Huai Lang / Laeng Another Steepest Road - Wiang Kaen / Chiang Khong

[DavidFL]

The border roads south of Chiang Khong take you up some exhilarating climbs. There is
Pha Tang
Phu Chi Fah
The Big Dipper
The Lao U road

and then there is the Huai Lang road that goes to a mountain top royal project.

Huai Lang has cracked a mention on GTR before in Ian's report here
Chiang Rai Trails

I attempted to get up here on the Versys a few years ago, but had to chicken out - the road was stony, with broken asphalt & I was sure that riding alone, if I got stuck, I would not be able to turn the bike around or pick it up by myself. So turned back. I reckon that I was about 3/4 of the way up the mountain. I've been planning to go back for a long time, but it never worked out & recent events have overtaken me.

So I called on a couple of mates to go and check it out for - Youngie & Patrick, plus Moto-Rex.
Rex got up a couple of days before Youngie & Patrick, but Rex has since gone back to Oz.
Youngie & Patrick did it a few days later, but it was not a happy ending for Youngie, as he dumped his CRF getting over a long on a trail, landed on his ribs on the log & cracked a rib. Adrenalin got him out on his bike & back to Chiang Khong, where an x-ray confirmed a broken rib. Youngie is a tough bugger & made it back to Chiang Mai, in a pick up, & is still recovering slowly.
Youngie provided some photos & a bit of info.....

A mountain top view

more to come.

 

[DavidFL]

Found my track from 2015

I got in 5.8 kms & turned around on the Versys. Here's how it looked then - what a climb.

That's one hell of a steepie! The climb up goes quite a bit further too.. This 5.8 kms was my wimp out point, not knowing at all what was ahead.

How it looked in 2015

Looking back down to the East

That long steep uphill climb.

It was here that I turned around as a wimp, not knowing the road conditions ahead, & whether I'd be able to safely turn the bike around alone on the slope ahead.

Looking back down to the East.

How the climb up looks in 2019

The way to go

Up on top after the royal project some trails to ride

How it looks in Google Earth

Check it out sometime.
The route # should be R4054. It is on the GTR Golden Triangle Loop map: Golden Triangle Map
Turn off on R1155, 10 kms south of Wiang Kaen, in Ban Lo.
There is a massive Hmong village shortly after you make the turn off.

Enjoy: this is an excellent half day trip from Chiang Khong. You could combine it with a trip to Kaeng Pha Dai @ the Mekong end of the road, on GTR here
Pha Dai - Wiang Kaen - The Mekong End Of The Road

 

[David Learmonth]

Discretion is the better part of valour…………..