To Reach The Summit Of Phu Langkha

ianyonok

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The bike was all packed up for a few days camping.
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Out on the 1148 from Chiang Kham and the view of the impressive mountain of Phu Langkha
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The 4020 turn off........
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.......takes you northeast towards the mountain......
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......passing the Royal Project coffee shop and into the National Park campsite.
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Testing a new ultralight single skin tent. Packs up tiny and weighs only 630grams including poles and pegs... amazing.
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With collapsible camping chair, micro cooker, collapsible kettle & cup and billycan set.
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The view north from the top of the campsite. Elevation here about 900m.
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Looking up to Phu Langkha.
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The Amazon shop coffee bags make a pretty good cuppa.
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Looking down the campsite that takes about 300 tents, but today was only taking one.....
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Cooking dinner...
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Salmon fillets with lemon, boiled mixed veg with mint and fried potatoes, with home made multigrain bread.
A little finer cuisine than packet noodles.....
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This is an excellent piece of kit; Sawyer Mini water filter. Just had 2 x 330cc water bottles with me. This filter takes out 99.999% of all nasties and saves carrying a lot of bulky water bottles. Make water anywhere, muddy puddles or park bathrooms.
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There is a dirt road up the mountain, but not open for vehicles in October. So, I decided to hike up. It was 06:00 am.
The single skin tent was pretty wet on the inside... erm... not sure about that, but the sleeping bag was only a little damp.
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The tarmac road goes for about 0.5 klm.
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Right, gonna be in for a decent walk here.....
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Danger; 4WD and dirt bikes only, but from November only. I was too early.....
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A steady and fairly steep ascent through the woods.
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Phu Langkha waterfall..... maybe.... on the way back. The track looked overgrown and wet.
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On and Up....
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These look like chestnuts, edible when ripe.
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Looking back at the Talay Mork, sea of fog, in the valley.
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This would be fairly technical even on a dirt bike. Actually quite steep. Hard work, hiking up here.
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Surprise surprise, at the top of the dirt road, 6 little bikes......
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...... but all with chains on the tyres.

I did see a jungle fowl up here, so I guess these were local hunters.
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The top of the mountain camp site.
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Only a walking trail from here. 200m to Doi Nom and 600m to Doi Langkha.
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Wet and overgrown path.
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But now up to the ridgeline and it was 08:00.
2 hours hiking up, I was already very tired and aching......
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Looking northeast up to Langkha....
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But, thought I'd I hike up to Nom mountain first. Suitably named due to it's rounded shape. Steep sided mountains alright!
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Slightly hazy weather but fantastic views. This looking west back to 1148 and the road in to the National Park..
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The top of Phu Nom.
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Looking northeast along the ridge and up to Langkha.
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Back to the spirit house in the middle.
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An 8" millipede.
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Some kind person dragged this concrete seat up here, much appreciated, Thank you.
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Very wet tall vegetation over the pathway.
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Danger; Risk of falling off the ridge.
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2 hours 45 minutes hiking and I've reached the summit of Phu Langkha. Fantastic.
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The Seat of Angels. The second sign says don't stand on the rock. I paid my respects and placed a shiny new 10 Baht coin on the rock.
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Looking eastnortheast out along the ridge towards the Laos border in the distance.
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A bit hazy, but looking at Phu Armah to the north and the great promontory behind the village of PangTham, in the distance.
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The clouds were blowing over me which was nice and cooling in the warm sun.
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Had seen no-one all morning. A great feeling of escapism.
I sat for a while in contemplation... up in the clouds.....at 1720m, with a feeling of exhaustion, but elation, having reached the summit and The Seat of Angels.
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Stunning views... from so high up.
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Then it was time to return. A last look up to the summit on the ridge, knowing I wouldn't be back.
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Steep drops, all around.
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Phu Arnmah again.
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At some point on the hike down, I noticed a pink colour on my trousers.......
Looking under.... Ha, I've been leeched.
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Back at the campsite, by midday, found a second leech had been sucking away between my toes.
That's what happens when you go hiking in rainy season.... without leech socks.
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The buggers inject a chemical which prevents the blood from coagulating, so it just keeps oozing out. My first aid kit was at the campsite.
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After cleaning up and ingesting copious amounts of electrolytes, time to cook lunch; Chicken and veg green curry with fried potatoes and bread.
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A tortoise wandering by...
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After breaking camp, I rode a little way east on 1148, then turned on to a small road that heads north over the mountain ridge to drop down towards another Royal project. From there I got a great view of the Phu Langkha ridgeline; Phu Nom left of centre and Phu Langkha right of centre.
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I had hiked 4klms, from altitude 900m up to 1720m, then 4klms back down again. All in half a day.
My legs were killing me.... decided to curtail my camping trip and go home to recuperate...... hopefully to...
"Hike another day.....!"
 

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Oddvar

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Great report and trip, and awesome pictures.
Anyone heard about the Thai tobacco leaf leach repellent remedy, or whatever it is?
 

DavidFL

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Fabulous. Can we call you the Solitary Mountain Man from now on?

Was this
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"a small road that heads north over the mountain ridge to drop down towards another Royal project."

Is there only one road in and out, or is there a loop we can do?
 

ianyonok

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Oddvar,
I've heard something like that about tobacco but don't know the details. Would be interesting to know.
But I have these at home.. forgot to take them..
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They do work.... well.... at least until the leeches work out how to climb high enough to get over the top of them...

David,
Think that particular road is not a loop. It comes north off the 1148 about 10klms east of the Phu Langkha turn.
The turn off is on a ridge and opposite a noticeable sala with a yellow roof and great views southwest. I think they advertise fresh strawberries there at the end of the year. It is before you get to the Phu Langkha resort, which is really over the next ridge before Sakoen.
 
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Rod Page

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Great report mate.
One of the true adventurers, one of the better gifted writers out & about; your enthusiasm can be felt in every word.
Many thanks for your efforts.
 

Kiwi Cruiser

Ben Kemp
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May 26, 2007
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Leeches give me the creeps - nasty little things! I've been the recipient of their attentions a couple of times.

How anyone could contemplate a handful of those as a valid medical therapy is quite beyond me!
- What is Leech Therapy?

These mountaineering expeditions are impressive, I'm still plodding the 2kms plodding up Doi Chang when weather permits. That's more of an effort to contain my waistline than a genuine attempt to set any altitude records though! 5555
 

Monster Man

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Jul 12, 2018
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What a great read. Sitting here in Melbourne reading your posts fills me with inspiration and never fails to get me day dreaming of my own upcoming life in your beautiful part of the world. Thank you Ian.
 

ianyonok

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Hi Monster Man, Thank you for the comment.
Those of us who live here in this beautiful part of the world, are indeed lucky.
 

Moto-Rex

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Great report Ian.

You've once again shown me a great location to add to my must do rides list.

Thanks sharing.

Love the mud chains.
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Moto-Rex