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  • ABOUT THIS SITE / เกี่ยวกับเว็บไซต์

  • On this website some experienced Chiang Mai hikers post open invitations to join their hikes in the area.
  • We use the date format YY/MM/DD where YY is the year, MM is the month and DD is the day of the month.
  • Hike descriptions may be posted at short notice. So it may be worth checking the website frequently.
  • Hikes may be cancelled or varied at short notice due to weather conditions or other factors. So it is advisable to check the website beforehand on the day of the hike.
  • ผู้มีประสบการณ์ในการเดินป่าที่อาศัยอยู่ในจ.เชียงใหม่ เป็นผู้โพสต์เชิญชวนให้คุณมาร่วมเดินป่าด้วยกัน รูปแบบ YY/MM/DD ที่ใช้ในเว็บไซต์นี้ YY คือ ค.ศ. MM คือ เดือน และ DD คือ วัน บางทริปอาจมีการโพสต์ขึ้นใกล้ๆกับวันเดินทาง จึงควรหมั่นเช็คข้อมูลในเว็บไซต์บ่อยๆ นอกจากนี้การยกเลิกหรือการเปลี่ยนแปลงข้อมูลก็อาจเกิดขึ้นได้ เนื่องจากสภาพอากาศและเหตุสุดวิสัย แนะนำให้ผู้ที่สนใจเช็คข้อมูลในเว็บไซต์อีกครั้งก่อนการเริ่มเดินทาง

2021/02/21_Trip Report_Mystery Ridge

The monks and lay helpers at Wat Kio Tam, a sleepy Wat in the middle of nowhere, must have been amazed to be inundated by a large convoy of vehicles and humans descending on them from all points of the compass. Numbers were too much for the two pick-ups originally intended for the shuttle, so a third was pressed into service to help convey 23 hikers the 4km to the hike start point. Realistically this is the most vehicles that can be parked safely off-road at the take-off point.

Conditions were perfect for hiking. The weather was cool and pollution monitors were reading in the green zone.

The initial section of the hike flatters to deceive being more like a Sunday after-lunch stroll along the lovely Mae Wan stream, with bucolic views over flood plain and forest. Once the trail starts to climb, though, it keeps climbing. never overly steep but only occasionally flat and never down. The initial part of the climb up on to the ridge still offers panoramic views back over the Mae Wan Valley, but after turning right onto a forest trail following the ridge line no more views are to be had because of all the damned trees.

The thick layer of leaves and lack of those nasty little stones that have one roller-skating down any slight incline makes for pleasant underfoot conditions. An impromptu snack stop turned into an irresistible photo op and eventually, just as lunch time was approaching, some large rocks appeared from nowhere to make perfect picnic benches.

By this time the forest trail has broadened out into what must be intended for a firebreak.

Alas, though, as we approached the high-point of our hike, our trail deviated from this majestic highway onto an easily-overlooked small trail through thick undergrowth. Although this trail continues all the way through, it is not much used and is sometimes difficult to follow where blocked by fallen trees. Inevitably at one point the leaders managed to execute a perfect loop, which had the entirely unintended consequence of allowing the back-markers to catch up and meant the entire group emerged from the jungle onto the wide coffee road at the same time. The short hike back to Wat Kio Tam along Highway 1252 was enlivened by the sublime white flowers of the Dok Siew trees and these magnolia look-alikes.

This is a good hike for the descent-averse. Not only is the down much less than the up, but the cushion of dry leaves and lack of slippy stones makes for a relatively comfortable descent.

Home at last! A temple with all mod cons.

Having finished in a little under 5 hours, there was plenty of time to enjoy a cold drink and some hot food in Doi Saket on the way home.

Thanks to Oliver, Kissinger and Andrew for help with the car shuttle and to Andrew, Michael, Champ and Young-hee for photographs.

2021/02/21_Mystery Ridge

12 km long and with just under 1,000 meters of elevation gain. Expected duration around 5 hours. A pleasant hike without any unduly steep sections or other difficulties. However, a reasonable level of physical fitness is required given the combined length and elevation gain.

A new hike for the Sunday group on the opposite side of Highway 1252 from the Doi Lanka ridges. Note that the starting point for the hike is about 4 km along Highway 1252 from our finishing point at Wat Kio Tam. A car shuttle will be arranged between the two points.

Initially the hike follows north-west along a river valley for several km with little gain or loss of altitude. We will then take a turn to the north and climb steadily out of the valley on to a ridge line. This part of the hike has an open aspect with views over the Mae Hwan valley to the south. After reaching the ridge line we turn east and follow a steadily-rising forest trail to the high-point for the day at 1,388m. From here we descend to Wat Kio Tam and the awaiting vehicles. Those who dislike descents will be delighted to hear that we will be descending 250 meters less than we went up, due to Wat Kio Tam being at a higher elevation than the hike start point.

The trail near the high point is a little indistinct potentially necessitating some mild bushwhacking. We will make a couple of refreshment breaks at suitable spots en route according with progress.

Unfortunately I can’t find any photographs from when we explored this route last November. We will just have to create our own history.

For hungry and/or thirsty hikers there will be an option for late lunch at Leelawadee restaurant in Doi Saket.

Hike Organiser: Richard.

If you would like to attend: Please read the general information on this site, as well as this particular post. If you still think this hike is for you, then just turn up at the meeting place on the day and time. We car pool to the hike start point. We expect that car places will be available for those who need them, though we cannot absolutely guarantee this in advance.

From the meeting point we will follow Highway 118 for about 40km to the junction with Highway 1252, where we will turn right onto H 1252 heading south-east. After another 5km we will arrive at Wat Kio Tam on the right-hand side of H 1252 immediately after a sharp bend in the road. Here we will transfer into as few vehicles as possible for the 4km drive to the hike start point. The remaining vehicles will be parked at Wat Kio Tam, which will be the hike end point. Wat Kio Tam is blessed with changing rooms with (bucket) showers!

Meeting Point: in front of the SUSCO filling station on Highway 118 at 07.20 for a 07.30 departure.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is susco-21.png

Bring along:

  • Face mask.
  • At least 2 liters of drinking water/ rehydration drink.
  • Sun protection.
  • Snacks/ packed lunch.
  • Strong footwear with deep tread/ good grip and a hiking pole.
  • Lots of energy, team spirit and good humour.
  • Passengers please bring 100 Baht towards driver’s expenses and a change of shirt/ clothes.

2021/02/14_Report_Wat Chom Kitti loop

New hike, new leader, new meeting-point. 21 people made it to the Sansai Susco. Leader Champ made sure all drivers got the GPS location for our destination, but our convoy of about ten cars kept together pretty well anyway, and we rolled up together at the naga gateway to Wat Phrathat Chom Kitti.

Are these the longest nagas in Chiang Mai Province? Their corridor is nearly 400m long, the upper half having three hundred and seventy-something steps, all of which we climbed, to reach a majestic – if rather hazy – view from the temple platform.

Chief among the interesting things in the temple precincts was the giant Buddha in varada (boon-giving) pose. We indeed received a boon that day.

After our temple visit, the proper hiking began. And it, too, gave us a nice variety of scenes and sights.

An advantage of the relatively short hike was that it provided a comfortable opportunity for several people joining us for the first time, and several more old friends whom we haven’t seen for a while. Or was it the prospect of the barbecue party at the end that attracted the good turn-out? If so, the expectations were well satisfied.

It was a perfect aftermath. We are immensely grateful for this hospitality from Champ, M and M, and all the preparation they put in, not least for the hike itself. Six months after first joing us they are already CMH legends.

Reporting by Michael. Photos by Young-hee and Champ.

2021/02/14_Wat Chom Kitti loop

A new hike from a new leader! Champ and friends have found an interesting and fairly easy forest loop, taking in the very special Wat Chom Kitti. It is 9km, mostly on forest tracks, with elevation gain and loss of 200m. We expect it to take 3-4 hours. And at the end we are privileged to be invited to the home of Champ and M for a barbecue lunch. Bring your own drinks!

Leader: Champ

Meeting time and place: Meet at Susco fuel station Nhong Chom, Sansai (Google Maps calls it “Cusco”. Note that this is NOT our usual Susco on Route 118, but a Susco on the 1001) at 7.45am for an 8:00am departure.

From there we will drive in convoy about 20km to the hike start point

If you would like to come: Make sure you have read the general advice on this website as well as this specific post. If you still think the hike is for you then: welcome! Just turn up at the stated time and place. Onward lifts in cars are almost always available.

Bring: as per standard advice (see tabs above), plus especially note:

  • Mask for in-car use
  • Drink (may be non-isotonic) for the BBQ

2021/02/07_Report_Mon Jaem forest loop

A total of twelve people turned up for this hike. One hiker left early from the meeting point to drive out and investigate any potential new paths in the hike area  and see if we could extend our traditional loop hike. The remaining eleven began the hike in the car park/ market area, which now charges BT30 per car, just above Mon Jaem village. Although pollution readings were lower than expected the views at both viewing points were somewhat misty and not as impressive as our previous hike to this area last year.

About half way round the loop hike we met up with the other hiker, who had not had any success in extending our hike route. However, he joined up with the main group and further on did manage to walk an additional loop, which can be added to the existing hike route on the next outing. We finished this relatively easy hike in just over three hours and adjourned to The Between restaurant for food and refreshments. There was some confusion over the combined drinks order (the hike leader had wisely procured his beer separately and in person) but all was sorted out eventually, and an enjoyable lunch was had by all.

Hike leadership and reporting by SRR.

2021/02/07_Mon Jaem forest loop

This “old favourite” hike is normally a relatively easy one, along the forested ridges of Mon Jaem with (weather permitting) views to the north (Doi Chiang Dao) and south (Doi Pui). A new extension to the loop might be offered as a late option, depending on some last-minute reconnaissance.

The hike is mostly under forest shade. Formerly it was entirely on dirt tracks, but recently some sections have been made into (little-used) concrete road. There are a couple of modest hills and two good viewing points: a new one on a jetty platform (pictured above), and the old cliff-top one with the golden statue of the pre-Lanna king, Khun Wilangka). We will also meander through a small vineyard (no wine on sale, unfortunately) and through the small settlement of Mon Jaem towards the end of the hike. (Young-at-heart hikers will probably have the option of enjoying a box-cart ride down the long slope of dirt track just before the end point). The hike should take just three to four hours and afterwards we will retire for lunch at Between restaurant.

Meeting time: Sunday 7.45AM for an 8.00AM start. The car journey should take approx. 40 minutes.

Meeting Point: The car park bordering on Canal Road in front of (but not inside) the 700-Year Stadium complex.

If you want to come: Check that you have read the general conditions and advice on this website, as well at this particular post. If you still think the hike is for you, just turn up at the meeting time and place. Lifts in cars are almost always available although they cannot be absolutely guaranteed. Some drivers may request you wear a mask in the car, and some may restrict the number of passengers they carry. Please offer your driver a fuel contribution of THB 100.

Hike leader: SRR (with possible add-on by MM)

2021/01/31_Report_Mae Khanin river hike

A total of nine people turned up from this ridge and river hike.

There had been a surprising amount of rain in the area overnight and the hikers had to circumvent some muddy patches on the road to reach the main clearing in just under one hour. The rain had put a lovely sheen on the autumn colours.

On the climb up to the ridge we were especially grateful for the recent rain, as it had dampened the ashes of forest burning, which must have been done very shortly before as we found a fire still smouldering in one place.

We had our snack/lunch stop in a clearing on top of the ridge, during which one hiker did not enjoy their tasting of the hike leader’s blue cheese quiche. Despite the overnight rain the water level in the river on the return part of the loop was still relatively low and proved no obstacle.

After hiking for three hours and seeing no other people and enjoying the silence, on the last stretch of the hike we cam upon a group of mainly farang motorcyclists and three modified pickups with monster tyres heading up the river.

With a smallish relatively fast group we finished the 15km hike in four hours and fifteen minutes. Afterwards we adjourned to an almost empty Canyon restaurant for an enjoyable lunch.

Leadership and reporting by Stephen. Photos from Bussakorn, Michael and Champ.

2021/01/31_Mae Khanin river hike

This is a ridge and river hike in the Mae Khamin valley area of approximately 16 km, which we last hiked in the wet season. It is of moderate difficulty and should take between four to five hours. At the start there is a flat 2-3 km walk along a dirt road before we climb up to close to the top of the ridge. The climb up the ridge is not overly steep and should take about twenty five minutes. We then follow the ridge which eventually joins another dirt road which leads back down to the river. We then follow the river back to where we started to ascend the ridge.

This part of the hike will involve numerous crossings and re-crossings of the river.  Actually this “river” is  a fairly shallow stream at this time of year. Some hikers may manage to cross without getting their feet wet, but some might want to bring a second pair of shoes for the river crossing section. We then have the final walk back along the dirt road to the starting point. After the hike we will have refreshments and food in the Canyon restaurant.

If you want to join:

Make sure you have read the general advice on this website as well as the specific hike details in this post. If you still think this hike is for you, just turn up at the meeting place on the day, on time. No need to inform us in advance. But we cannot accommodate groups. We car pool to the hike start point, but during the Covid-19 epidemic please bear in mind some limitations on this: individual drivers may wish to limit passenger numbers and/or require passengers to wear masks. We expect that car places will be available for those who need them, though we cannot absolutely guarantee this in advance.

Hike leader: SRR

Meeting time: 07:20 for an 07:30 departure.

Meeting place: Meet at 07:20 (for 07:30 departure) at the PTT gas station at Ban Nam Phrae, ± 20km south of Chiang Mai on the extension of the canal road—the “Hang Dong Sanpatong bypass road.

Bring: As per general advice (see tabs above). If you are not a regular hiker in these conditions, do not forget to bring plenty of fluids with electrolytes.