Malaysia, Pahang, Frasers Hill
1453m | 7.0 km | 4:04 hours

This trip was to commemorate our first anniversary since the Sunday Trekking Group got together.  Our first trip was a walk up Fraser's Hill from Gap and it was only fitting that we celebrate with another hike at Fraser's!

It was an overcast day with a lot of moisture in the air.  It didn't help that the past few days were rainy ones, the path was wet and muddy making our journey slow and laborious.  From our previous experience with Pine Tree, we know it can be a lovely trail with its wide dry-leaf covered paths and wood lined steps.  But today, the slippery floor made it so much less pleasant and a few of us found it quite tiring.

Malaysia, Selangor, Gap
1360m | 5.1 km | 3:13 hours

​Gunung Ulu Semangkok should not be confused with Gunung Semangkok.  Although both are peaks on the Titiwangsa range on the border between Selangor and Pahang, Ulu Semangkok is on the south of Frasers Hill while Semangkok is to the north.  It is curious that the two peaks bear similar names. The Semangkok river, a tributary of Sangloi river (itself on the upper Selangor river) has its origins on the west of The Gap. Indeed, the earlier name for Gap was Semangkok Pass. Ulu Semangkok is situated just to the south of the Semangkok Pass and forms the highest peak in the vicinity. Ulu Semangkok therefore is an apt name for the mountain as Ulu means river head in Malay, and Ulu Semangkok is exactly the highest mountain at the head of the Semangkok river. But what about Gunung Semangkok? It is not on the Semangkok river basin, nor the Sangloi and not even the Selangor river.  In fact it is drained by tributaries of the Bernam on the western slopes and Sungai Sepam on the east.  So why is it called Gunung Semangkok?

Malaysia, Selangor, Kuala Kubu Bahru
1058m | 6.8 km | 3:44 hours

Bukit Kutu, formerly known as Treacher's Hill is an abandoned colonial hill station just upstream of the original Kuala Kubu town (now known as Kampung Ampang Pecah).   It has an interesting history, the hill station was founded in 1893 by William Hood Treacher, resident of Selangor, whilst on a working tour of Kuala Kubu and surrounding districts.  There were supposedly two bungalows at the top which functioned as a health retreat for the British administrators. A bridle path (horse or donkey trail) connected it to the old Kuala Kubu town.  The hill station fell into disuse after the more prominent Frasers Hill was re-developed into a hill station and opened to the public in 1922.  During the Japanese invasion in 1942, the British army supposedly destroyed the bungalows as they retreated ahead of the advancing Japanese forces.  All that remains today are the chimney and veranda steps of one of the bungalows.  There is another sturdier structure on the Kuala Kubu side of the peak.  Most refer to this as the "sanatorium" and some call it the 2nd bungalow.  I think the whole hill station is referred to as the "sanatorium" by the British as similar references can be found for the Penang and Maxwell hill stations.  I do not think there was actually a building or hospital of some sort called "sanatorium" at Bukit Kutu.  I also am somewhat sceptical of the notion that this building was the 2nd Treacher's Hill bungalow.  The first bungalow was a wooden building with brick steps, fireplace and chimney.  Several photographs of the first bungalow survive.  As mentioned, very little of the 1st bungalow remains but the identity of the bungalow can be of no doubt due to the distinct fireplace, chimney and the mountain views that form the backdrop to the bungalow in the old pictures.  In contrast, much more of the 2nd structure remains, including stone walls, arched doorways and steps.  It's an altogether bigger structure and much more stout and sturdy in appearance.  The walls are thick, far thicker than what we see in brick bungalows from that period even in towns.  There doesn't seem to be any sound merit for its strong walls especially considering the additional effort of carrying building material and workers 1000m up into the hills.  I am of the opinion that this building is a fort or defensive structure of some kind, either built during World War 2 or a structure from an even older period, perhaps even before W. H. Treacher's visit to the hill in 1893.