Hike Hong Kong: hidefromapp

It's been a little while in the making but now ready for your downloading pleasure; our very own Hike Hong Kong app.

It is built to run on both iPhones and Android phones.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.softwarb.hikehk

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hike-hong-kong/id1449191240?mt=8

Made by Ben Searle at Softwarb, the principal advantage of the app is that you don't have to have any signal and you can still get the turn-by-turn hiking instructions with pictures, for hikes that you tag.

Depending on the interest from hikers (i.e number of downloads), we will keep improving the app with things such as offline maps/GPS, true turn-by-turn tying the photos and the GPS signal (even when disconnected), improved filtering, etc...

So, anyway, about this v1, it is quite easy to use but here's a short manual to help you out:

The main screen defaults to a list of the hikes from the blog. That is also accessible from the green bar's left-most icon

. The middle icon

will show only the list of hikes you have 'liked' (Loved?). While the right-most icon

will bring you to the map where all the hikes can be found.

Once you have found a hike you like, just select it by pressing anywhere within the description or photo and you will be brought to be screen above. This is the exact equivalent of the information that is on the blog. If you want to have this information for offline consultation while you are hiking and there's no signal, press the little heart in the top-right corner and the app will download all the content for this hike to your phone. You obviously want to do this while you do have signal.

Back on the main screen, if you want to filter the list to show only a few specific ones that you are interested in, press the top-right icon which will bring up the filter screen.

The filter screen is quite straightforward; select the hike group you'd like to see in the list and then select 'GO'

Then, last but not not least, the map view, which lists all the hikes on a map of Hong Kong

Our hike, as recorded by my Amazfit Stratos

As you can see, this is a departure from my "Hong Kong only" hikes. But this was an experience of a lifetime that I thought you'd like to read about. Hopefully, the photos will give you the boost to go and do the Inca Trail for yourself. It was spectacular!

The Inca Trail is a UNESCO-protected trail and so is Machu Picchu. The only way to hike the trail is with a certified tour company which will get the admission tickets to the trail for you. Only 500 people a day are allowed on the trail, and that includes the porters. There are various outfits that will guide you through this adventure, from the "carry your own stuff, no shower" to a white-glove meal service experience. My wife's requirements were for a hot-shower every day, and 'no sleeping on the floor'. We picked ViewPeru which was highly recommended on TripAdvisor, and we didn't regret it; fantastic service, friendly people, great food and good nights of solid sleep!

The "classic Inca Trail" is usually done in 4 days (although experienced hikers can do it in 3. Myself and May certainly felt like we could have): it is 45km long and takes you from 2500m altitude at Ollantaytambo to a maximum of 4,200m at Abra Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s pass). If you are a frequent mountain hiker, the Inca Trail is not terribly physically difficult. However, altitude will affect you and you will need at least 3 days to acclimate in Cusco. Even with that and the fact that I was probably the most prepared for the hike, I suffered from altitude sickness which, for me, took the form of apnea (I would skip every 4th breath, which made me feel as if I were drowning, and woke me up at night. It only abated when I returned to Lima). The rest of the team mostly had shortness of breath, which is expected for people normally living at sea-level.

We are getting ready to go at KM82 in Ollantaytambo. That's our guide Tina on the right in purple. You can see the six of us in the back.And all of the peeps in gray are our porters. 20 of them in total! No mule nor horses allowed on the Inca Trail.

KM82, Ollantaytambo

The happy-six, at the beginning of the Inca-Trail

And here we go!

(Bridge over the Urubamba river)

Our porters, quickly passing us on the trail. The can carry up to 25kg of material on their back

Patallacta, where the Urubamba continues to the right, but we go down and to the left, following the Kusichaca stream

Day 1 lunch time

Porters would greet us at our arrival. Nice touch

Dining tent

The guys at Amazfit sent me a Stratos just in time for our trip to Peru (thanks guys). I was impressed that on a single charge, I was able to record 3 days worth of hiking with the GPS on. Overall, quite happy with it, and it is 5ATM waterproof.
Check it out https://us.amazfit.com/shop/stratos?variant=373265

Camp for the first night, at Huayllabamba

The "matrimonial bed" as the ViewPeru organizer would refer to our accommodations

Recap of Day 1

Day two, climbing our way towards Dead Woman's Pass

What is also impressive on the Inca trail is all the various and very different ecosystems we went through; from dry, near-desert, to lush Amazonian forests...

Last stretch to Dead Woman's Pass

Looking back at the trail, from Dead Woman's Pass

The team at Dead Woman's Pass, 4,200m altitude

Then going down towards the camp site for the second night...

Camp site at Pacaymayo, 3630m altitude. With a waterfall visible in the distance which would be the background music for a good night of sleep.

Recap of day 2

View from the Runkuracay ruins (Egg Hut). 3800m. About halfway up the climb to the second pass, it overlooks the Pacamayo valley with a superb view back to the first pass, Warmiwañusca (Dead woman's Pass), which is the 'V' section visible in the top-middle portion of the picture above.

Qochapata as viewed from the second pass at 3950m

The ruins of Sayaqmarca at a distance

Climbing to Sayaqmarca

Sayaqmarca, the 'Inaccessible Town', lies at 3,600m of altitude. Sayaqmarca has a solar observation post and a residential half. An ingenious system of canalization brought the precious water from a bridged river to all parts of the ruin.