Monday, August 27, 2018

Dai Shek Stream (大石石澗)

Duration: 
10km total. About 1km in the stream

Difficulty: 
10/10. Would strongly advise not to do that stream unless you have a lot of experience stream-trekking, are comfortable with rock-climbing, and will be extremely watchful of loose rocks. There has been a few fatalities on that trek. It is the most dangerous one I have taken part of, due to the loose rocks which can not only cause one to fall, but also, is dangerous for people following. Out of our party of 8, 5 fell or slid during that trek. With one falling about 3 meters.

Cel phone coverage: Sparse.

Water needs: 2 liter.

Appreciation: 9/10. Lots of waterfalls. 


Exercise Area: No.

Transportation: Tsuen Wan West MTR, Exit A1. Bus 51, Shek Kong Village stop. Return via bus 51 at Route Twisk.

Why it's worth it: 

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Tsuen Wan West MTR. Go out at exit A1 and up to the bus terminus. Take bus 51. 


After about 20-25 minutes bus ride, alight at the 'Shek Kong Village' stop. Then retrace your steps a bit...
… and cross the road as the "path" is on the left side.



After 5-7 minutes walk, you'll see a bunch of small concrete pillars on the left, at a turn in the road, as well as a rain catch.
This is where you enter. Walk on the concrete catch.

There's a sign stating the obvious. At this point, if you feel uncomfortable continuing, DON'T !
There is no shame in aborting. Don't be peer pressured.

Keep on the catch-water concrete structure. It will stop, keep straight. You will see a red ribbon, go slightly left.
You should hear the stream.

Refer to the big slanted tree. In any case, the stream is right ahead of you. 
Careful, slippery

Ribbons. Not always very visible because the colors are worn-off

Another catch-water structure on the way down to the stream. 
You are about 30m away from the stream, which you should hear clearly by now.

You should be entering the stream about here. 
No real chance to get lost. Just go up the stream and stay right at any of the forks
Bypasses are generally quite obvious but beware of loose rocks. Always keep 3 points of contact, and test your anchor points; make sure it is firmly secured to the ground and not brittle. Most of the tall waterfalls are bypassed on the right.
Climb on the right of this one. Most of the holds are actually roots
Climbing on the right. This gives you have good idea of the difficulty level.
Still bypassing on the right.
After a few more easier waterfalls, the stream dies out and you basically will be just walking on rocks. Just keep going straight up and you will get out of the woods and close to the top of a hill.
Climb the hill just enough so you can see behind to your right...
… you should see poles/pylons. The trail is there. On a weekend, there should be quite a few hikers there. You may have to bushwhack your way there but it is at most 150m.
You are mostly home-safe! Go right on the path, towards the weather-radar station's dome. Then, follow the path all the way down to Road Twisk (about 5km) where you will see the bus 51 stop which will bring you back to Tsuen Wan/Tsuan Wan West MTRs

Sunday, August 5, 2018

North Point to Braemar Hill via Sir Cecil's Ride stream (full)

Duration: 
5km total. About 700m in the stream

Difficulty: 
4/10

Cel phone coverage: Sparse.

Water needs: 1 liter.

Appreciation: 6/10 (for full stream). There are better streams. Good intro stream


Exercise Area: No.

Transportation: North Point MTR Exit B1. Return via Green minibus 25 to Causeway Bay

Why it's worth it: 


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Right off North Point exit B1, turn left on Shu Kuk Street and take the stairs going through the building.
They are labelled "Aroma Walk" 
Just follow the path and climb the stairs...
You'll reach this junction where the path goes back down and stairs are on your left. Take the stairs
You arrive at a road (Tin Hau Temple Rd). Head left.
About 150m on Tin Hau Temple Rd, you'll see sports courts on the right, toilets, and stairs in the back.
Cross the road and head for the stairs. Climb the stairs.

You will eventually reach another road (Braemar Hill Rd). Head left.
Cross the road and go straight.


Just before the end of Braemar Hill Rd, you will see a park on the right with a blue fence.
Enter the park there (Greenery mini-garden)
At the pat's first junction, head right towards 'Country Park'
About 150m into this park, you'll get to this spot. Can't miss it; there's an red emergency phone thingee, and stairs next to a tree that splits live a 'V'. Take the path next that goes down, to the right of the stairs.
There's a fence right there. Go through the hole in the fence and head left.
You'll see a concrete path on your right. Follow it until it ends into a catchwater
Bypass the catchwater on the left, into the woods. It is overgrown but you just have about 15m to go. On your right, you'll see the beginning of the stream. That's where you enter. Then, simple, just follow in the stream. Bypasses are obvious, although unnecessary.
First waterfall. Nice pool.

Go under the bridge

Follow the stream immediately to the left of the gazebo

Second waterfall



That's it, end of the stream. Head left at path's junction

Left

Left

At the building, take the path that is on the left

Kowloon, and the new cruise ship terminal

At one point, there seems to be some path on the left. However, take a right.
There's a blue ribbon

You will eventually reach the main path. Head left.

Gazebo on the right, take the path on the left.


You are back at the bridge you went under earlier. Going over this time

About 400m after the bridge, there will be a set of stairs on your right. Take them. They will get you to Braemar Hill Road

There you go, Braemar Hill Road, with a bug terminus right in front of you.
GMB 25 will get you to Causeway Bay MTR.

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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!