Tuesday, May 10, 2016

A Tai Mo Shan hike with rocky highlights (Photo-essay)

As can be expected of a part of the world that's home to a UNESCO global geopark, Hong Kong has some remarkable geological features and landscapes.  Among the sections of the geopark I've been to -- and been amazed by -- are Ma Shi Chau, Tung Ping Chau, High Island, Lai Chi Chong, and a number of places (including Port Island) in the northeast New Territories that I finally got to on a boat tour last year.  

While out hiking in the Big Lychee, I've also come across a number of geologically interesting areas that lie outside of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.  Among the more well known of these are Po Toi (with such as its "Turtle Rock" and "Buddha's Palm Cliff") and Chi Ma Wan's "Rock Wonder".  

In addition, there was the rocky area that three friends and I passed through while going down Tai Mo Shan to Lead Mine Pass and then to Tai Po (after having gone up Hong Kong's highest mountain from Route Twisk) one afternoon.  If it were in a more accessible locale, this visually attractive space surely would attract more visitors.  As it was, however, we had the place to ourselves pretty much the whole time we were there -- which, of course, made our being there feel all the more special and wonderful! :)

The easiest route up (and down) Tai Mo Shan is via 
the paved road that connects to Route Twisk

This other route down (or up) Tai Mo Shan also isn't all that 
difficult; it's just that there are miles to go before you
get to the nearest bus or minibus stop, forget MTR station!

It feels more like a real hike when the trail's not paved 
and the terrain becomes more rugged :)
 
See what I mean about this being a rocky part of Hong Kong? :)

The kind of scenic view I enjoy gazing out at 
while out hiking in the Big Lychee :)

See the trail we came down on? :b

 Upon passing through this archway, you'll find 
yourself in Lead Mine Pass

Whichever route one takes out of there, it involves traipsing 
for a few more kilometers, so I wasn't surprised to see my 
pedometer register 25,565 steps at the end of this long hiking day ;b

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

Did you see the terraced fields on various slopes before you reached the foot path to Lam Tsuen Waterfalls? Those terraces were supposed to be ancient tea plantations.

Oh, the terraces on both sides of the foot path as shown in your photo might be fields as well.

T

YTSL said...

Hi T --

I don't think I noticed the old terraced fields on this hike, alas! Maybe next time when I go on that trail... ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

Actually one of your photos had already captured some of the terraces (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JlZbvNS42U/VzHpeW9NDmI/AAAAAAAAZSU/DGUjfCG7NPkM-Sx-rH4hhTbyXM29qVkBgCLcB/s1600/DSC04056.JPG) Zoom in and you should see some formation on the slopes, which is definitely artificial.

Thanks & Best Regards,
T

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

That section of the Mac has some interesting ruins along the way. Some require detours (http://gwulo.com/node/31911) but some are just a few steps away from the main path (https://goo.gl/maps/1Luj3wxevkT2 https://goo.gl/maps/Xfv3yHP3X922)

I believe the whole length of the Mac (and other popular hiking trails) had been captured by volunteers using the Google backpack so you could try to use Street View on them.

T

YTSL said...

Hi T --

Coolness re my having (inadvertently) taken photos of those old rice terraces! That section of the Maclehose Trail is indeed pretty cool. If only it weren't so hard to get too... ;S

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

Have you tried to go up Tai Mo Shan through Chuen Lung before? If not maybe you should try it next time. The slopes along the old road is a bit more gentle than Tai Mo Shan Road but it is a little bit longer. If you don't mind going through the Cemetery there are shortcuts on unpaved foot paths but might be a bit tough to some.

T

YTSL said...

Hi once more T --

I've not gone up Tai Mo Shan via Chuen Lung but have thought about it when seeing the markers while hiking from Cheun Lung to Shing Mun Reservoir along the Lung Mun Country Trail. You make it sound doable... so it might be an option to go up it and then, depending on how one feels, either going down Tai Mo Shan to Route Twisk or Tai Po.

Anonymous said...

Hi There,

Starting at Chiuen Lung has an advantage especially if you start a bit earlier. You could have breakfast/lunch there before you start.

There are bugs along the path as well. Last time I nearly bumped into a spider web with its owner right in th emiddle. Those webs are especially beautiful on a cloudy day as water droplets (or maybe morning dew if you are early) are all around. Visibility was very low up at Tai Mo Shan Road last time though.

Anyway, there are lots of foot paths up there. The country side map might not be showing all of them. But you should be able to find out more using the GeoInfo Map mentioned before.

T

YTSL said...

Hi once again T --

I've had dim sum at Chuen Lung but don't think I could ever do so before a hike -- I'd want to go home and have a nap instead!

And as you know, I'm fine with bugs like spiders, butterflies and dragonflies. But I'm a bit leery of bugs these days after having been devoured by midges (currently in season) a few weeks back in Pui O! ;S