Bukit Wawasan, Puchong Hiking

I’m not gonna lie: My fitness level is lousy and I found hiking at Bukit Wawasan, Puchong challenging. To give context, this was my first hike in 5 months since my hike at Setia Alam, first hike since completion of treatment 3 weeks ago and second hike this year.

Prior to the hike when I read blogs and reviews about this hiking trail, I was under the impression that it’s an easy hike. I found it easier than Ah Pek Hill (which was a killer to me) but harder than any other hikes I’ve blogged about so far.The start of the trail itself was a little surprise to me. The trail started to ascend consistently from the start. Not as steep and long-stretched as Ah Pek Hill but easily got my heart pumping hard and fast.

The trail was dry and solid; I can imagine it getting very muddy and slippery when wet because there were more rocks than tree roots. In fact, the first part of the trail was not shaded. I was glad that I wore my Adidas kampung there; my running shoes would be slippery on terrain like this.

After that stretch of ascend, we were treated with flatter trail until we met a clear junction. We decided to take the route on the right because there seemed more people at the time. It seemed alright for some distance until we were welcomed by a long stretch of ascend again.

This ascend, however, was slightly different from the first ascend. It was shaded. It was steeper. It was longer. I just didn’t want to look up because my heart could not bear seeing how long more I had to endure the climb.

By now, I was sweating profusely. I had to keep wiping my face because it wasn’t comfortable, especially when my short (untied) hair got stuck to my fair. RK kept telling me to stop but I didn’t dare to because I knew I’d faint when I stop — learned from the Ah Pek Hill experience.

In fact, when I got slower and slower, I started to feel light headed already. Thankfully, I made it to the peak before actually fainting. At the peak, I kept walking around to let my heart slow down progressively. Otherwise, I’d faint for sure.

At the peak, Alicia wasn’t impressed. Haha. Because there was no view! No lookout point. Nothing to see. Just a clear area somewhere up there after all the tiresome hike. It wasn’t too spacious too so hikers don’t usually hang around too long.

We went down the other way, knowing that it’s a circular trail and we’d end up at the starting point. I wished that trail would be easier so that I could use that way up and down the next time I return. Nope. It felt like there were more ascends and descends but it was pretty steep at some points too. And so I will not return. Haha! #loser

I overheard an uncle briefing his fellow friends that after the decent warm up they went through, they’d soon be greeted by a good 10-minute ascend before reaching the peak. It’d be good he said. In my heart, I was like, “if they were as weak as me, they’d feel cheated.” Hahaha!

Anyway, my toes were freaking painful going downhill. I know my feet were supposed to be numb (because of chemotherapy) but not all sensory were gone! Some days, my toes would just hurt when I walk around office in ballerinas that I ended up walking around shoeless. I really suspected my nails would come off during the hike down. Thankfully, they are doing fine now though they are still throbbing.

After a good distance, we arrived at a T-junction. There, we saw a signage advising hikers to take care of the trail and follow the trail markers. It was only then that I realized there were markers on two nearby trees. Not sure if there were markers along the way from the start. I clearly didn’t see them — maybe because I was looking down most of the time.

Anyway, so here comes the confusion. Along the trail, there were warning signs saying no trespassing but there were so many hikers along the way! Then there’s also advisory signage and welcoming banner like these that gave me another impression that it’s a public hiking trail.

Whatever the status of the hiking trail was, a few things were clear. Firstly, Bukit Wawasan hiking trail is popular; cars lined the sides of all roads around the starting point by 8am (from a past visit that got cancelled because of rain) and we had to wait and give way frequently when we were hiking down past 8am.

Secondly, the hiking trail at Bukit Wawasan, Puchong was very clean! I don’t remember spotting at rubbish along the way. It was very clean at the peak too! *applaud*

Thirdly, the waterfall and famous hidden gem Blue Lagoon were definitely off-limit. There was a clear trail blocked with ropes and stern warning about trespassing. I’ve read many blogs mentioning how they got into trouble when they trespassed there. We overheard from an uncle while sipping coconut water post-hiking that the rangers were catching trespassers just a week ago. *oops*

Whatever the case is, I don’t think I wanna return to hike at Bukit Wawasan, Puchong because I just want to have fun while I meet my sweat/fitness quota. LOL. The steep ascends and descends were not fun. No waterfall or lookout point was not fun either. Haha. I suspect I’d go Chilling Waterfall next because it’s chilling. #loser again.

My Map My Walk failed halfway so I got Alicia’s data instead.