Hike Hong Kong: February 2016

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Thousand Islands - Tai Lam Chung Reservoir (大欖涌水塘)

(Updated 2020-11-30)

Duration:

(3 kilometers)
2 hours

Difficulty: 7/10. The last bit, which is the ascension to the top of the hill where you get the view is a steep dirt path that is quite slippery.
There is an easier way to get there, with steps to the viewpoint:

http://www.hongkonghikes.com/2020/11/thousand-islands-tai-lam-chung.html

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. I don't care all that much for hikes that are back and forth. There's the one view of the reservoir which is interesting but to me, there are much better trails around reservoirs in HK.

Transportation: Get to Tuen Mun MTR station. Take green minibus 43 in front of the market on Ho Pong Street. Get off at the end in So Kwun Wat Tsuen. Return via green minibus 43 to Tuen Mun MTR station.

Why it's worth it:

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You can take exit C at Tuen Mun and try to take 43 at the minibus stop. However, that's pretty much the end point and the driver might not let you in. Instead...

... walk out and to Ho Pong street, the Green Minibus stop is in front of the market. Take it there.

Upon your arrival in So Kwun Wat Tsuen (that's the last stop before the bus loops back to the MTR), as you get off the minibus, the trail starts on the left of the temple. You will see a sign for Chan Uk Tsuen which shows the way.

About 300m into the hike, you'll get to an intersection at point #2, keep going straight

Another further 400-500m and you'll reach MacLehose section 10. Turn left.

You will only have about 100-150m to do on Mac 10 until you see a flight of stairs on your right, as well as a PCCW (I think?) sign on your left. That's the entry point to the dirt path that goes up the hill towards the various viewpoints

Right after the stairs, you'll see the dirt "path" on your left. It is not clearly marked but it should not be a problem to find your way up

The path is pretty much like this all the way up...

No rule here; just look back from time to time and once you are happy with the view, you have arrived! (I'd say about 20-30 minutes)

Just retrace your steps back to the minibus when done

Friday, February 5, 2016

A few milestones achieved...

Dear all,

just taking a minute to mention that my completion of section 6&7 of Wilson trail last weekend marks a milestone in my Hong Kong hiking life; I have now completed all the major Hong Kong trails (MacLehose, Hong Kong, Lantau, and Wilson). I also have trekked the 9 great streams of Hong Kong.
It took 7 years but that's because completion was never really a goal of mine; I hike where there's an interesting sight.

Does it mean that I'm done? Of course not. There are hundreds more official and unofficial trails and streams to be explored and I will continue to do so.

Another milestone reached in 2015 is 1,000,000 page views on my blog (about 50,000/month. Now at 1.1 million). Now, if only that could bring in some income so I can replace my busted-ass 5.10s, that'd be great. At this point, my blog-generated loot is about HKD $500! (oh, the lavish lifestyle this has afforded me, I tell ya!). But if I were doing this for the money, I'd have stopped a long while ago.
My reward is when someone tells me they like and rely on my site to plan their hikes.

Now, lets climb on that soapbox for a few paragraphs...

Please, when you hike, be considerate, don't litter; put your garbage back in your backback and drop it at the next garbage bin.
BTW, anyone else thinks that the HK parks administration has done a crappy job with its garbage bins (they are rubbish! ;-) ). They just don't work; the monkeys easily get their content out. They should all be replaced.

Check-out Singapore's ones: https://thaimonkeyforest.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dsc02666.jpg

Maybe if we pressure the HK administration, they'll do something about it. Likewise, the villagers dumping their crap into streams are disgusting. Illegal deforestation and building in country park? Same.
Report them using the government's 1823 app! I will start doing this in 2016 (just learned about the app recently)

</soapbox>

Happy hiking!

JC

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Wilson Trail Section 6-7

Duration:

(16 kilometers)
5 hours

Difficulty: 5/10. There is some mild elevation but mostly flat.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. While the trail doesn't have the absolute best views, it has some nice ones. And there's an almost constant bubbling of water from a nearby stream during a large part of section 7 which is nice. You also go through the best wooded area of Hong Kong. Most of the trail is shaded so it it is a good one to do in the summer.

Transportation: Take bus 81 on Nathan road, exit 'E' at Prince Edward MTR. Get off at Kowloon Reservoir on Tai Po Road. Return via green minibus 23K or 23S which will bring you to the Tai Po Market MTR.

Why it's worth it: