Trek 06: MacLehose Stage 4

 (Getting ready for the hike)

 

  (Warming up)

 

  (Mario takes a break)

 

  (Back to walking)

 

 

   (Umbrella mania)

 

    (What a lovely sight)

 

  (Fantastic views)

 

  (It's Vic's time to take a break)

Trek 05: MacLehose Stages 3 and 4

Stage 3

(10.2 kilometres, strenuous)

Stage 4

(12.7 kilometres, strenuous)

--> we finished both stages in less than 10 hours

(Our hike starts with an uphill climb)

(Our very first break for the day)

(More steps)

 

(Wil and Arnel take a break)

 

(Marker and Jeko's magic fan)

 

(Commanding views)

 

(Obligatory shot)

 

(Sweet beancurd dessert courtesy of Hui Lam Store)

 

(Oblivious to hikers)

 

(Smiley enjoying her banana)

 

(Guys, we're officially lost)

 

(We should've taken the other way)

 

(That's okay, that's just an additional 2km)

(Almost at the end of Stage 3)

 

(See, we made it)

(Adobo from Itchie for lunch)

 

(Lunch is over, time to conquer Stage 4)

 

(Anyone told you this is Hong Kong's second highest peak?)

 

(Smiley: Did i make the right decision to join the group?)

(Let's look at the mountain again)

 

(And then it's just like Chocolate Hills)

 

(Obligatory shot on top of Ma On Shan)

(Wil enjoying the wind)

 

(Spectacular views of the city)

 

(The official twist-your-ankle area)

(Approaching Pyramid Hills)

(Banana time)

(Seven kilometres to Gilwell Camp)

 

(Just a few more steps)

 

(And then there was light)

 

(The three survivors)

Oxfam briefing and physiotherapy session

We attended the Oxfam briefing and physiotherapy session scheduled today. The guest speakers shared with us their Trailwalker experience and provided us with useful tips and safety guidelines.

(Walkers and support team members,
photo courtesy of Oxfam HK website)

(Carboloading for tomorrow morning's hike)

(Carboloading for tomorrow morning's hike)

(And protein loading too!)

Trek 04: MacLehose Stages 1 and 2

The easy walks are officially over and it’s time that we familiarise ourselves with the actual trail. So we met up at 7am today in Diamond Hill MTR station, had a quick breakfast and began our long, arduous bus ride. It was already 9am when we reached Pak Tam Chung entrance. From there we began our walk to the entry point of MacLehose Trail Stage 1; time check: 9:12am.

We almost got lost when we turned left towards Wong Shek Pier, but luckily realised we were heading the wrong direction after a couple of minutes. Ah, what a way to start the day! Finally we were back to where we turned left; time check: 9:33am.

And so we walked and walked and walked the concrete path of Stage 1, occasionally stopping to let private cars and taxis pass. Soon we reached a pavilion near M020, apparently the end of Stage 1.

The original plan was to just finish Stage 1, but we felt we were still up for the challenge so we decided to continue on – although our newest recruit, Ichie, had to leave for an appointment.

From the pavilion, we continued on to Long Ke Beach, where we suddenly craved for food and ice-cold water - simple pleasures we could live without on ordinary days but were absolute necessities on a steamy, 28-33 deg afternoon. But not a store was in sight and we just had to make do with the bottled water that we had, which at that time were like hot tea on such a hot, humid afternoon.

From M022 we began our steep ascent and before reaching M024 we were sweating like crazy – Wil began to rethink why the team was doing the trek, Vic wished he had an ice bucket and Jeko dreamt of being airlifted out from the wildfire that was MacLehose. From M025 everything became more manageable and just after M030 real luck happened: finally a restaurant, then a string of glorious beaches! Tai Long Wan beach just after M035 beckoned and we did oblige to take a dip.

Our second booboo for the day happened when we (almost) got lost the second time [blame the distracting beach maybe], wasting a good 15 to 20 minutes of our time. Soon it was beginning to get dark and none of us preparedd for a night hike. We continued on from M036 and relied on our own biological night vision for the next five kilometres.

Soon we reached M049 on Pak Tam Au, the end of Stage 2; time check: 8:37pm. Obviously we’re almost three hours over of the estimated hiking time but we’re glad to have finished safely. Total distance covered: 24.1 kilometres.

Stage 1 (10.6km) : Easy
Stage 2 (13.5km) : Challenging

(What a long trip from HK Island!)

(Vic, Ichie and Wil ...)

(talk about anything under the sun.)

(Still walking on sunshine.)

(What a view!)

(Moving along.)

(Other trailwalkers are catching up.)

(All smiles after getting a power bar from Ichie.)

(Seeing steps for the first time.)

(Long Ke beach!)

(There's really no turning back.)

(Jeko relaxes his tired feet ...)

(and improvises to beat the heat, too.)

(So near yet so far away.)

(Wil rubs shoulders with a superfit Trailwalker.)

(Finally a restaurant in sight!)
 

(Ice-cold Coke!)
 

(Jeko's lunch; 12 kilometres to go!)

(Trailwalkers walk past a beach tent.)

(Say goodbye to the second beach.)

(Everything's hot and green.)

(Another beach!)

(Tempting, eh?)

(Wil taking photos.)
 
(Jeko after the dip. Vic in the background.)
 

(Ice-cold Fanta; eight kilometres to go!)

(We can actually stay overnight. Hmmm, next time maybe.)

(A sign of civilisation!)

(It's getting dark in here...)

(nine more markers and we're done!)

(Yeah, nine more of that and 1.25 hours!)

(Finally we reach the end! Time check: 8:37pm.)

(Off to Sai Kung for dinner.)

(The reward awaits.)