4010 - Not For The Faint Of Heart....

ianyonok

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I'd heard whisperings about a scary steep road east of Phrae, so went to have a look

I got on the 4010 from the eastern end at Na Meun, south of Na Noi in Nan.

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All looks normal enough... Fantastic Nan roads.
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I watched this guy lead his buffalo across the stream. The baby on the bank was crying out but then followed Mum and farmer across. No-one else around, just a nice country scene.
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Cockeyed shot, but there are 3 waterfalls that need checking out in the rainy season, near Bahn Wang Nam Yen, halfway along the 4010 and up a smaller road a few klms north.
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Bahn Don Moon, where the road starts climbing up to the ridge.
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Turn off here for the steep road. 45klms to Phrae. The 4010 goes about 15klms west from here.
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All good surfaces, concrete or tarmac.
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Are they trying to tell you something....... 2 signs about low gear...?
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Whoa......... Blimey, where's my parachute......?

I'd just crossed the Nan / Phrae ridgeline and the road just falls away.
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Yep, this is a steep one alright, with hairpin bends, as it zigzags downwards.
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I better NOT ride this road west, on my ancient Triumph with SLS drum brakes...
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It reminds me of the "Singapore Road" from Pha Daeng, the north end of the Phu Chee Fah ridge, down onto the 1155 south of Wiang Kaen.
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Then you come out in the flat valley and the village of Huay Oi.
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Looking back to the east.
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This is the western end of the 4010, crossing the provincial border on the ridge.
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The GPS track elevation profile shows a 26% gradient, as you come off the ridge, on the Phrae side.
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The views along this road will be fantastic when we get into the rainy season and get the greenery back.

But... be warned....... can you handle the 4010 and 25%..?
 

GTR-Admin

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Good grief - 26% is awfully steep! You'd have to do a very dry mix of concrete to stop it sliding off the hillside!

Operating construction machinery on that angle must be very scary - no margin for error if you miss a gear change on the way up.
 

Oddvar

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From Muang Li there is a nice dirt track taking you to 1216 (Khun Sathan road). It is on the OSM map. Farm land on both sides.
The tracks in grey colour is mostly farmland and I have not bothered to ride them.
The two tracks going south is dead ends. The one past Ban Nam Li takes you to Queen Sirikit dam ( nice place for camping and fishing), and I hoped the one heading south west would take me to 1022. But it ended in a small dam.
I recommended the 4010 to some Harley boys, they have never talked to me since that. :):)
Screenshot 2019-03-27_19-51-12-310.png
 
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ZCM

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OMG its so bizarre that I see this because I was just on that road the other day!! I found it purely by accident and think it was one of the BEST roads ive ever been on! I even did a live video saying people need to put this road on their bucket list! haha! Sadly there was a lot of burning and haze but I absolutely LOVED this road!!
 

ianyonok

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Zoee,
Yes, that's the road. Will be a cracker when we get the green back....
 
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ZCM

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I agree. I think the views will be fantastic once it's lush and green.

Has the perfect combo of everything you want from a twisty stretch of road imo.

Some fantastic view spots and some great twisty rollercoaster sections with some technical "eek" moments..Haha. Was thrilling!

Even when it connects to the main road to Phrao it's another nice road..but more sweeping, which is actually perfect after a technical road i think. Was a nice wind down section before arriving into build up traffic zones.

Starting to really miss green now. It's been a long dry hot season!
 

ianyonok

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This is good info Oddvar, Thank you. Looks an area worth investigating more. I think the bottom part of your outlined trails is where the 3 waterfalls are.

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Per Amundsen

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Heading towards 4010 on Tuesday if my bike is finished serviced at Piston shop. Hope I can find the road this time :rolleyes::)
 

canthai

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Rode it yesterday. First part of the road was good - asphalt in good repair.
Once you turn left by Muang Lee Pracha Samakhi school, it turns to concrete. the western end is very steep, broken concrete in places.
They must have no signs that indicate a grade larger than 8% 'cause that was the most steep sign I saw. Most Def more than that.
 

ZCM

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I finally went back to the 4010 (and the adjacent mountain) a few days ago. Wanted to re-ride this road and also try to capture it on video.
Aiming to make some better videos of the stunning natural beauty we have around us, but it's still a work in progress, so forgive the occasional shakiness please (hope to fix that later on). Still a fabulous road, but it rained hard so I wasn't able to film all I wanted to. Will return again on a drier day and spend more time in the area :)

Sorry that I didn't tailor it to join in on the GT.Rider meetup..i seem to be firmly a hermit these days! Hope everyone is well. :)

 

DavidFL

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Nice VDO Zed, yo're getting pretty good with that VDo filming now.
Too bad you didn't spend a night in Nan Noi though I thought, then you wouldn't have had to rush so much.

Na Noi on GTR

Nai Noi. New Resort

Na Noi Restaurants

My Gtr Dinner Trip - Chiang Khong - Na Noi Return

Glad you did R1216, the Khun Satan road for that surely is a beauty too.
Combine that with 4010 & you could spend all day up there on those two roads taking photos.

R1216 on GR
1216, a hidden Pearl in Nan?

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Go To Nan

R1216 Khun Satan The Mlabri

After looking at your vdo I reckon it's time go back & do R1216 again.
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2008 on what should be the same viewpoint I think.
The Hmong are really doing ok for themselves in the mountains now.

Many thanks for the contribution & write up.
It is much appreciated.

Let's do the Big Dipper together with your 360 vdo.
 
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ZCM

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Nice VDO Zed, yo're getting pretty good with that VDo filming now.
Too bad you didn't spend a night in Nan Noi though I thought, then you wouldn't have had to rush so much.

Thank you. Not yet where I want to be in terms of steady footage, but enjoying the different perspectives 360 can offer.
Yes, true about coming to Nan Noi. Initially, I thought I would. I'm kind of really enjoying the hermit-bubble, but means it is getting harder and harder to step out of. Plus, my head seems to be filled with a few too many concerns of late...but well, moving on!

Glad you did R1216, the Khun Satan road for that surely is a beauty too.
Combine that with 4010 & you could spend all day up there on those two roads taking photos.

Oh wow yes, the R1216, what a beauty! I am so glad I went on it. Thing is, most of my ride on the 4010 was in heavy rain, so I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I wanted, due to having to ride slow and carefully. So, by the time I came off the 4010 my spirits were a little flat, despite still appreciating the ride. Thankfully the R1216 gave me sunny dry spectacular views. Most of the places along the ridge were all shut up though. I guess not a lot of reason to open at this time for them. Some construction was going on in a few small spots and farming (so some muddy sections from dirt being left on the road). With that came the smell of cabbages..haha. In the cool season I will likely camp one night at Khun Sathan National Park. I imagine the morning view will be fantastic. Might be a popular camp spot at that time though. Will see. For sure that whole area is full of wonderful views. Just keeps giving!

Yes! That's exactly the same spot :D Fantastic photo. Now the viewpoint is concrete and steel though. No one was manning it. Lots of farming work going on though. A few nice smiles here and there :)

Let's do the Big Dipper together with your 360 vdo..
Sure! I will be in touch later :D
 

Eoin Christie

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I finally went back to the 4010 (and the adjacent mountain) a few days ago. Wanted to re-ride this road and also try to capture it on video.
Aiming to make some better videos of the stunning natural beauty we have around us, but it's still a work in progress, so forgive the occasional shakiness please (hope to fix that later on). Still a fabulous road, but it rained hard so I wasn't able to film all I wanted to. Will return again on a drier day and spend more time in the area :)

Sorry that I didn't tailor it to join in on the GT.Rider meetup..i seem to be firmly a hermit these days! Hope everyone is well. :)

Excellent, Zed. I really enjoy your excursions. 360 cameras are a fun addition. I’m enjoying that I can choose what to aim at after the fact, as opposed to my handlebar-mounted GoPro.
Keep up the good work.

P.S. - I hear that this year’s Hermit Convention is going to be virtual...