Sunday, June 25, 2017

HKU to The Peak via streams

Duration: 
2.5 hours, 6km
Difficulty:
6/10. Not very difficult but parts are overgrown and the thorny leaves and branches are really annoying


Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter

Appreciation: 7/10 after very large rainfall. I would think that it is very unimpressive when it hasn't rained

Transportation:
HKU Station Exit A1. Return via bus on The Peak

Details: http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/2285580812/
Thanks to Iurgi for the original instructions that I used for my own visit: https://hkoutdooradventures.com/2017/04/06/to-the-peak-by-streams/

Why it's worth it:


--------------------------

Take the MTR to HKU. Exit A1, HKU FB level.

When out of the elevator, just go straight and cross the University grounds.

Behind the University, you'll see University Avenue. Take the stairs down to reach it, then head right.

Up the little hill...

The stairs to take will be on your left, right after the Chow Yei Ching Building.
Climb the stairs all the way to the top. Head right atop the stairs.

There will be many paths to your left. None to be taken. Keep going on the main path.

Similarly, many streams which may seem inviting... stay the course!

The first stream is about 1.4km from your starting point.

It is not too hard to find as there will be a flight of stairs on your right just before it.
Don't rely on the green boards being there. The stream actually has a well defined path following it.

Very pwehtty when there it has been raining a lot.

At one point, you'll reach a larger waterfall and the stream branches to the right as well, with the path following it. You will want to climb a few steps on the right, then take the path leading left to the top of the waterfall and to the left-stream.

From the entrance of the stream to the exit (pictured above), it should take you about 20-30 minutes. Head right. In about 800m (12-15min), you will connect with Hong Kong trail section 1

Keep going on HK trail section 1


Don't take stairs going down. HK trail section 1 I said!
About 3km and 1 hour walk from the exit of the first stream, you'll reach the entry point of the second stream. It might be easier to miss but one sure indicator that you missed it is if you get to the sharp turn in the trail

The second stream's entrance. One helpful indicator is the CW-28 sign on the left. Not sure whether that will stay there forever though...
This second stream is about 700m long from entrance to exit. Try to stay in the stream as much as possible as the thorny bushes on the edge of the stream are, at best, annoying. Also, stick to the stream with most water, when encountering a fork. In all cases, it will more or less get to the same spot. But it will be easier and nicer in a larger stream

You'll eventually reach that bridge on Harlech Road. You'll get some mesmerized glances from people walking by. Go under the bridge  and climb the fence on the left. That's it! Head right on Harlech and you will be at The Peak in about 1 minute.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Map on the Website for easier hikes browsing


New feature for easier hikes browsing (Thanks Iurgi's for letting me steal the idea!).
I will add the hikes to the map progressively (I got about 200 so, may take a while)
Note that I added layers so you can sort the trails be difficulty level on only see the ones that are of interested to you.

https://sites.google.com/site/hikehongkongweb/



Sunday, June 11, 2017

Tso Kung Tam Stream (曹公潭)


Duration: 
1.25 hour, 3.5km
Difficulty:
6/10. You'll need your hands

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. Nice (very) short stream. Probably best after a lot of rainfall

Transportation:
Tsuen Wan MTR, exit 'A'. Return the same way.


Why it's worth it:
-------------
Exit 'A' at Tsuen Wan MTR station. Just follow the elevated corridor that seems to be going on forever until you reach the Sports Centre

There's a piazza at the end of the corridor, go across, to the left. You'll find escalators going down.

Those ones... Almost there!

Go straight and you'll see the catch water on your right...

... that one! Just follow it...

... until you reach the stream proper. Enter the stream. Quite easy.

Big rocks, no real need to enter the water unless you want to. You'll see a larger waterfall on your left.
Keep going in the main stream
When you arrive at the first large waterfall of the stream, just climb on the right.

Maybe 5-10 minutes later you reach this spot, can't miss it. That's the exit point. Quite short eh? You can probably also continue in the stream but that will be another adventure, for another time!
You'll see a concrete access road on the right...

... barrier probably going to be closed, just hop over and follow the path going towards Route Twisk




Just before you hit route Twisk, you'll see the Nature Education & Astronomical Centre

Head right on route Twisk

After a 15-20 minutes walk, you'll see stairs on your right and a tunnel at the bottom that will let you go underneath the highway.

Right after the tunnel, overpass over the train tracks and back to the never-ending corridor where you will head left towards Tsuen Wan station. Cheers!

Hike Hong Kong Web Site

HikeHongKOng on Facebook

Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!