of stories about the place and the fact that it involves steep climbs just made it less attractive to me…

Some sites on the internet listed Bukit Kutu as moderately challenging. Some think it is an easy trek. Well, we were given a window of 4 hours from the start of the trek to make it to the top. By 2pm, everyone must start to descend for safety reasons. The trek up to Bukit Kutu is notorious for getting people lost. Many groups have gotten lost up the hill and many more have taken the wrong turn-offs only to spend hours back tracking. I can see why. On the way up, one can see so many turn offs. I am not even going to bother sharing which turns to take because there are too many. My advice to those who are planning to go is to go with someone who is very familiar with the route and go early!

Very nice, relatively unpolluted river at the beginning of the trail

The start point of the climb up Bukit Kutu is actually located near Kampung Pertak, an Orang Asal resettlement area. This ‘kampung’ is located on the right side of the road from Kuala Kubu Baru leading up to Fraser’s Hill before Chilling waterfall. Drive right through the kampong on the gravel road until there is a big open carpark. Unless you are driving a 4WD, there is your start point for the hike up Bukit Kutu.

The initial walk is actually 4WD friendly. There are several rivers to cross using the suspension bridge. The last suspension bridge during this hike has collapsed, probably from strong water currents from flooding.

One of the suspension bridge along the way to Bukit Kutu

The collapsed suspension bridge

The gradual part of the hike was pleasant. There were many things to see, smell and taste. There were many fruit trees there. Cempedak, Mangostene, Durian and Rambai trees were fruiting and some of us in the group were fortunate enough to find some of the fruits on the ground.

It was fruiting season

There were plenty of Senduduk (Melastoma candidum?) along the way. The fruits of this plant can be eaten and to me is sort of like the Malaysian jungle version of berries.

The fruits of the Senduduk plant can be eaten

The jungle is plentiful of resources if we know where to look. It is obvious that the Orang Asal in the area can depend on the jungle for their livelihood. The jungle provides just about everything they need. Bamboo is plentiful and can be found almost all the way to the top of Bukit Kutu.

Plenty of bamboo in the area

Bamboo is great. Bamboo can be a source of water, food, building materials and a host of other things, including a water pipe!

Bamboo shoots harvested for eating

Bamboo being used to build a temporary hunting (maybe?) platform

Bamboo being used as a ‘pipe’ to channel water, making water collection easier and efficient

Other interesting and useful plants along the way include the Terap and Lembeh.

The useful Terap tree can be found here as well

'Lumbah' or 'Lembeh'? The same plant anyway.

Click here to read the final part of the hike