The third shelter is Pondok Lowii. The trail continues up to the mossy forest of mixed bamboos and tree ferns. More rhododendrons are seen. At 2515m is the fourth shelter, Pondok Mempening is reached with wild begonias growing nearby. Stops at these shelters give one time to observe the squirrels, tree shrews and birds that seem so unafraid of the climbers. You will also see the Layang-Layang Tv Stations. Soon u will emerge to an open exposed ridge at Layang-Layang ( previously known as Carson's Camp ) at 2702m this is where the Summit Trail meets with the Mesilau Trail.
At this point a band of ultramafic soil, distinguished by its orange-cinnamon colour, crosses the trail and the vegetation changes dramatically. The Forest becomes shorter and much more open and is dominated by the second species leptospermum that grows on Kinabalu, L.recurvum, with its tiny grey leaves and Dacrydium gibbsiae, a very beautiful conifer, both found only in Kinabalu Park. This is also the zone of the insect-eating pitcher plants for which Kinabalu is famous. Of the 30 species of pitcher plants recorde from Borneo, around 10 grow on the mountain and at least 3 species are found nowhere else in the world. These include the spectacular Nepenthes Rajah, the largest pitcher plant in the world and the beautiful N.villosa. These plant are delicate and easily damaged by trampling feet. Please look carefully where you tread.
Pondok Villosa, the fifth shelter, at 2690m is situated at the top of an open rocky patch and soon the forest becomes even more stunted. Here are found the scurfy orange young leaves of the endemic Haviland's oak add a touch of colour. Superb view can be seen of Mt Kinabalu towering above as you follow the trail upwards. More rhododendrons are seen, some species that are Kinabalu endemics. Schima brevifolia with its young purple leaves and beautifil large camellia-like flowers is common from here.
At the top of this open area at 3050m, a small track leads off to a helipad on the right and it is worth making this 5 minutes side trip for a dramatic view of the towering peaks from the helipad on a clear day.
After the helipad junction, the ultramafic soil ends the forest are again the taller trees covered with mosses and orchids cover the ground in between granite boulders. At this elevation, about 60% of the ground cover is orchids. Within a few minutes you arrive at the sixth shelter, Pondok Paka at 3080m, named after Paka Cave nearby, made famous because it is here that the very first summit expedition led by Sir Hugh Low sheltered, rested overnight before climbing to the summit on the morning of 11th march 1851. The Paka Cave, on the edge of small stream is nothing more than a large overhanging rock.
To be continued.....
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