MIKHAIL Nuh Haikal Abdul Hadee is only 11, but the Year Five pupil of SK Wangsa Maju Zon R10, Kuala Lumpur, has climbed more mountains in Malaysia than most average adults.
And even then, Haikal, as he is fondly known, only started climbing mountains in October last year when he attempted to summit Mount Kinabalu in Sabah with his parents. Unfortunately, heavy rain forced Haikal and his group to abort the final push to the peak of Borneo’s and Malaysia’s highest mountain.
“He was devastated. It was during that trip that I noticed his burning passion for mountain climbing,” says his father Abdul Hadee Sanif, 45.
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, 4,095m 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 7,000 feet (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,” says 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,” says 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,” says Siti Munirah.
She says 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 says.
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 adds. “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 adds.
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 adds.
Abdul Hadee says 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 adds.
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 5kg 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 adds.
He says 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-speak, ‘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 agrees. “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 says 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,”
The father-and-son bonding during the climb, he says, makes a trip more colourful. “I’m sure Haikal enjoys our time together and the extra attention he gets when we climb some of the highest mountains in the country,” he adds.
Siti Munirah says her biggest challenge is getting her sons to listen to instructions. “Kids have a lot of energy and they walk and hike faster than their parents. We always have to remind them to slow down because there might be danger lurking in the forest and their parents are way behind.”
“But things have improved and they now understand why the group needs to move together,” she says.
On the other hand, Siti Munirah says her children’s speed keeps her on her toes. “I am motivated by their speed and it makes me challenge my own physical ability.”
Parenting lessons
Each expedition, Abdul Hadee says, has its own learning opportunities to help him become a better parent. “Long hikes force me to listen to Haikal. Parents are always busy at home and sometimes we forget that children need people to listen to them too,”
“So when we climb, all we do is share stories and I can feel that Haikal is closer to me since we started climbing together. Now, at home, I consciously listen more to my children’s stories,”
Parents also need to be well-prepared to take their children up the mountain. “We had faced many unpleasant experiences out of unpreparedness. So prepare yourself and your child mentally and physically. Only then can you find enjoyment in mountain climbing. Take your time; don’t rush the climb,” he says.
“When you climb with a child, you follow his or her pace, and you will find that it’s more enjoyable than just rushing through the climb to reach the peak,” Abdul Hadee adds.
He says he hopes to climb mountains with his son for as long as he is able to. “Maybe one day, Haikal can carry heavier load than me.”
Siti Munirah says hiking as a family allows her children to understand their parents too. “They understand that our instructions are meant to keep them safe. Hiking teaches kids to be resilient when the face challenges, something they will practise in life.”
“Life is short. As a family, we’d like to use these opportunities to create wonderful memories. When we go out for work, we leave the children behind, so when it’s time for our hobby, we rope them in. They deserve to spend some time with us too, and hiking and mountain climbing have multiple benefits from family bonding to physical exercise to building mental and physical resilience,” she adds.
How the mountains change you
Haikal, according to his father, is a different hiker now than he was during his first climb.
“When he finally reached the peak of Mount Kinabalu, all he could say was ‘tiring but awesome’ because at that time, his aim was to reach the peak quickly. It was his first climb and he didn’t know any better.”
But now, as they have scaled more mountains, he notices that Haikal has a deeper appreciation towards the view and nature, the camaraderie he forges with fellow hikers and the challenges the terrains give him.
“He has learned to understand what mountaineers know, that the journey is the better part of the hike and it’s not solely about reaching the peak,” Abdul Hadee says.
Having climbed Mount Kinabalu twice, it is no surprise that the 20th most prominent mountain in the world is Haikal’s favourite, while the 2-in-1 expedition to Mount Korbu and Mount Gayong peaks was the most challenging for him.
“But it was our Mount Tahan trip that strengthened our bond. The five-day expedition taught us the importance of teamwork and survivorship,” he adds.
With the G7 under their belts, both Hadee and Haikal have their eyes set on international summits. “Haikal wants to climb Mount Rinjani in Indonesia for its superb view while I want to take him to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. But I do hope that one day Haikal will stamp his foot at the peak of Mount Everest,” Abdul Hadee says.
The second of four siblings and the only boy, Haikal says he loves the view from the top of the mountains the most. “There’s always something new to see, to know and to learn from every hike. I also like making new friends, even if they are much older than me.”
“Another great thing is how good food tastes when you are in the forest and very tired. Everything tastes so much better and I just cannot replicate that on normal days. You just appreciate food and sustenance so much more,” Haikal says. What he likes the least, he says, is making his way down after reaching the peak.
Ahmad Luthfi says he and his brothers enjoy looking at the flora and fauna in the forest. “Mountain climbing helps us grow stronger and fitter. We can also have chocolates and instant noodles and drink hot chocolate because unlike when we are at home, hiking requires a lot of energy.”
“We love spending time with our parents but what we don’t like are leeches and caterpillars,” he adds.
Like most Malaysia climbers, Siti Munirah wishes that her family will one day summit the country’s two prominent mountains – Mount Kinabalu and Mount Tahan.
She too wishes that they will have the opportunity to take up the multi-day hike to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), another popular hiking route in Nepal. “From the photos I’ve seen on social media, I can see why ABC is popular among hikers. Its beautiful landscape and the colourful culture of its people are mesmerising,” she says.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
