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Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan 4.2 Trails There are several destinations guided by BAT, ranging from short, 1-day trips to 7-day treks, with varying degrees of difficulty. Foreign backpackers opt to stay at Baha Camp, and trek to the last waterfall, on organised packages offered by guesthouses in Kota Bharu, while locals and Singaporeans trek to G. Ayam and Stong, while staying at Baha Camp between treks. The trails were created by BAT. The list of trails and destinations are as in Table 4.3. Table 4.3: List of Trails and Tourist Destinations at GSSP No. Name of Trail Duration Trail Description (Days) 1 G. Ayam 2 The trail takes one through a logged-over, dipterocarp forest, then across two streams, then through an undisturbed oak-laurel forest, before reaching the summit ridge, and the summit. The summit is flat, and can easily fit some 50 campers. The summit can be reached within one day from Baha Camp, and the return journey is another day. From the summit are excellent views of the neighboring peaks of Tera (1,545 m asl) and Che Tahir (1,415 m asl). After the second river crossing, is a ridge with the rare endemic palm, Licuala stongensis. 2 G. Stong 1 G. Stong (1,400 m asl) is some 4-5 hours from Baha Camp, and the return trip is some 2-3 hours. Like G. Ayam, the trail takes the hikers through an abandoned logging trail, before entering undisturbed oak-laurel forests. On the summit ridge are found the rare endemic bamboo, Holtummochloa pubescens. Midway between the basecamp and the summit is a rock-shelter next to a stream, known as Bogo Rock Shelter. 3 G. Tera 4 This trail is the extension of the G. Ayam trail, where the hiker descends G. Ayam, and ascends G. Tera, a day away. Midway between the two summits is a plateau where there are many signs of the elephant. The rare endemic bamboo, H. pubescens, is also found. The journey to G. Tera and return to Baha Camp takes four days. 4 G. Che Tahir 3 This is also an extension of the G. Ayam trail, where the hiker descends G. Ayam, and goes up again to the granite outcrop of G. Che Tahir. The summit is not as spectacular as Ayam, but the trail is, with pristine rocky streams and cascades. 5 Semuliang Trail 5 This trail starts from where the Sg. Kenerong meets the Sg. Semuliang, (the Mustaq mini-hydro dam) along an abandoned logging trail, and then upriver, before turning into the saddle separating G. Ayam and G. Stong. From the saddle, one could make an ascent to G. Stong, and back down again to Baha Camp. Highlights of this trail include a rafflesia site, and a rock-shelter with petrified wood. 6 Seven Summits 7 This trail is a combination of the other trails, where the seven summits are attempted (Ayam, Tera, Stong, Che Kob, Che Tahir, Menyelit, Birut). Apart from Ayam, Stong, and Tera, the other peaks are names introduced by Baha, and are not named in maps. 7 Last Waterfall 0.5 From the Baha Camp to the last waterfall (30 m high), one goes upriver of the Sg. Jeri, along rock-pools, and several 44
Gunung Stong State Park Preliminary Management Plan 8 Caving at the Gua Ikan group of caves smaller falls. Near Base Camp, a few individuals of the rare endemic, L. stongensis, are also found. 0.5 Not within GSSP, but is in Dabong, where there are several caves that the guides take visitors to. Visitors go to the caves either after disembarking at Dabong, or on the return from GSSP prior to taking the next train back to KL/Singapore. 4.3 Visitors Since 1992, some 50,000 visitors may have been to GSSP, at the average rate of 500 per month (pers. comm., Odie, 2005). Available, limited records from the BAT register (2002, 2003 and January-March 2005) indicate that 2,301 visited in 2002, 5,371 in 2003, and 1,379 in 2005 (as at March), with 68% males and 32% females in 2002, and 73% males and 27% females in 2003. Fifty percent of the visitors in 2002 were from Kelantan, 36% were Malaysians from outside the State, while 14% were foreigners. For 2003, 62% were from Kelantan, 30% are outside the State, while 8% were foreigners. In terms of occupation, 71% of the visitors in 2002 were secondary school and university students, 9% were lecturers, 6% were engineers, 5% were in private enterprises, while 9% were categorised as in other occupations. For 2003, 73% were secondary school and university students, 10% were teachers and lecturers, 5% were engineers, 5% were in private enterprises, while 7% were in other occupations not listed. In terms of age, for 2002, 45% are in the 21-30 year group, 43% were in the 11-20 year group, 8% were in the 31-40 year group, while 4% were above 41 years. A similar profile was obtained for 2003: 47% were in the 11-20 year group, 43% were between 21-30 years, 6% were between 31-40 years, while 4% were beyond 41 years of age. From the limited information obtained, we can safely draw the conclusion that GSSP is popular with locals (Kelantan and non-Kelantanese Malaysians). Foreigners formed only 14% of visitors in 2002, and 8% in 2003. A sizable chunk of those between the 11-20 year group were secondary school students from Kelantan, while the rest were from institutions of higher learning. Young adults (11-30 years) comprised the majority of visitors (88% in 2002, 87% in 2003), while those above 31 were in the minority (12% in 2002, 10% in 2003). The popularity of outdoor recreation in Malaysia probably accounts for the relatively large number of visitors to GSSP, and this is a favourite activity for young adults. The explosion in outdoor recreation activities could be attributed to the general improvements in Malaysian standards of living, with increased leisure time, and the active promotion of outdoor recreation by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to the youths in the villages, schools, and university campuses. Historically, between 1992-1994 there were more foreigners in GSSP, but the number has declined considerably after the 1997-1998 economic downturn, the Asian Flu Virus and terrorist scares in 2001 and 2002 (pers. comm., Odie, 2005). 4.3.1 Visitor Preferences For the time-period between May and October 2005, 102 questionnaires were distributed to visitors visiting GSSP, to obtain their opinions, and preferences, on types of development, and facilities. Eighty-nine percent were first-time visitors, 11%, were repeat visitors. Sixty-four percent (64%) were Malaysians, while 36% were foreigners. Some of the findings are as follows. 45
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