2014-9-26 Shatin Pass - Wilson Trail Section 5 - Kowloon Reservoir 沙田坳 - 衛奕信徑第五段 - 九龍水塘

The Fridayhikers are a group of friends who go hiking for leisure. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the hiking route may be subject to change without prior notice. Participants joining the hikes do so at their own will and at their own risk. They may consider buying their own insurance for better protection. The hike leaders, the organizers and any other participants in the hikes are exonerated from any liabilities and claims as a result of any accidents or losses arising.


The weather forecast for this Friday turned out to be favourable, "26-30 degrees C, sunny periods, one or two rain patches at first with light to moderate east wind"  In view of the hot weather, I have chosen a trail, Wilson Trail Section 5, which is paved or stony and fairly level (except for the initial ascend from Tsz Wan Shan to Shatin Pass and the final descend to Kowloon Reservoir).  Enroute this trail offers a full view of Shatin, Tai Wai and the distant hills - Needle Hill 針山 and Grassy Hill 草山 on the north and South Kowloon on the south.  The whole route is around 8 km and we should reach our destination on Tai Po Road Shatin Ridge Section 大埔公路沙田嶺段 by the side of Kowloon Reservoir within 3 hours if we do not attempt the climb of Lion's Rock.

Initial ascend to Shatin Pass

Lion Rock (on the back)

Assembly Place:  Wong Tai Sin MTR Exit A

Meeting Time: 0900 

Transport:  We will proceed to Shatin Pass Road to take minibus No.18, which can take us to the bus terminal at Tsz Wan Shan Road 慈雲山慈愛苑三期旁巴士總站 where we can take a shady ascending path by the side of the bus terminal for access to 沙田坳

Please bring along your sun and rain gears and sufficient drinking water.  In case typhoon signal No. 3 or above, thunderstorm or rainstorm signal remains hoisted at 0730 on Friday OR less than 4 persons enrolled by 2300 on Thursday, the hike will be automatically cancelled.

Regards,
Anson

2014-9-19 Kap Lung Forest Trail - Lui Kung Tin - Kap Lung Ancient Trail (甲龍林徑 - 雷公田 - 甲龍古道)

The Fridayhikers are a group of friends who go hiking for leisure. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the hiking route may be subject to change without prior notice. Participants joining the hikes do so at their own will and at their own risk. They may consider buying their own insurance for better protection. The hike leaders, the organizers and any other participants in the hikes are exonerated from any liabilities and claims as a result of any accidents or losses arising.

With alternative easier route:  In case the weather is really too hot and we do not feel like going up the steep path back to 荃錦坳，we may simply proceed to Shek Kong 石崗 after the snack at Lui Kung Tin

Except for the great heat, the weather forecast for this Friday is promising "27-33 deg. C, mainly fine and very hot with light winds".  I have chosen a route which we have attempted more than two years ago.  The first part is a shady, relatively gentle downward path of about 4.5 km leading to Lui Kung Tin 雷公田, where we may have a taste of 薑汁撞奶 before the second part, which is a fairly steep path of about 2 km (a climb of elevation 400 m).  Including rest at Lui Kung Tin, we should be able to complete the journey in about 4 hours.

甲龍古道

甲龍林徑

薑汁撞奶

  

Assembly Place: Tsuen Wan MTR Exit A

Meeting Time:  08:50 hours

(Note: We will proceed to the MTR station platform top to catch bus No. 51, which will come by 09:00 hours)

Please bring along your sun and rain gears and sufficient drinking water.  In case the rainstorm signal, thunderstorm signal or typhoon signal No. 3 or above remain hoisted by 07:30 on Friday OR less than 4 persons signed up by 23:00 on Thursday, the hike will be automatically cancelled.


Regards,
Anson

2014-9-12 Tai Po Kau NatureTrails - Tai Po town 大埔滘自然教育徑 - 大埔市

The Fridayhikers are a group of friends who go hiking for leisure. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the hiking route may be subject to change without prior notice. Participants joining the hikes do so at their own will and at their own risk. They may consider buying their own insurance for better protection. The hike leaders, the organizers and any other participants in the hikes are exonerated from any liabilities and claims as a result of any accidents or losses arising.


The weather keeps on changing from day to day during summer.   Up till the latest moment, the forecast weather for this Friday is "27-31 deg. C, mainly cloudy with a few showers and moderate east winds".  In view of the unsteady weather, I do not prefer to take a mountain trail; instead I have picked a familiar easy trail we have done before, which offers flexibility and does not have a great demand on physique.  

The trails inside the Tai Po Nature Reserve 大埔滘自然保護區 are roughly circular and of different lengths, offering choices from nature trails 自然教育徑 to forest walks 林徑 or a combination of both.  The paths are shady and mostly paved but do not offer much for scenery viewing.  The length of the hiking route inside the Reserve plus the final part to Tai Po town varies from 2.5 hrs to 4.5 hrs, depending on our choice.

Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve uphill path

Assembly Place: Sha Tin MTR Station (Exit A)

Meeting Time: 08:45

Transport: We will proceed to Pak Ting Hok Street 白鶴汀街 adjacent to New Town Plaza and take the minibus No. 28K, which can take us to Tsung Tsai Yuen at Tai Po Road 大埔公路松仔園, the starting point of our hike

Please bring along sun and rain gears and sufficient drinking water plus mosquito repellents ( for the part inside the wood).  In the event of rainstorm or thunderstorm signals, typhoon signal (No. 3 or above) remain hoisted at 07:30 on Friday OR less than 4 persons signed up by 23:00 on Thursday, the hike will be automatically cancelled.

Regards,
Anson

2014-9-5 Shatin Pass - Wilson Trail Sec. 5 - Kowloon Reservoir (沙田坳 － 衛奕信徑第五段 － 九龍水塘)

The Fridayhikers are a group of friends who go hiking for leisure. Depending on the weather and road conditions, the hiking route may be subject to change without prior notice. Participants joining the hikes do so at their own will and at their own risk. They may consider buying their own insurance for better protection. The hike leaders, the organizers and any other participants in the hikes are exonerated from any liabilities and claims as a result of any accidents or losses arising.

Hiking cancelled - thunderstorm warning signal

The weather forecast for this Friday is not not entirely favourable, "Mainly cloudy and a few showers with moderate east wind".  In view of the hot weather, I have chosen a trail, Wilson Trail Section 5, which is paved or stony and fairly level (except for the initial ascend from Tsz Wan Shan to Shatin Pass and the final descend to Kowloon Reservoir).  This trail offers a full view of Shatin, Tai Wai and the distant hills - Needle Hill 針山 and Grassy Hill 草山 enroute.  The whole route is less than 8 km and we should reach our destination on Tai Po Road Shatin Ridge Section 大埔公路沙田嶺段 by the side of Kowloon Reservoir within 3 hours.

Initial ascend to Shatin Pass

Wilson Trail Section 5

Assembly Place:  Wong Tai Sin MTR Exit A

Meeting Time: 0900 

Transport:  We will proceed to Shatin Pass Road to take minibus No.18, which can take us to the bus terminal at Tsz Wan Shan Road 慈雲山慈愛苑三期旁巴士總站 where we can take a shady ascending path by the side of the bus terminal for access to 沙田坳

Please bring along your sun and rain gears and sufficient drinking water.  In case typhoon signal No. 3 or above, thunderstorm or rainstorm signal remains hoisted at 0730 on Friday OR less than 4 persons enrolled by 2300 on Thursday, the hike will be automatically cancelled.

Regards,
Anson