120530 Weds, Two Waterfalls

Chang Kian Waterfall

Circular Walk To Chang Kian Waterfall & Back Via Huay Kaeow Water Fall

This will be a short 6 km walk at a relaxed pace suitable for nearly everyone, although there are quite taxing uphill parts of the walk. I expect we will walk for around 2 and a half hours and have a 30 minute break at the waterfall to eat snacks and admire the falls and optionally have a morning shower. Bring a swimming costume if you want to take a dip!

120520_Trip report

Only Yada and I turned up for the scheduled hike at 8am. We decided to alter the plan since the logistics didn’t work for only 2 of us. We drove over to the start of the Pilgrim Trail, and had gone up about 1 km. when we decided to do some exploring. A well marked trail on the right, which Dorothy and I had eyed, had been used recently by a group leaving a shredded paper trail. We followed that for perhaps 1 km. crossing 3 almost-dry stream beds until the trail disappeared on a wide rocky area, so we retraced our steps. (Yada managed to find and pick 3 different kinds of edible mushrooms, Thai style!) Again about 100 meters along the trail another well marked trail on the left beckoned. This also had been marked by the shredded paper group, and after about 1 km. came to a clearing with 3 possible trails. We chose the middle one, still following the paper trail, and it continued in a SE direction descending gradually for another perhaps 2-3 km. to a dry stream bed which we followed for another 50 meters before it too ended. On retracing our steps to the point where we had met the stream bed we found another trail going more to the east, and like the others had handfulls of shredded paper marking it. After another 1-2 km. the trail began descending steeply, even having an untrustworthy handrail, and this led down to a paved road which eventually brought us out into the Galare restaurant area. I don’t believe any of the trails we followed are part of the Galare loop we have done before. It was about 10:45 at this point and we didn’t feel like going back the way we had come so continued through the compound, around the lake, and back to the starting point where we had parked. Report by Janet.

Yada and trail marking

Forest Candle holder

Trail side flower

Steep downhill

120521 Monday: Galaire Restaurant Loop

This is a moderately difficult hike of 6.5 km, lasting about 2 hours. Some parts of the trail are steep and may be slippery as they can be wet at this time of year.

Photo of the Palaad trail taken by Gene

Dogs are not permitted

We will meet at the Galare Restaurant at 08:30 Directions to the Galare restaurant:

• Go out to the end of Suthep Rd. Pass the back entrance of Chiang Mai Uni on Suthep Rd.
• After the road starts rising sharply keep on following the road as it curves round to the left . You will see the Galare Restaurant on your left hand side after less than 1 km after the road starts rising sharply (it’s on the right side of the small lake up there.

We will :

• walk up the trail from the Galare Restaurant a view point on the road that goes up to Wat Doi Suthep. We will stop there to enjoy the view and rest a bit.
• walk a little less than a kilometer and a half down the road.
• then take the turn off into Wat Palaad stop at the Wat for a few minutes.
• continue down the Pilgrim’s trail from Wat Palaad (about 2 km).
• Walking down the paved road just after the entrance to the nature trail (we’re walking it backwards!) we’ll come to a gate on the right which is a shortcut back to the Galare restaurant.

If you want to join

Just turn up at the meeting place on the day. There is no need to let us know you are coming unless you are coming in a big group.

Advice

• Bring around 1.5-2 liters of water or more and snacks
• Good footwear etc. hat, mozzie repellant, sunblock and rain gear

If it rains

If it is raining heavily we will probably cancel the hike. But in the case of lighter rain if it looks like the weather might clear up we will probably go ahead with the hike and brave the rain which will at least cool us down.

120520 Up to Doi Pui and down to the Temple

Near The Coffee Shop

We will assemble at the Arboretum at 07:50 for an 08:00 hours departure by Song Taew to the hike starting point. Please note that latecomers may be excluded if numbers have been agreed with the Song Taew drivers.
This is an easy paced 13.3 km hike at high level. We start at the Barrier below Doi Pui (1,535 metres) and walk up the road about three km rising a mere 160 metres to reach the summit at 1,697 metres.
Here we have a short break for photos and water before beginning the descent. The early part is a bit steep in places and there’s not much to hold onto so sliding down is sometimes a preferred option. We drop about 300 metres over 2 km to reach the Hmong Tribal Village of Ban Khun Chang Khian where the villagers are sometimes proud to show off their costumes, archery and other skills. We may have a short Coffee Break in the village Coffee shop .
From the village we hike downhill (more down than up!) and descend nearly 300 metres over about 9 km to reach the Temple on Suthep. On the way down we rest at fiveways junction for our picnic lunch.
After arrival at the Temple we return to Chiang Mai by Song Taew. Please expect the up and down fares to be up to 150 bt depending on our numbers.

120506 Raining: Hike cancelled

120506 Doi Pui to Wat Doi Suthep

Last week we walked uphill from Arboretum to Wat Doi Suthep. This week’s hike will be easier as it is a downhill hike most of the way.

We will start hiking from the barrier near the camping site on Doi Pui mountain. Only the first kilometer of the hike will be uphill until we reach the summit of Doi Pui at an elevation of 1685 meter. After reaching the summit we will start going downhill. For about 2 km we follow a ridge which has beautiful views on both sides. Let’s hope the sky is clear. The descend along this ridge is in some places quite steep as we descend very rapidly about 300 meter. We then reach the road near Baan Kun Chiang Kian (Hmong village). Here we turn right and will have a short rest and a cup of coffee at a coffeeshop which overlooks a coffee plantation.

After this short break we walk back along the road to Baan Kun Chiang Kian (elevation about 1350 meter) and then follow a forest trail which gradually keeps going downhill. We will have covered about 9 km when we reach a point called “5-way junction”, which is probably a good moment to rest again and eat our lunch/snacks.

After this break the road continues downhill for another kilometer and then becomes more or less level for the remaining 4 km. It’s a beautiful forest area and easy walking, except that recently a few trees have fallen over the track. Eventually we reach Wat Doi Suthep at an elevation of about 1050 meter, which is the end point of this hike. We will have covered a total distance of about 14 km.

As this hike is at an elevation between 1050 and 1685 meter we expect the weather to be rather pleasant and cooler than in Chiang Mai. Most of the time we will be walking in the shade of trees.

Here is a map showing the hike and a couple of pictures to give you a preview of what to expect.

Hike from Doi Pui to Wat Doi Suthep

The summit of Doi Pui

Beautiful views from the ridge

Steep downhill along the ridge.

Near the coffee shop.

Following the forest trail.

Big trees in the forest.

If you want to join

Just turn up at the meeting place on the day. There is no need to let us know you are coming unless you are coming in a big group.

Meeting Place

We will meet at 8:00 AM sharp at the Arboretum. Here we take a Songtaew to take us to the barrier where the hike will start. (Another option is that we use available cars to drive to Wat Doi Suthep and then take a Songtaew from there to the barrier).

Hike Leader

Hein

Cost

Take some money for the Songtaew to go up from Arboretum to the starting point of the hike, and also for taking a Songtaew back at the end of the hike.

Tips

Bring around 2 liters of water or more, some kind of lunch or snacks, good footwear, hat, walking stick, insect repellant, sunblock, etc.

The arboretum

The Arboretum (otherwise known as Suan Luukachaat Huay Kaeow or Huay Kaeow Excercise park) is out along Huay Kaeow Rd.
From the moat driving out along Huay Kaeow Rd you will immediately pass Kad Suan Kaeow shopping mall on the left.
Go straight on through the first big intersection Amari Rincombe intersection.
Go straight on further past the Phucombe intersection (you will see a dunkin doughnut on the corner).
Go past the front entrance to Chiang Mai University.
After less than a kilometre you will see a small park on your left. This is the arboretum.
We meet at the car park just after the arboretum, well before Chiang Mai Zoo. It is a small car park, at the back there are some food stalls, away from the road. We meet about 10 meters in from the road.

See the maps below (click to enlarge them).

The location of arboretum from the moat of the old city

A more detailed map of the location of the arboretum

120429 Trip Report Arboretum to Wat Doi Suthep

Seven hikers (one woman and six men) showed up today at the Arboretum and at 8:00 we started the hike, walking up via the Huay Kaew Waterfall. At the top of the waterfall we looked back for a view over Chiang Mai.

After crossing the road the trail took us uphill. As all hikers were fit walkers, we managed to walk on in a good pace. A few short stops were necessary to rest and drink some water, because especially in the beginning of the hike it was hot and humid. Soon we were all soaked in sweat. As we got higher up the mountain, the forest became more dense and after exactly 2 hours we reached the highest point of the hike.

Crossing a little stream

Here, at an elevation of over 1000 meter, the weather was quite nice and we had a very pleasant walk through this evergreen forest area enjoying the sounds of birds. We found that in the past few weeks several trees had fallen over the tracks; the wind during the few rainstorms of the past weeks must have been very strong.

Climbing over fallen trees that block the trail.

We didn’t see any snakes this time, but our lady hiker was attacked by the first leech of the season. At 11:30 we reached the road near Wat Doi Suthep. Hungry as we were we decided to have an early lunch at one of the food stalls and then we walked up the (more than 300) steps to the temple. The visit to the temple area concluded this hike.

Walking in the green forest

One of the biggest trees along the trail.

Another tree that had fallen over the trail.

Lunch with Pad Thai and Fried Rice

We had walked a distance of about 10 km, of which the first 5 km were going up from an elevation of 350 m to 1075 m, and the remaining 5 km were more or less level at an elevation just over 1000 meter. Below are some photos of our visit to the temple. Thanks to all hikers for a very pleasant hike.

More than 300 steps to reach the temple.

Dancing performance at Wat Doi Suthep

Dancers with showers of flowers.

View from Wat Doi Suthep

120429 Arboretum to Wat Doi Suthep

Arboretum to Wat Doi Suthep

This hike requires a reasonable level of fitness!!!
We will start from the Arboretum and immediately start climbing up along the Huay Kaew Waterfall. Then we cross the main road and keep going up and up and up. Actually the first 5 km are one long ascend. When we have reached the highest point of the hike we are at an elevation of about 1075 meters. This is about 725 meter higher than our starting point, so it’s a good moment to enjoy a high energy snack to make up for all the calories lost.

120422 Trip Report Baan Doi Pui to Buddha’s Footprint

At 8:00 we met at the Arboretum and as we were only 9 persons (6 men, 3 women) and 2 dogs we used our own transport to drive up the mountain to Baan Doi Pui. At 8:35 we were all there and started the hike. The first few kilometers took us through green forest below Doi Pui, followed by a climb to the Buddha’s footprint where we arrived at 10:00. Here we had a short rest to eat our snacks and drink some water. Unfortunately the sky was not very clear today so the views were not as good as expected. But we enjoyed the weather as up here it is so much cooler than in town.