2018/06/17_Doi Lang Lo Loop

Reminder: hikers remain responsible for their own safety and actions at all times

The previously-planned hike at Nam Mae Kwong must again be set aside. Instead, we will repeat the memorable Doi Lang/Nang Lo loop hike we did in May and December last year. It will commence beside the Mae Pha Han reservoir, a twenty minute drive from the meeting point. After one kilometre of flat paths we will ascend a series of ridges. We will then climb up a five metre rock outcrop which, although not difficult, has a drop off on one side so a guide rope will be provided. We will have lunch/snacks at a viewing spot 100 metres down from the summit with good views, weather permitting, of the CM countryside. We will hike down a series of ridges, ending with a relatively flat three kilometre walk back to the cars. Please note that if you have a fear of heights this hike is not for you. The hike should take four to five hours and can be considered moderate to reasonably strenuous. Please also note that in the event of heavy rain the hike may be cancelled so, if it is raining cats and dogs, consult the web site before 7AM. After the hike, most of us will stop for refreshments at a small restaurant/shop on the way back to CM.

 

Hike leader: S

 

If you want to join:
If you want to join: just turn up at the meeting place on the day, on time. We cannot accommodate groups. Seats in cars are usually available but cannot be guaranteed.

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Meeting Place
Meeting Place: We will meet at 07:45 in front of Promenada Mall on R1317 (location marked “A” on the map below) and start on time at 08:00.  We head straight out along the R1317 and move onto Mae Pha Haen reservoir.

Promenada map

Please bring:

• As per usual advice but especially:
• good footwear and essential
• 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.

View in December. It may not be as good just now!

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18/06/10_Pang Faen to Pang Daeng

Update: hike cancelled due to rain. Let’s try again next time.

The final missing link in the looong ridge along the NW side of the Chiangrai road H.118. We start and finish quite low, so be ready for a hot sunny ending, unless it rains, so also be ready to get wet. Brief very steep, rocky descent. Some narrow trails above steep drops.  Long walk out. Stream crossings. Sorry for ending at the same place as last Sunday’s relocated hike.

About 12 kms, up 650m, down 750m. About 5-6 hrs including breaks. Mostly shady on clear trails with varied scenery: ridge views, stream valley, bamboo, farmland, buffalo. Second lunch next to Wat Pang Faen. New trip reporter volunteer to be ‘selected’.

Meeting point:

Meet at 07.20 for an 07.30 departure, at Susco petrol station, opposite Suzuki showroom. From the city centre, head NE along Kaew Nawarat Rd towards CenFes, past H.11 superhighway, then middle ring road and Sansai Noi (Sam Yaek) market traffic lights, and continue 400m straight on the CM-Doi Saket-Rd, H.118 towards Chiang Rai. It’s on the left. Fuel, toilets and convenience store available. If leaving a vehicle here, please park considerately, outside the petrol station. 40 minute drive to the trailhead. Car shuffling between start and end points required.

If you’re thinking of joining…

Please carefully read the general advice and warnings on this website as well as this specific hike description. If you still think the hike is for you, just turn up at the meeting-place on time: there is no need to tell us you are coming. Lifts in the cars of other hikers are usually available but cannot be guaranteed.

Please bring:

• at least 2-3 litres of water/rehydration drink, energy snacks and (first) lunch.
• sun protection, raingear, long sleeves/trousers to stop stings, bites and thorns.
• strong footwear with good grip and thick soles for rocky ground. Stick?

• plenty of energy, enthusiasm and good humour.
• 100 baht for your driver if you are a passenger. Change of clothes too.

18/06/03_Nam Mae Kwong Circular Hike

This is a relatively easy hike in Nam Mae Kwong, 15kms beyond Doi Saket on Highway 118, which we last walked in October 2017. About two thirds of the 10km hike will be on gradually ascending well defined paths (total elevation 550 metres) through forest with some good valley views at higher levels. The remaining one third will be on sometimes indistinct forest paths with some steep descents towards the end of the hike. The hike should take between four to five hours. On the way back to Chiang Mai we can stop at the “Treehouse” restaurant (white house cat still in residence) for refreshment. In the event of heavy rain on Sunday morning the hike may be called off. Please consult website before 6.45am.

Meeting point: In front of SUSCO service station on highway 118 (Doi Saket Road)

 

Starting time: 7.30AM for a 7.45AM start

Hike leader: Stephen

If you want to join: Please ensure you have read the general guidance on this website.  If you still think the hike is for you, just turn up at the meeting time/place. No groups, please. Car-pooling places are usually available but cannot be guaranteed.

Things to bring: as usual, bearing in mind high risk of rain.

18/05/20_Mae Sa Waterfall Plus

If you can’t spare a full day for the wonderful Doi Inthanon Stupa hike (see next post below), how about joining me for a morning hikelet around the 10-tier Mae Sa Waterfall? Unfortunately, the stream is too brisk and brown to make bathing very attractive at present, but the setting is verdant, there’s enough up-down to stretch you a little, and we will include an interesting section outside the official park. We will start and finish the walk at a delightful cafe, where light food is available as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Brisk, brown but green all aroun

Estimated timings: 30 + 30 minutes driving from starting point; 120 minutes walking (c. 5km); time at the cafe according to taste.

Hike initiator: Michael

Meeting time and place: 7.30 for a 07.40 start, carpooling from the carpark on Canal Rd, outside the 700 Year Stadium (see map below). Or soon after 8am at “Between” Cafe,  200m east of the Mae Sa Waterfall park entrance on Samoeng Road.

Advice: As per usual (see tabs at the top of this page), except:

• Bring money for park entrance fee (THB 100 for farang, THB 20 for Thai) and refreshments (c. THB 75 for a coffee or a light food item). Please offer your driver THB 100 baht if you share their car both ways from 700 Year Stadium. Remember to check with the driver how long you and they want to linger at the cafe after the hike.

 

18/05/20_Doi Inthanon Stupa

We will climb this peak (but not see this view of it)

There is a long drive of 2hrs to reach the start point of this hike, but a wonderful ridge walk on the northern slopes of Doi Inthanon, Thailand highest mountain (2,580m), with great views.

The hike will start from near Ban Khun Wang village to Prathat Khun Wang, a stupa on a rocky out crop which is on the ridge to the peak of Doi Inthanon.

Nothing very steep but a total of around 900m of steady altitude gain from 1,550m up to 2,260 with the trek length of around 11kms total distance taking around 5 – 6hrs depending on length of stops.

At this altitude it should be a little cooler but this route has little shade so sun protection/hat is a must.

Hike leaders: J&J

Meet Point 1: We will meet at 06:45am for an 07:00 start at the open ground immediately after the first traffic lights South after Suthep market on the irrigation canal road (H.121), just after the PTT petrol station (which has toilets, 711 and fuel). Meeting place GPS degree co-ordinates: 18° 47.002′ N  98° 57.512′ E

We must leave on time and drive at a good speed for this full-day trip and there will be no stops for fuel/toilets/shopping, so please fill up/empty before 07.00.

If you want to join just turn up at the meeting place on the day. No need to let us know you are coming. No groups please. We cannot guarantee a seat in a car: Click on the map below to enlarge:

 

Meet Point 2 at approx. 07:15 for people living south of the town will be at at the entrance to Wat Khong Khao.

Through the traffic lights at the junction of H.121 and H.1269 where the dual carriage way turns into single carriageway.

1.1km past the lights on the left hand side is the entrance to Wat Khong Khao, plenty of parking space in front of the entrance so if required vehicles can be parked here for the day.

Dropped Pin iin Google Maps:-

near Unnamed Road, Tambon Hang Dong, Amphoe Hang Dong, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50230

https://goo.gl/maps/okzMUVQzL6G2

Digital Co-ordinates

18.7090975 98.9202483

Please bring:

• at least 2 litres of water/rehydration drink
• energy snacks and a picnic lunch
• sunhat, sunscreen, strong ankle-supporting footwear,
• raingear (rain doesn’t seem likely, but just to be on the safe side…)
•  long sleeves & pants recommended against sun and sharp spiky vegetation.
  plenty of energy, enthusiasm, good humour and team spirit

18/05/13_Termite ridge then left

Update: Rain still expected during the course of the hike, but let’s go ahead.  

A new long middle for two old ends, with a steep first climb up from the valley onto the first top and later a steep downhill,  All hikers are responsible for their own safety at all times. Please do not re-post this hike on social media.    14+ kms, +800/-900 m, 6-7 hours.  

Meeting place/time: In front of Susco petrol station, 07.30. Then a 40-minute drive out to the trailhead, leaving a vehicle near the Mae Khuang loop ghost village to return drivers to the start point. Parking limited so we’ll squeeze into as few vehicles as possible.  (Aftermath at the curry puff restaurant or next door?)

Please bring:

• at least 2-3 litres of water/rehydration drink, energy snacks and lunch.
• rain, sun, heat, cold, mosquito and leech/tick protection. We’ll get wet.
• strong knees & footwear; hiking pole/stick also recommended for steep sections.
• Long sleeves and pants for protection against scratches and insects.
• lots of energy, enthusiasm, good humour and agility.
• Bt.100 for your driver if you need a lift, and spare shirt/clothes to change after hike.

18/05/06_Old Samoeng Road

This is an ideal hot season hike, it starts high climbs gradually higher and then descends into the valley through shady forest until the last kilometer or so, which is open but offers nice views in compensation. The strain of getting high is taken on by the internal combustion engine, start and end points being separated by about 5 road kilometers which will be covered by car shuttle. Distance 10 kilometers, up around 300 meters very gradually over 5 kilometers and then down 800 meters over the other 5 kilometers. Steep down over short sections but always on good firm trails or, near the end, on a dirt road.

Previous group photo to jog defective memories

 An alternative tougher hike with the same endpoint is also under consideration. This would involve about 1,000 meters of elevation gain and might include some bushwhacking. Numbers will be limited by logistics, but fit and experienced hikers are welcome to signify potential interest by sending a comment (bottom of this post).

The main hike starts where the Old Samoeng Road crosses the watershed at the head of the valley at around 1,000 meters elevation. From there we will follow a heavily-rutted dirt road through forest for about 3 kilometers to a beautiful area of pine forest. Here we turn off the road onto a gently undulating forest trail that rises gradually to the high-point of the day at just over 1,300 meters. This is a lovely area and we will take the hike slowly enjoying the bounties of nature and hoping to see some of the critters that we have come across here in the past. Somewhere near the day’s high-point we will stop for a snack and to commune with nature.

Hi! I’m a Red-tailed Racer. Please join me in my kingdom

Hi! I’m an Oriental Whipsnake. Please join me in my kingdom

The trail down is steeper, but there are no protracted or unduly steep sections and conditions underfoot are firm. The steepest part is near the end and is on a dirt road. We will aim to complete in around 4 hours.

A few meters up the road from the endpoint is a small restaurant with nice wooden benches and good valley views that has served us well for food and essential beverages in the past. Only be aware that food choices may be limited and service may be on the slow side if we are a large group.

A couple of pieces of advice/ admonitions:

Although this is a relatively benign forest area, it is remote and there are possibilities to get horribly lost. Please stick with the group and on no account go wandering off on your own.

The last 1 kilometer or so will be in full sunshine during the hottest part of the day. You should be sure to bring along a hat and should consider applying sun block.

The Pong Kwao hot springs are nearby and may be worthy of a post-lunch visit. A group of hikers visited after our last hike to this area and gave an enthusiastic recommendation.

Hike Initiator: Richard

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. Seats in cars are usually available, but can not be guaranteed.

Meeting Point and Directions:

We will meet at the parking lot in front of the 700-year Sports Stadium on Canal Road (Highway 121) for a 07.30 departure.

The intention is to travel in convoy all the way from the meeting point to the hike start point. However, in case of mishap en route or for anyone preferring to go direct to the start point, the route we will follow is:

Left along Canal Road to the Junction with Highway 107 and turn left towards Mae Rim.

Take the short cut that by-passes Mae Rim and then turn left on Highway 1096 along the Mae Sa Valley towards Samoeng.

After 3km (and shortly after the Monkey Centre) turn right (the old road to Samoeng).

After about 17km the road forks. Take the right-hand fork.

The start point is a large dirt road on the right-hand side about 1km on from the fork. There is limited parking at the road itself and it may be necessary to park some cars further back.

Some vehicles will be required to drive on to the hike end point for the car shuttle, which is an additional 5km along the road.

Advice

Please bring:

• At least 2 litres of water/ rehydration drink.
• Snacks/ picnic lunch.
• 100 Baht for driver if sharing their car.
• Hat and sunblock.
• Change of shirt/ clothes.
• Energy, enthusiasm and good humour.