Franz ElizIn late 2019, my family and I made a quick trip to Kubah National Park for a hike to Mount Serapi. I still have vivid memories of my time there despite having visited it several years ago. The weather wasn’t great. It rained heavily, so I and my family didn’t stay as long as we would’ve.
Generally, I think Kubah National Park is pretty cool. There’s a lot to see there. Unfortunately, I was not able to explore it much. But there’s always next time.
In this post, I’ll share what it was like to hike to Mount Serapi under heavy rain. Yep, that might not sound like a fun story, but it might be helpful. Keep reading.
Exploring Kubah National Park in Heavy Rain
If I could turn back time, I would visit Kubah National Park on another day, when the weather was better. I enjoy the rain sometimes but not when hiking. Hiking in the rain means wet clothes, shoes, and cloudy skies.
But hiking to Mount Serapi in the rain didn’t mean my trip was ruined. It only meant that my trip was cut short and there weren’t many things I could do at the time.
Unpredictable Weather Calls for Reliable Rainwear
While you can always check the weather forecast before starting your trip to Kubah National Park, note that the weather can be unpredictable. It can be sunny now and not long after a sudden downpour. With that in mind, a reliable piece of rainwear would come in handy.
I had the Women’s Venture 2 Jacket that I thought would be enough in case it rains. Well, it wasn’t good enough for the job. The rain was pretty heavy that day, so I was soaked up. Don’t get me wrong; the Women’s Venture 2 is a solid jacket (and is my favourite rainwear at the moment) as long as it’s not worn under heavy rain for a prolonged period.
I recommend carrying heavy-duty rainwear. There’s no need for GORE-TEX; a cheap waterproof rain poncho can also keep the rain out. However, cheap waterproof rainwear is usually not breathable. I’d say invest in a good rain jacket if you can. Alternatively, you can carry an umbrella although it may restrict mobility.
Visitors Can Take a Tarred Road to Mount Serapi’s Viewing Point
Instead of taking a ground trail, visitors can get to Mount Serapi via a tarred road. The tarred road was mostly in good condition. During my last visit, there was construction work in progress. However, it didn’t block the way.
The tarred road was good and it made ascending easier than how it would’ve been on a ground trail. However, my mom and I thought going down was uncomfortable. Our legs hurt a lot after the hike. You see, I usually hike on ground trails and my legs rarely hurt this much – maybe I’m just not used to walking downhill on a tarred road for a long period, or maybe I didn’t do enough warm-ups before starting my journey.
Before reaching the viewing point, we saw a small wooden house. We took the junction on our right to get to the viewing point. There was a cable car (for transporting goods) along the way. It was not operational at the time.
The view was alright. We didn’t get much of a nice view due to the rain. On the bright side, we could still enjoy the rainforest greens and scenery.
Heavy Rain Means Seeing Small Animals and Creepy Crawlies
On our way up to the mountain, we saw big worms on the tarred road. It was hard to spot them at first due to their light colour. There were other insects as well.
I didn’t see any frogs, unfortunately, which was such a shame as Kubah National Park is home to a number of frog species. The easiest way to spot these frogs is by visiting the waterfall. I didn’t go to the waterfall and thus no frogs.
Other animals that can be found at the national park are small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles like snakes and lizards.
Wooden Shelters Along the Way
If it suddenly rains, hurry up and run for cover. The national park has wooden shelters along the tarred road for visitors to take cover during a downpour. These shelters can also be found on trails around the national park.
Note that the trees around you can provide you with some coverage from the rain. However, they can become life hazards during heavy rain or a thunderstorm. It’s better to wait under one of the provided shelters until the rain slows down, or leave the national park should the weather worsens.
Tips for Hiking in the Rain
The best time to go to Mount Serapi is when the weather is good, but as discussed earlier, the weather can be unpredictable. Here are some tips for hiking in the rain:
- Pack a good piece of rainwear. Whether it’s a poncho or a rain jacket, you’ll want one that can keep the rain out. I don’t have any high-quality and heavy-duty rainwear to recommend at the moment because the one I currently have, Women’s Venture 2 by The North Face, is only suitable for light rain. This jacket didn’t protect me from heavy rain during my trip to Mount Serapi.
- Wear waterproof or water-resistant shoes. Alternatively, you can cover your shoes with rain shoe covers. Some people would wear gumboots as these shoes are waterproof. However, gumboots aren’t the most comfortable shoes for hiking or long walks and they’re not that breathable, either.
- Choose shoes with good grips. The road to Mount Serapi is steep, so you’ll want to wear shoes that can prevent you from slipping, especially during descent. Sure, tarred roads are somewhat easier and safer than ground trails; but that doesn’t mean you cannot slip. The road was very slippery when wet from what I can remember. I had my Docs (fabric-leather one) on and they have good grips.
- Bring an umbrella. Rainwear is better than an umbrella as it makes mobility easier, but you’ll still get wet during a downpour if your rainwear is not waterproof. Having an umbrella doesn’t mean you’ll stay dry from head to toe, but at least it’ll protect your head from the rain. If you have a long umbrella, you can also use it as a walking stick, especially if you find walking down the hill very painful.
- Carry a plastic or dry bag to store your valuables. The last thing you want is water damaging your electronics. So, have a plastic, resealable bag, or dry bag ready to store your belongings. You can always use plastic to separate wet clothes from everything else in your bag.
- Pack extra clothes. In case your clothes (and socks) get wet, at least you’ll have dry ones to wear later on. Make sure to keep dry clothes in a waterproof bag to ensure the rain won’t get to them in case of heavy rain.
If the weather is bad, don’t hesitate to delay your trip and come back some other time. That’s because hiking in the rain can be dangerous, considering all the big trees around. During my visit, light rain started as soon as I began my hike. I didn’t think the rain was going to get heavier and last for several hours.
Should You Visit Mount Serapi?
You should absolutely visit Mount Serapi during your visit to Kubah National Park. Mount Serapi is the highest peak in Kuching, standing at about 2112.3 ft (about 643 m). To get there, you can take the park’s trekking trails or a tarred road. A return journey may take about 5–6 hours.
While you can hike in the rain, you’ll want to be extra careful as landslides can occur in wet conditions.
Summary
Hiking Mount Serapi was a good experience for me, but it would’ve been better if the weather was sunny.
For those who wish to visit Mount Serapi, keep in mind that the weather can be quite unpredictable. So even if the weather forecast seems promising, it might be helpful to prepare for the unexpected, like heavy rain. Keep your belongings in a waterproof bag, wear proper shoes and rainwear, and don’t hesitate to leave the national park if the weather is bad.
