Some of the mountains of Southeast Asia can offer you everything taller and snow-capped mountains can and more, or so claims Pete Silvester, the interim CEO of Summits.com, adding “except having to dress like a polar explorer, risk life and limb, or take weeks off work.”
“As a naturalist I prefer more life and diversity than what is offered on icy peaks.” says Silvester, “On mountains like Kinabalu in Malaysia, Apo in the Philippines, or Kerinci in Sumatra, you usually get to start your climb amidst pristine rainforests, then climb through misty cloud-forests and grasslands, and up onto surreal rocky and volcanic peaks. You would be hard pressed to find that sort of variety up mountain anywhere else in the world. And the views from the summit of a tall tropical volcano, when the jungle, farmlands, sea, or cities you came from below is lit up by a tropical sunset or sunrise, is just unbeatable.”
What can you expect from Summits.com in the future? So far, Summits.com provides information on how to climb 25 of the top mountains across the region, and they’re hoping to add more mountains “which you wouldn’t have even known were there and so great to climb.” Also in the works is a set of tips on how best to get up mountains in the unique environment of Southeast Asia, particularly for newbies, women, and runners.
Summits.com was the brainchild of two climbers who felt that the only mountain in Southeast Asia with really great information online is Mount Kinabalu, which meant that the many other incredible mountains in Southeast Asia aren’t being enjoyed.
https://summits.com