The Brave History

Sir Hugh Low

Hug Low the first climber to conquered Mt.Kinabalu.
That's how the Low's Peak were named after him.

The first recorded ascent dates back to 1851, when Sir Hugh Low, a British colonial officer conquered the peak with other 42 climbers. The first time was assisted by the guides and porters from one of the nearby villages. Sir Low managed to ascend to the plateau, but he could not complete his ascent to the peak that has been named after him, the first climber who reached that peak being zoologist John Whitehead. After this, science turned with increasing interest towards the amazing flora and fauna of the mountain, a number of major expeditions were organized into the region, successfully exploring it and discovering many species of plants and animals.

Gunting Lagadan

The first man up Mount Kinabalu is Sir Hugh Low, a British Colonial Administrator at Labuan. On 7 March 1851, the 27 year old accompanied by a local Dusun guide named Gunting Lagadan attempted to scale the 4,095.2 metre high mountain. Forging their own trail, the duo took more than 3 weeks to reach the base of the mountain known now as the Kinabalu Park Headquarters. 

Gunting Lagadan only accompanied Sir Hugh Low up to a certain part of the mountain and the young man was left alone to complete the rest of his journey to the peak. For all his efforts, Sir Hugh Low only managed to make it to the summit plateau however, the highest peak of Mount Kinabalu was named Low’s Peak in appreciation of his hard work and bravery. 

Not forgetting the Dusun guide who kept Sir Hugh Low company during his climb, the Gunting Lagadan rest house on Mount Kinabalu is named after him for his contribution and assistance. 

Lilian Gibbs

Lilian Gibb the first woman to climb Mt. Kinabalu,
completing her ascent on 24th February 1910

Lilian Gibbs arrived in British North Borneo at the end of December, 1909. She was advised by the Governor, Mr. H.P. Guerlitz, to defer her ascent of Mt. Kinabalu until somewhat later, because the rainy season was still in progress, and because the Dusuns who would serve as her porters were busy with their padi harvest. Consequently she took the train from Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) to Tenom where she began her collecting programme. She travelled on horseback from Tenom through Keningau, Apin Apin and Tambunan. From a little beyond Tambunan the trail through Renagong and Bundu Tuhan to Kiau had to be negotiated on foot. Gibbs was probably the first person to take this route for the purpose of making an ascent of Mt. Kinabalu, and much of the area had never previously been visited by botanists. Upon arrival in Kiau, the weather still being too rainy for her to make an ascent of Kinabalu, she collected around Kiau, and on the Gurulau and Marai Parai spurs. On February 22, 1910, the weather having improved, Gibbs began her ascent to the summit. Departing Kiau with a party of 35, she reached Kamborongoh on the first day and Paka Cave on the second. On the following day, February 24th she reached the summit of Low’s Peak.