However, local residents said there have been several cases of climbers getting lost, and even deaths reported.

According to Bernama, Gunung Berembun (“embun” means dew), where a B-24 bomber reportedly crashed during World War II, is a big draw for climbers.

Zuhairi Mansor, 43, who grew up at Kampung Pantai in Nilai, said there were many cases of people getting lost and found after several days.

“There were cases of climbers getting lost but they were usually found the next day … but some were found dead and we helped to bring down the victims,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Among the cases of missing climbers are:

• May 1, 2019 – A climber lost his way for more than 12 hours on Mount Berembun while climbing with his father. He was found at 8am the following day at the foot of the mountain by rescuers.
• Aug 26, 2017 – Sixteen people, including a child aged four and a three-month-old baby, were reported lost for about five hours while descending Mount Berembun. They eventually found their way back at 2.05am the following day.
• Oct 16, 2016 – Five medical college students were reported lost for more than seven hours before being found by a search and rescue team the next morning.

Referring to the case of Nora Anne, Zuhairi said some Gunung Berembun climbing guides are assisting in the search and rescue operation for the teenager.

“Even though they are among those familiar with this forest, they are baffled by Nora Anne’s case,” he said.

Apart from the main track from the Pantai police station, there are two other tracks to Gunung Berembun from Kuala Pilah and Jelebu.

A climber, Syafiq Yusoff, 30, said going up the 1,014m mountain is a physical and mental test as some sections are quite steep.

“Climbers will come across rivers and huge trees which shade the well-paved tracks and signages, and if one follows the tracks, one will not get lost,” said Syafiq, who started climbing since he was 18.