Thursday 28 January 2016

January 29th: Eastern Nature 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,

The forecast for tomorrow is for rain, heavy at first, and possible thunderstorms.  Please check the weather before you start out tomorrow morning.  If the heavy rainstorm signal or the thunderstorm signal is out by 8 am, the hike is automatically cancelled.


The route selected for tomorrow is the Eastern Nature Trail which goes up from King's Road near Kornhill, up Mount Parker Road, switching to Tai Tam Reservoir Road  and finishing near Parkview. If the weather is not agreeable, you may shorten the hike and exit at Tai Tam Reservoir.  The entire route is about 3 hours.


Meeting place:  MTR Taikooshing Station Exit B

Meeting time: 9:15 am


Please bring rain gear, water, snacks and warm clothing (if it turns windy).


If less than three are going, the hike is cancelled.  I shall not be joining the hike tomorrow.  Enjoy yourself and take care !



Belinda

Thursday 21 January 2016

January 22nd : HKU to Pokfulam Reservoir to Peak

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 will most probably be wet and cold tomorrow.  I've chosen an easy route (we took this route I think in March last year) which is paved and not very exposed.  It has a lot of possibilities as you can extend the route if you should find it too short.

Start at HKU, and walk up University Drive.  As you pass by the new Graduate House walking up, instead of walking on the car road, there is a small opening to your right which leads up to a more pleasant path (parallel to the car road) which leads you up to the VC Lodge.  From there, turn right and walk up Po Shan Road, passing a small public convenience.  Walk further up until you see the Fire Station.  Next to it is a staircase leading up to Hatton Road.  Walk up Hatton Road.  Fifty metres on, there will be another bigger public convenience.  Then walk further up until you come to a large elbow bend with a big sign which says Lung Fu Shan.   At this intersection, leave Hatton Road and take the road on the right.   Then very quickly you have a path in front of you.  Turn left to walk in the direction of Pokfulam Reservoir.   Here, the path will not be cement but will be a hill road.  But it is level and should not be muddy.  Just follow the signs on the way and keep on this path.  You will pass Queen Mary Hospital (on your right).  After passing Queen Mary Hospital, walk on until you come to an intersection with signs.  There should be a sign pointing to the right (steps down) which says Pokfulam Reservoir.  Go down the steps until you come to the reservoir.  Here those who want to leave may turn right and walk down to Pokfulam Road.  If you wish to continue because you have only walked for less than two hours, turn left to walk along the reservoir.  Here there will be another public convenience.  Just walk along to the other end of the reservoir and you come to a road which leads back up to the Peak.  This is an uphill road but very beautiful with shady trees.  This will bring you to the Galleria on the Peak.  Here you can take the bus to Central and Wanchai.   If you like to walk some more, you can go one round taking the circular path before you take the bus down to Wanchai.  You can also take the road next to the Peak Cafe, and walk down Hatton Road back to HKU.     I may not join you this Friday which is the reason for my putting down detailed description of the route.  However, as it is a familiar area for most of you, you will not get lost so feel free to be innovative !  As it will be cold tomorrow, and the starting point is in town and reachable by MTR, I think we can start a bit late.  If you are early, you can have something hot in the canteen to warm up.


Meeting point:  Exit A2  (MTR HKU Station)  HKU level.    After assembling here, I think you have to go down one storey to walk out to University Drive.

Meeting time:  9:15 am


As usual, bring rain gear, sun gear and water and snacks.  If less than three enrol, or if the thunderstorm and heavy rain signal is up by 8 am, the hike is cancelled.


Enjoy your hike !



Belinda



Thursday 14 January 2016

January 15th: 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,

The forecast for tomorrow is cloudy, cool and occasional rain and even thunderstorm.  As discussed last Friday, we will go to Shing Mun Reservoir tomorrow in view of the unstable weather.   Please note that should the thunderstorm or heavy rain signal be up at 8 am tomorrow morning, the hike will be officially cancelled.

The walk around Shing Mun Reservoir will be about three hours.


Meeting time:  9 am

Meeting place:  Exit B Tsuen Wan MTR Station

We will leave at 9 am to walk to the minibus stop.  If you wish, you may go the Pineapple Dam on your own.  We will start the hike at about 9:30 am from the Pineapple Dam.

Please bring water, sun gear (optimistic), rain gear (realistic) .

I was going to add that if fewer than three are going, the hike is cancelled.  But I see that three have already responded.  So let's hope the weather will not be too bad tomorrow.  


Belinda

Wednesday 6 January 2016

January 8th 2016 起子灣半島 (西貢)

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,

For the first hike of the year, we will try the route that Leo suggested.   The route is a combination of three trails:  the Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail , the Sheung Yiu Country Trail and the first section of the Maclehose Trail.  This circular route starts from Pak Tam Chung and brings us back to Pak Tam Chung.  The first half of the route should give us the view of 斬竹灣,滘西洲 and 大頭洲, while the Maclehose Trail section will have 萬宜水庫 on our right.   The route will be about 3.5 hours and the gradient is gentle.

As the route may be exposed, please bring sun gear and enough water and snacks.

There are two minibuses which can take us to the starting point 上窰村入口 which is after the Pak Tam Chung barrier point.  These are minibus No. 7 ( every half hour 8:55 / 9:25 ) and No. 9 (every half hour 8:45 / 9:15 ) .   KMB Bus 94 (every half hour 9:00/9:30) also goes there.


Meeting place:  KMB Bus 94  (Sai Kung)

Meeting time:   8:55 am  

Let's aim at taking the 9:00 am Bus 94.





Belinda