ANN/THE STAR – A Year 5 student in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mikhail Nuh Haikal Abdul Hadee is only 11, but he has already climbed more mountains in Malaysia than most average adults.
Haikal only started climbing mountains in October last year where her and his parents attempted to summit Mount Kinabalu in Sabah.Unfortunately, bad weather forced Haikal and his group to abort the final push to the peak of Borneo’s and Malaysia’s highest mountain.
His father Abdul Hadee Sanif, 45, said Haikal was devastated and in that moment he noticed his son‘s passion for mountain climbing.
To console his son, Abdul Hadee promised Haikal that they would return, and true to his word, less than two months after the failed climb, father and son finally stamped their mark at Kinabalu’s peak, 4,095 metres (m) above sea level.
The climb was the beginning of more mountain adventures for Haikal and his father. They went on to scale the seven highest mountains above 2,133m in the Peninsular Malaysia – Mount Tahan in Pahang, Mount Korbu and Gayong in Perak, Mount Chamah in Kelantan and Mount Yong Belar, Mount Ulu Sepat and Mount Yong Yap along the Perak-Kelantan border.
These peaks are collectively known as G7 among the Malaysian mountaineering fraternity.
“We conquered all the G7 mountains within six months,” said self-employed Abdul Hadee.
Abdul Hadee is among parents with young children who make mountain climbing – not just weekend hill hikes – a family affair. For them, this strenuous activity is a good training ground for their children’s physical and mental fortitude and an excellent way to engage with their kids in an out-of-home setting.
EASY DOES IT
It is a different story for Siti Munirah Johari, 37, and her three sons – Ahmad Khamel, Ahmad Fahim and Ahmad Luthfi Mohd Aizat, aged six to 11. The family’s adventure into the trails started with short weekend hikes, tackling hills and recreational forests around the Klang Valley three years ago.
“The boys were still young then, and my husband and I thought hiking is good for family bonding while creating some wonderful memories,” said the civil servant.
The family’s fun and easy climbs gradually grew in the boys and last July, Siti Munirah and her husband mustered the courage to take them to climb their first mountain, Gunung Angsi (825m) in Negri Sembilan. Hooked on the mountaineering adrenaline, the family packed their backpacks again and headed to the trailhead of Gunung Berembun (1,014m), also in Negri Sembilan, in October.
“We are still very new in mountain climbing but we could tell that our sons enjoy the adventure of overcoming challenges they face during both climbs,” said Siti Munirah.
She said the boys liked Berembun better than Angsi for its moderate trek. A dip at the Sungai Batang Penar waterfalls was their motivation to complete the hike.
GEARING UP
Although Haikal is physically fit – thanks to his weekly football training – Abdul Hadee would still take him to climb Bukit Dinding in Wangsa Maju, just a stone’s throw away from their house, before each climbing expedition.
“The hike is to get him accustomed to the terrains – the ups and downs and the uneven and maybe challenging surface,” he said.
To prepare his son mentally, Abdul Hadee would sit down with Haikal and give him a run-through on what can be expected from the impending expedition, including the do’s and don’ts and some motivation.
“I always remind him to respect nature and other hikers and to be open-minded, humble and ready to help others,” he added. “There’s no space for bad attitude and arrogance in the mountains.”
Siti Munirah has her family’s regular weekend hikes to thank for her sons’ ability to adjust to the more demanding environment of a mountain trail. “They are trained to carry their own load of rations, a whistle, a headlamp, a poncho and a hiking pole,” she added.
Both Siti Munirah and Abdul Hadee agree that children have to be properly equipped with the right mountaineering equipment, especially hiking shoes.
“I think a good pair of trail shoes is very important for the child, for both comfort and safety. During our failed Mount Kinabalu climb, Haikal used a pair of generic sports shoes and I could see that he was struggling. After that, I bought him a hiking and trail shoes and he was more comfortable. It was easier to hike in a proper pair of footwear,” he added.
Abdul Hadee said hiking gear for adults and children are similar, however, when hiking with Haikal, he insists that they sleep in a tent, instead of on a flysheet, without a tent and under the stars.
“Although a tent makes our hiking load heavier, for our safety, we will always bring one to sleep in,” he added.
THE CHALLENGES
For Abdul Hadee, mountain climbing with a child comes with its own set of challenges, but planning and patience help tremendously.
“A child of Haikal’s age cannot carry a heavy backpack. I have tried packing a five-kilogramme (kg) load for him but I could see that it was too heavy for him so I keep it at 2.5kg. This means I have to carry the bulk of the load, which can be quite hard given the elevation, terrains and distance,” he added.
He said another challenge is the nature of children itself.
“Haikal is a child with boundless energy. Sometimes he plays around and he forgets that he is in a thick jungle with dangerous spots. I need to always remind him to be safe all the time.
“But I think the biggest challenge is when both of us are extremely tired, or in hiker-terms, ‘pewai’. It means we’re both out of energy and Haikal would have no spirit left in him to continue. At that point, I am the one who has to be strong to look after both us so we finish the hike strong and in joy, not in pain.”
Siti Munirah agreed, “Being patient when you are tired is hard. When our body is tired, we get angry easily, especially when kids don’t listen to our advice or instruction.”
Abdul Hadee said he derives satisfaction when he climbs with his son. “I am responsible to make sure that all our equipment, food, sleeping tent and other necessities are packed. It’s different when you climb with fellow adults, which is much simpler because each person packs his or her own things.”
