Thursday 25 June 2015

June 26th: Walk up the Peak and then to Pokfulam or Aberdeen

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.


Dear Fridayhikers,

I apologize for this late posting.  It seems that the weekly postings are being done closer and closer to Friday.  I will strive to  do a better job.  

Because of the heavy and rather frequent rain during the week, I think the only choice we have is to hike on cemented roads this Friday if we can hike at all (because of possible thunderstorms in the morning).   Anyway, we will start from HKU VC Lodge,  and take Hatton Road all the way up the Peak.   Hatton Road is the narrow road opposite VC Lodge (NOT Po Shan Road).  Walk up the narrow Hatton Road and within five minutes, you will cross a bridge over Po Shan Road and the path leads you up to the Peak.  Just keep taking the path which goes up when you come to any intersection.   There is a nice washroom about twelve minutes up this Hatton Road and another one at the top of Hatton Road when it intersects with Lugard Road.   The walk up Hatton Road to this point takes about half an hour to forty five minutes depending on the humidity and your condition.   The left side (clockwise) takes about half an hour to forty five minutes to walk out to the Peak Galleria, while the right side (anti clockwise) takes about fifteen minutes to walk out to the same.  From the Peak Galleria, you can go to Pokfulam or to Aberdeen as you like.



Meeting Place:   Exit A2   (HKU MTR Station)  I think you take a lift up to the campus.  


Meeting Time:   9 am    (Those who live faraway please make a sacrifice and get up a bit early.)


PLEASE CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE VENTURING OUT !    The hike will be cancelled if the thunderstorm signal or any of the heavy rain signals are hoistered at 8 am in the morning.



I have something on my schedule and cannot join the hike tomorrow.  Do enjoy yourselves and fingers crossed for good weather.




Belinda

Tuesday 16 June 2015

19th June 2015: Tai Tam Country Trail

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.


Dear Fridayhikers,

It has been a very hot week.  Instead of taking the 4 hour hike from Braemar Hill to Quarry Bay as was discussed last week, I have decided to plan for a shorter walk this Friday.  This is the Tai Tam Country Trail which goes from Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park, up Violet Hill, then return to HK Parkview and then via Sir Cecil's Ride back to Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.  This route is 5.2 km and should take about 2.5 hour.   As the first part of the route is uphill to Violet Hill, it is advisable to go slow, take the advantage of clear skies in the hot summer, take frequent rests and enjoy the scenery of Deep Water Bay and Lamma Island.  From Violet Hill, it is downhill all the way.

Because of the hot weather, please take plenty of water with you, and bring sun gear, rain gear and sunblock.


Meeting time:  9 am

Meeting place:  Entrance of the Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park


To get to the meeting place, take buses (No. 6, 61, 76, 41A) and alight at the gas station after the tennis courts on Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.  Because of the recent shuffle in bus routes, please check the web yourself for appropriate buses which go up Wong Nai Chung Gap Road.


I shall not be joining you this Friday.  Enjoy the walk !

Hiking will automatically be cancelled if the thunderstorm and heavy rain signals are hoistered at 8 am.  


Belinda

Thursday 11 June 2015

June 12th: Shing Mun Reservoir

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.


Dear Fridayhikers,

It's Shing Mun Reservoir again for this Friday which, the weather observatory says, will be hot with a chance of showers.  It's a three hour walk but mild and gentle in gradient.

Please bring plenty of water, sunblock, sun gear, rain gear, and NO plastic bags.


Meeting time:  9 am

Meeting place:  Exit B  Tsuen Wan MTR Station


Have an enjoyable walk round the reservoir.  I hope the path alongside the reservoir is once again open.


PLEASE NOTE THAT HIKING WILL BE CANCELLED IF THE THUNDERSTORM WARNING OR ANY OF THE HEAVY RAIN (AMBER, RED OR BLACK) WARNINGS IS UP BY 8 AM.  


Belinda

Thursday 4 June 2015

June 5th: Twisk Nature Trail + Kap Lung Forest Trail

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.


Dear Fridayhikers,

Another hot Friday coming up.  Please bring plenty of water, sunshade, rain gear, sunblock if you are joining the hiking.

The Kap Lung Forest Trail is 4.5 km and is a hill path with a gentle slope downward.  It should take about two hours with a short walk (turn right as you come down) out to the main road.  If you should think it too short, add in the Twisk Nature Trail at the beginning which is a circular path opposite the toilets
near the Country Park Mgt. Centre.  This will give you an extra hour of walk.


Meeting Time:  9 am  (Bus  51  arrives a minute or so after 9:20 am)

Meeting Point:  Exit B  Tsuen Wan MTR Station


Enjoy your walk.  

When you come out to the main road, you can take Bus 51 back to Tsuen Wan, or to Kam Tin.  There may be also minibuses to Fanling direction but I am not sure.


Again, should the thunderstorm warning, or any of the heavy rain signals be up at 8 am, hiking will be automatically cancelled.  The same if less than three hikers have signed up.  This is for safety reasons.  


Belinda