Finally Finished The Maclehose Trail

Over May's Labor Day holiday Faye and I finally finished the Maclehose Trail in Hong Kong. 

This is the trail which we started, and finished the majority of, in the last week of January.  The full length was 100km, but over the four day holiday we completed the last 31.6 km (19.64 miles). 

In January we had planned to hike all 100km over 6 days.  That did not happen.  We hiked section 1 and 2 in with full packs laden with camping gear, then hiked section 3 carrying the same packs.  That exhausted us so we decided to stay in a hotel and use it as a base to store our gear while we hiked section 5, 6, and 7 with day packs.  On that first trip we had hiked 52.2km over four days.  

We returned in mid-March to complete section 4.  

At last, in May of this year, we finished.  What we had set out to do in 6 days took us about 4 months to finish. We still consider it quite an accomplishment.  

This was also our first time camping together.  We had a great time.  The hike was lovely but the weather a bit hot. 

We set out on the 1st by hiking about 5km to the lead mine pass campsite.  We hiked there via trails in the Tai Po Kau Park. 

We arrived in the early afternoon to an empty campsite and set up our tents and prepared a freezedried dinner.

Unfortunately our quite solitude did not last long and hikers started streaming in.  Some of them, a group of mainlanders, were chatting all night.  They were no quiet and respectful and it got to a point where I had to stick my head out of the tent and shout at them to be quiet. Fortunately, they obliged.  The next morning, however, they woke before us and filled the campsite with noisy chatter. 

We did not sleep very well that first night. 

We were the last ones out of the campsite the next morning of May 2nd but we did not see any of the other campers on trail or at the next campsite. 

Section 8 was the hardest section of this trip.  It include a large elevation gain on rocky terrain and steps. 

When we finished section 8 we had two options for campsite.  We could either do the Twisk Campsite or the Rotary Club Campsite.  I was told by a park employee that the Twisk Campsite, although free, would require an online reservation.  I did not however see a way to make a reservation online.  So rather than deal with the hassle I decided we would stay at the Rotary Club Campsite. On some level this was a good idea as the campsite had a kiosk at which we could purchase water, soda, beer, fruit, and snacks.  On the other hand the campsite was right next to a major road and very busy with other campers.  So once again we slept poorly. 

The next morning we set off on the shortest hike of our trip.  Section 9 was only 6.3km and was very easy.  

We arrived at Tin Fu Tsai about 3 hours later and finally had a quiet campsite.  Only a few other campers showed up and they stayed pretty far away from us.  My theory is that most campers are turned off by the lack of running water, a stream being the only water source, and a smelly porta-potty instead of clean flush toilets. 

As quiet as it was I was kept up late because I had to poop.  I had not managed to get anything out since before we started the hike because we were eating nothing besides rehydrated freeze-dried camping food, dried fruit, and granola bars.  We had a few pieces of fresh fruit since starting the hike but it was not enough to get things moving so I was feeling pretty backed up. Combined with rigorous exercise and mild dehydration we were both pretty gassy.  I managed to shit in the forest that night (don't worry I bagged it up and threw it away the next morning) but my loud flatulence kept Faye awake for most of the night.  Fortunately she did not have to deal with the smell since we brought separate tents. 

While my gassy ass kept us both awake for a while we eventually got a decent night of sleep.  We woke the next morning to a lovely chorus of birds.  After we ate our last breakfast on trail I took a second forest shit (which I also bagged and tossed in the trash). Then I washed my hands and we set off. 

After 4 days of hiking and three days of camping with no showers we finally finished the trail.  Sore, smelly, and tired we reached the end. 

We took an uber to V-City Mall and got a dinner of ramen.  We were too hungry to take pictures of the food. 

Then we booked our bus back to Shenzhen and went home. 

Since returning home work has been pretty boring since May 5th.  Students are taking AP exams until May 16th so I cannot teach any new content or give any new assignments.  Thus, most of my day is spent supervising students as they study for APs, take much needed naps, and work through the study guide for my final. 

This coming weekend May 16-17 I am going to Da Peng Peninsula on a one-night solo trip.  I haven't been yet and am excited to see the old fort, spend some time on the beach, and do a little hiking on the coast. 

From May 23rd-25th Faye and I will take our last international trip to Bangkok before our Euro-trip this summer.   

We are considering a domestic trip to Xiamen via highspeed train during the last weekend of May but we are not sure yet.  

I have to turn over my passport for visa renewal on May 26th and then will ideally get it back June 6th just in time for me to fly to the US on June 14th.  

Not sure when I will post again but hopefully before the last day of the school year I will have something worth sharing.