17/09/17 Ban Na Huak North Loop

0620 – Sorry folks today’s hike is CANCELLED as rain/showers forecast for most of the day and it’s been raining most of the night too 

 

As usual, check this site before leaving home for any updates which will be posted before 0630 on Sunday morning.

Sorry that there’s no nice photo but camera is broken and mobile is of the older generation (i.e. it is primarily a ‘phone).  However, imagine a quiet rural setting with open farmland and gentle, wooded hills and you will get the setting for this Sunday’s hike.  Starting on a quiet road which we will follow for a short while before taking a dirt road into the woodland and starting our ascent, which is not to steep but a reasonable length.  We will then follow excellent trails (except for a 100mtr section) until reaching the highest point of the hike, no views I’m afraid.  From here we leave the main trail and start our descent following a number of trails which are a bit difficult to find in places but are there, you just need to know where.  About two thirds of the way round we come down into a mixture of woods and plantations and to a nice open area by Mae Nam where we can stop and soak our feet.  Between here and the end there is one short moderate ascent before we return to the start point.

The hike is about 15km with a total ascent of about 600mtrs, a bit overgrown in places on the descent but no bushwhacking involved and expect to take 5-6hrs.  Additional fluids recommended.

Hike leader:  pgb

If you want to join:

Just turn up at the meeting place on the day and on time.
We cannot accommodate groups.

Meeting Place
The meeting time and place for this Sunday’s hike will be 0730 for an 0740 deprature outside the 700-Year Stadium (see map below). We will share/pool cars and motorbikes and will drive to our starting point at Ban Na Huak
To get to the meeting place at the 700-Year Stadium, head straight out from the North West corner of the moat 2 km towards Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Road (H.1004).
Turn right onto the Canal Road H.121
After 4.5 km you will see the traffic lights (don’t go into the Stadium area.)
when you are at traffic lights of 700 years stadium you will see the big parking area on Canal Road in front of 700 years stadium this is where we will meet.

Advice
Bring :

• 2-3 litres of water or more, snacks
• good footwear etc. hat, rain wear, insect repellent, sun-block
• energy, team spirit, enthusiasm and a good sense of humour
• 100Bht gas money for driver if sharing car
• change of clothing.

 

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17/09/10_Mok Fa Waterfall Mystery Hike

This Sunday we will try a mystery hike on a trail in the Mok Fa Waterfall area that the group has not tried yet. The last time the group visited Mok Fa Waterfall our ranger suggested a hike involving two mountains in the area, so we have taken the ranger up on his offer to try out this hike. We are not sure how many kilometers the hike will be, but it should not be too phyiscally demanding as there are not any extremely high mountains in the area. However, the trail could be overgrown a bit and there could be some water crossings, so please be mentally prepared for bit of bush/water. Hopefully it will be a nice opportunity to explore a new area that not many people visit.

There should be some swimming in the waterfall after the hike if the weather conditions are good, so bring a towel and/or swimming clothes if you plan to swim (however, conditions may not be favourable if there is rain). We will have lunch at a restaurant near the park entrance.

 

We will post an update regarding the weather if necessary at around 6:50 on Sunday.

 

Hike Leader: William & Bussakorn &Waka

If you want to join

Just turn up at the meeting place on the day and on time.

We cannot accommodate groups.

Meeting Place

The meeting time and place for the Sunday hike will be 7:30 am outside the 700-Year Stadium ( see map below), for a departure at 7:40. We will share/pool cars and motorbikes and will drive to our starting point, Mok Fa Waterfall.

To get to the meeting place at the 700-Year Stadium, head straight out from the North West corner of the moat 2 km towards Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Road (H.1004).

Turn right onto the Canal Road H.121

After 4.5 km you will see the traffic lights (don’t go into the Stadium area.)

when you are at traffic lights of 700 years stadium you will see the big parking area on canal road in front of 700 years stadium there we will meet.

Advice

Bring :

• around 1.5-2 liters of water or more, snacks
• good footwear etc. hat, rain wear, insect repellent, sun-block, towel and/or swim gear
• energy, team spirit, enthusiasm and a good sense of humour.
• 100 baht entrance fee for foreigners, 20 baht for Thais
• Tip of about 50 baht per person for the park ranger

17/09/03_White Buddha Hike

 

Hike is on, see you at the meeting point.   06:19 Sep 3rd.

Please check the website at 06:30 on Sunday morning before leaving for the meet point. It might be canceled if there is heavy rain.

This week’s hike will be an easy one. We are going to keep several cars at the White Buddha which is on R1229, and then all the hikers head to Ban Mae Tha Krai which is on R1230 using the remaining cars. We keep the cars in the village, and start the hike heading west. We turn southwards at a 3-way junction, and reach the White Buddha again as our hiking goal. The hike length is about 7.8km, with about 450m elevation gain. Estimated walking time will be 4 hours.

Option : After the hiking, we will go to a restaurant to have meals, drinks. And then, those who wish can swim at the swimming pool of San Kampaeng hot springs. (Hot springs entrance fees are: Foreign tourists for THB100, Foreign residents with Thai driving licence for THB50, Thai adults for THB40, Thai children for THB20.  Swimming pool fee for THB50, Private bathing room for THB60.)

Hike Leaders : Chan and Monjiro

If you want to join : Just turn up at the meeting place on the day, on time. We cannot accommodate groups and cannot guarantee seats in cars (although they are almost always available). Well-behaved dogs are welcome on this hike, but not in the hot springs area. Please give 100 baht to your driver towards fuel costs if you need a lift, and bring a change of clothes for the return journey.

Meeting Place : We will meet at 07:20 in front of Promenada Mall on R1317 (location marked “A” on the map below) and start on time at 07:30.

Advice: bring :
•At least 2 liters water, snack, box lunch
•good footwear, insect repellent, sunblock, and rain gear
•hat is essential if the sun is out
•change of clothes/plastic bag for muddy footwear for the return car journey,
•THB100 contribution for fuel etc if you are a passenger and something for any drinks/meal you buy.
•swimsuit, towel, change of clothes/footwear for hot springs and fee for the hot springs(if you choose the option).

17/08/27 Huai Chang Khian Loop

0655: The hike is on.  The mist is clearing and will hopefully be gone by the time we start but it will be wet as there was a fair bit of rain during the night.

As usual, check this site before leaving home for any updates which will be posted before 0700 on Sunday morning.  

Due to the planned hike being like an assault course in sections and not hiker friendly, as we found out on Wednesday, reverting to Plan-B and for a shorter and easier hike this Sunday – a repeat of the Christmas Day “exercise loop”.  Starting at the Scout Camp we will trek up alongside a stream crossing it after a while and then a little further on we will come to a waterfall and take a short break before starting the uphill climb in earnest which could be a bit slippery so good boots are necessary and a pole helpful.  After the worst of the ascent is over another, longer break will be taken before making the summit and commencing our descent, which maybe a bit slippery too.
Expect to take about 3-4hrs which is probably just as well as Sunday’s weather forecast is for rain from about 1200.  Total distance about 6-7km with a total ascent of about 430mtrs.

Hike Leader Peter G-B

If you want to join
If you are sure this hike is for you, after reading our “dangers”, “what to bring” and “what to do” tabs, just turn up at the meeting place on the day; there is no need to let us know you are coming. No groups please.
Meeting Place
We will meet at 0820 for an 0830 start where Huay Chang Khian meets Soi Chang Khian, just before the scout camp at the end of the soi.  Approx <18°49’25.24″ N  98°56’55.24″ E>

• Head out from the moat NW towards Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Rd.
• Turn right onto the Irrigation Canal Rd opposite the Phucome Hotel.
• Take the second soi, at the next traffic lights just before the old Fine Thanks
  restaurant, then bear left at the Y-junction and again right at the T-junction onto Soi Chang Khian.
• Continue along the main soi, bearing left at the mini roundabout, for over 2kms,
  almost to the end of the soi. (Follow signs to Neo cafe and then continue past the cafe.)

See the map below

Advice
Please bring :

• at least 1-2 litres of water, and energy snacks
• strong footwear with thick tread/good grip, hat, and sunblock
• trekking pole or stick recommended
• long sleeves/pants recommended for long grass and spiky/itchy undergrowth
• plenty of energy, enthusiasm and good humour

17/08/20_Mon Cham Loop

This is a repeat of the well known Mon Cham loop. When we last tried it – a year ago – it was memorably curtailed by rain. We start at the small restaurant at Mon Cham and walk down the hill and into a small forested area to view Anders’ small cave (hopefully with bats). We then zigzag further down into the valley and the small village populated with farang- indifferent dogs. Then we start an ascent towards the ridge peak before doubling back onto a small road which will bring us back to the restaurant, completing the loop. This will be an easy hike on mainly dirt roads through an agricultural area, hopefully with good views on the ridge, and should take between three to four hours. Given the short duration there will be no lunch stop but there will be snack rests. Afterwards we will have lunch in the relatively new Thermidor restaurant a couple of kms from the hike start. In the event of heavy rain the hike will be cancelled. Consult the website before 7AM on Sunday.

Hike Leader: Stephen

 

If you want to join
Just turn up at the meeting place on the day. Well-behaved dogs welcome. No groups please.

Meeting Place
We will meet 07.45 am for an 08.00 start, in front of the 700-year stadium (see map), just beside the 121 irrigation canal road (not inside the stadium),

then…

• Car-share in convoy north towards Mae Rim on routes 121 and 107.
• Turn left onto the military Mae Rim bypass road towards the Mae Rim-Samoeng (Mae Sa valley) Rd.
• Turn left onto the Mae Sa valley 1096 road towards Samoeng.
• Re-group, waiting for any stragglers in front of the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden entrance.
• Turn off north and climb up the 4027 rural road to the Mon Jaem carpark/restaurant/viewpoint at 1,275 metres.
• Start hiking by 09.00 am. Finish hiking around by about 12.30. Most of us will probably then have lunch in our favourite local restaurant.
• Driving time between meeting point and hiking area about 45 minutes each way.

Advice
Please bring :

• at leasta litre of water/rehydration drink
• money for restaurant lunch, and THB 100 for your driver if sharing their car.
• sunhat, sunblock, rain protection.
• energy, enthusiasm, and good humour.
• spare fresh T-shirt, frock or tux you can change into at the end, especially if you are going to be traveling home with others in a car.

17/08/13_Mok Fa Waterfall Circular Hike

This will be a repeat of the same hike that was attempted on July 30 that we couldn’t finish due to there not being a national park guides available. We have reserved a guide this time. (A potential hiker inquired whether or not pets are permitted, and we confirmed that no, pets are not permitted.)
This is a short hike to a spectacular waterfall that should have a decent amount of water at this time of year and provide good photo opportunities. According to a previous hike report (https://chiangmaihiking.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/140921_trip-report_mok-fa-waterfall-circular-hike/), the hike itself should take about three hours and be relatively easy, but the group hasn’t hiked this trail in about three years, so some diversions and delays could arise.

There should be some swimming in the waterfall if the conditions are good, so bring a towel and/or swimming clothes if you plan to swim (however, conditions may not be favourable if there is rain). We will have lunch at a restaurant near the park entrance.

 

We will post an update regarding the weather if necessary at around 6:50 on Sunday.

 

Hike Leader: William & Waka

If you want to join

Just turn up at the meeting place on the day and on time.

We cannot accommodate groups.

Meeting Place

The meeting time and place for the Sunday hike will be 7:30 am outside the 700-Year Stadium ( see map below), for a departure at 7:40. We will share/pool cars and motorbikes and will drive to our starting point, Mok Fa Waterfall.

To get to the meeting place at the 700-Year Stadium, head straight out from the North West corner of the moat 2 km towards Doi Suthep on Huay Kaew Road (H.1004).

Turn right onto the Canal Road H.121

After 4.5 km you will see the traffic lights (don’t go into the Stadium area.)

when you are at traffic lights of 700 years stadium you will see the big parking area on canal road in front of 700 years stadium there we will meet.

Advice

Bring :

• around 1.5-2 liters of water or more, snacks
• good footwear etc. hat, rain wear, insect repellent, sun-block, towel and/or swim gear
• energy, team spirit, enthusiasm and a good sense of humour.
• 100 baht entrance fee for foreigners, 20 baht for Thais

17/08/06_Wat Pong Noi to Forester’s Camp

Looks like the weather is following the script for light rain until it starts to pour down later! However, the hike is on.

The start point for this hike is located just behind Wat Pong Noi. We will follow a dirt motorbike trail (trial bikes only!) that climbs steadily up through primary forest to meet the Doi Suthep/ Doi Pui road at the “Forester’s Camp”, approximately mid-way between Wat Doi Suthep and Buphing Palace. Here we will make use of the old tables and benches to make a snack break.

The map below shows a loop we did last year. This time we will be less adventurous and will return to Wat Pong Noi along the same trail we took on the way up, which is the right-hand trail on the map.

For most of the time we will be passing through primary rain forest, with one or two more open areas that afford good views to the south, cloud permitting. The ecosystem is in reasonable order with an abundance of insects (note!), lizards and birds and we put up a small group of Jungle Fowl last year.

The outbound part of the hike is steadily uphill on a large dirt trail, with short steeper sections.

A conservative estimate is 3 hours up and 2 hours back, with about 1/2 hour break at the top. This should place us back at the cars around 13.30.

This is not a difficult hike. Conditions are good underfoot, with no unduly steep or slippery sections. However, given the distance of around 13 kilometers and an elevation gain of some 900 meters, a reasonable level of physical fitness is required.

Michael has scouted a suitable venue for post-hike refreshments, which we will gratefully retire to at the end.

Hike Leader: Richard

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.

Meeting Point & Time:

We will meet at 07.20 and vehicles will leave for Wat Pong Noi at 07.30.

We will meet at the open area 50 meters past the PTT gas station on Canal Road (about 500 meters south of the Suthep Road intersection (see map below – click on map to enlarge). The meeting point is only about 1 kilometer from the hike start point.

 

Items to bring:

• At least 2 liters of water or re-hydration drink.
• A picnic lunch.
• Strong footwear with good grip and ankle support.
• Sticks recommended for steep downhill.
• Sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
• Long sleeves/ pants recommended.
• Rainwear, unless you are happy to be soaked.
• Plenty of energy, enthusiasm, team spirit and good humour.