Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Stream trek: Sheung Luk stream 雙鹿石澗 (Double deer)

Appreciation:
 I'll say 8.5/10 because I think Wong Lung Hang is nicer. 


Why it's worth it: 


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Duration: 
Bus stop to stream: 45 minutes. 2.8k
Stream: 3 hours, ~3k
Hike to bus stop: 1 hour, ~3k
Total: ~5 hours (Do account for 30 minutes shuttle from Sai Kung which is not frequent)


Garmin GPS route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/201383534 


Difficulty: 
10/10. Some parts of the climbs can't bypassed and are not recommended if you are afraid of heights or out of shape.

Cel phone coverage: Rare coverage on stream. Somecoverage on trail coming back.

Water needs: 2 liters.

Transportation: 

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Get to the Diamond Hill MTR station.'s bus terminus, or  Choi Hung MTR exit C2. Bus 92 will get you to Sai Kung any day. It is about 1/3 the price of 96R but it is slightly longer (50 minutes instead of 35). On Sundays and holidays, you have the option of taking 96R. Check the PTES schedule for details (http://hketransport.gov.hk).

Once in Saikung, you can either wait to get to the bus terminus or get out one stop before, at the Police Station. Might be good if you intend to beat the hikers crowd to the 29R village bus which has limited seating (28) and frequency. You will want to get to Chan Man street.

On the left, that's the signpost for the 29R, right by the McDonald's (it looks handmade). The bus itself is a little bit larger than a regular mini-bus (pic on the right). If you miss the bus, take a cab and ask them for the Sai Wan Pavilion.
Sai Wan Pavilion - 西灣亭

After about a 20-25 minutes ride, the 29R will drop you off at the Sai Wan Pavilion, right by our trail head. Just follow the trail.

About halfway to Sai Wan, you'll climb a bunch of steps and get to a map point. Go straight.

Arriving at the Sai Wan village. Just go straight through.

At the crossroad, just before the beach, head left. You'll get over a little hill, to another beach

At the end of the beach, there's a stream and a bridge crosses it at a distance. Walk towards the bridge and go past it on the left-hand side. Go through the bushes and you'll see a clearing with mesh fences forming some sort of a pen. Go around it on the right, keep walking parallel to the stream. Eventually, the view will open up to the stream and the mountain.

Map of the stream with references, via HK Adventurers
(1) You will first go by a punch of deep pools. Pass on the left. When it is hot, these are packed with people.

(2) Refered to as "the wall", Thousand Silk Falls (千絲瀑). Looks harder than it really is. Climb on the right. 



(3) Ming Yau Falls (鳴幽瀑), 30ft tall. Path to bypass is on the right.

We're bypassing the falls, ending up on top.

(4) The 100ft tall Chong Yau Falls (藏幽瀑). Climb on the left. Not very difficult  but it is definitely more work than your regular hiking.

(5) You'll arrive to this gorge with no option but to boulder your way through on the left-hand side. It is a bit tricky.

Black Deer Pool Falls, 45 feet tall. Bypass on the right.

(6) Reindeer Pool (順鹿潭). Climb on the left. Be careful, tricky climb as well.

(7) 60ft-tall Well Bottom Pool(井底潭) Falls which should be bypassed on the right-hand side.

(8) Ben Cho Falls (奔槽瀑). Climb on the left.

Then right after, you reach the exit point. The path on the right is not really obvious but just be on the lookout after the Ben Cho Falls  

You will reach the main trail. Head left. Continue all the way to  Pak Tam road where you can catch the bus back to Sai Kung. A mostly downhill 3k.

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Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!