SUSS Outdoor Adventure Interest Group (ODA IG) members were thrilled as they finally embarked on their very first outdoor expedition after two years. Nine SUSS students went on a camping trek up Gunung Ledang, commonly referred to as Mount Ophir in Malaysia.
Standing at 1,276m, Gunung Ledang is one of the more challenging mountains to summit in Malaysia. In preparation for their overseas trekking adventure, ODA IG was trained by a team of experts, including Ms Joanne Soo, who was part of Singapore’s first women’s team to scale Mount Everest. The students learned to prepare for their overseas mountain climb which included packing essential hiking equipment and physical training.
.png?sfvrsn=99cb234f_2 "Excited faces of our students before the ascent of Gunung Ledang.")
Excited faces of our students before the ascent of Gunung Ledang.
On 7 October 2022, the group departed for Malaysia in the early morning and arrived at the foot of the mountain within a few hours. The first phase of the expedition was the steep climb up to Check Point 4 (CP4). The stormy weather conditions coupled with their heavy backpacks made the trek up tough and cold for the students. Exhausted but determined, the students reached their base camp at CP4 after a gruelling day of hiking. They wasted no time pitching tents and preparing their meals before finally getting some much-needed rest for the night.
.png?sfvrsn=d78c3ae1_2 "Students armed and ready to begin the final phase of the trek before daylight.")
Students armed and ready to begin the final phase of the trek before daylight.
Armed with headlamps and hiking sticks, the students left their campsite in the wee hours of the next morning to continue trekking to the top of the mountain. Meira Ayuni, Year 2 Marketing student shared, “The most memorable part of the climb for me was the Killing Fitness Centre segment, where we had to progress up the mountain through the ladders and ropes. Being able to stand at the summit, surrounded by cold winds and taking in the views above the clouds was on another level. In that moment, I felt a deep sense of achievement.”
Exhausted but triumphant faces of SUSS students at the summit of Gunung Ledang.
Through this mountain expedition, the students had the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the wilderness, push themselves to their limits and learn valuable outdoor survival skills. Joshua Tay, SUSS staff member who accompanied the students on their trek, remarked, “Although the trek was both physically and mentally challenging, the students displayed persistence, adaptability and resilience throughout this demanding journey, and were able to successfully conquer and summit Gunung Ledang.”