Wednesday, September 16, 2009

On the Maclehose Trail

Yes hello. Welcome back. Its been a long while.. But before my memory fails me, I wanted to write about this - Hiking Section 2 of the Maclehose Trail. This panoramic section provides you with views of the East Sai Kung peninsula, and starts from Long Ke to Pak Tam Au. According to the official website (http://www.hkwalkers.net/longtrail/eng/mtrail/mtrail_02.html), it takes 5 hours and is fairly difficult. Well, I did it in about 6 hours and was DEAD TIRED and slept almost all the way on the 1 hour long bus ride to the Diamond MTR station. Or maybe it was just me and the scorching hot sun, plus being a little dehydrated.


But the views along the way were absolutely awesome. Perhaps I will post them up.


More importantly, I want to write this down as there is a dearth of information on how to get to the head of Section 2, online. Section 1 is nice for sure, but it involves hiking on tarmac and getting u to be content with just views of the reservoir. Doing Sections 1 and 2 together (8 hours of walking in total) is out of the question, unless you have your camping stuff ready and plan to spend the night on one of the beaches.


The fastest way to get to the start of section 2 (i.e. Long Ke) - grab a cab from Pak Tam Chung. Doesnt cost much (about HKD 60?) and the ride is about 15min long and will take u through the whole of section 1 along the perimeter of the High Island Reservoir, right onto the East Dam. Get the driver to stop you right here, take some pictures and head on to Section 2 of the trail.


Getting to Pak Tam Chung.

This needs a bit of manoeveuring (sp):

1. Take the MTR to Diamond Hill MTR. There is a bus interchange at the exit.
2. Take bus 92 from Diamond Hill to Sai Kung Town's bus interchange - it is the last stop. 45min ride
3. From Sai Kung Town, take bus 94 (15min) and alight at the Pak Tam Chung terminus. Looks kind of like a small bus interchange with 2 lanes for buses and a taxi stand. Its also where the Visitor Centre is located.
4. From here catch a cab to go all the way to the end of the East Dam.


PS. the bus is an interesting way to see people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. You see the aunties and uncles, yabbering loudly and carrying their goodies from the markets. Fishers lugging all their equipment and tackle boxes onto the bus. Quite an interesting ride for me ;)

Now for some pictures as promised:

Ham Tin Wan!











After which, for the next 2 hours you work in on a foresty trail on concrete path towards Pak Tam Au, with plenty of hills, ups and downs thrown in between. Halfway there is also the option of ascending Sharp Peak, which the sign placed in front warns one cryptically to only attempt in groups. At Chek Keng it will be a nice river-side walk with plenty of cows for a bit, and then back to that foresty, hilly concrete path again all the way till Pak Tam Au.

Then hop on to bus 94! On weekends the service runs all the way through to Diamond Hill MTR, although its more expensive (pay HKD 16) compared to if you take buses 92 and 94 (about HKD 5-6 each).

So that concludes section 2 of the Maclehose Trail. Not sure if I'll be back for more, but you never know :)

Links:
http://www.hkwalkers.net/longtrail/eng/mtrail/Section02/m02map.pdf

Mrs Brightside at 11:49 pm (0) comments

{xoxo}