Mapping Shan State Myanmar borders areas

[KTMphil]

Mapping Shan State, Myanmar borders areas


Was itching to take the KTM 300 EXC-E 2-stroke somewhere, Auke wanted some mapping data towards the Shan State, Myanmar border in north west Thailand, so it seemed a good excuse to go riding.





A good thing about being on R 1095 (road to Mae Hong Son) at 0600am is that you get to see the moisture rise

 

[KTMphil]

"School bus" headed towards Pang Mapha (Soppong)

After the windy drive west, gave the Lemon Hill GH a shot in Pang Mapha, 500 bht, not bad for the money.

Being right on the Nam Lang river, the sound of the rushing water sends you straight to sleep

Inquired at the Rock Garden GH, cheapest room was 1,500bht, so not for me.


The market in Pang Mapha is directly opposite the Lemon Hill GH, handy for preparing for a few days riding in the sticks

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[KTMphil]

Early morning in Pang Mapha (Soppong)

Then off to the Ranger checkpoint on R 4015, 3 Km north of the Nam Khong Police box (junction R 1095 & R 4015) - Notice the map in the far left of the photo on their hut, more on that later

1st days mapping, I initially wanted to get to Ban Huay Sa (some call it Ban Huoy Sun). It's to the west of R 4015 on a 50/50 dirt & concrete road. Lots of steep up's and downs, but well worth the trip. As far as I know this road and village currently isn't on any maps of this region, so good to get the unique data.

Map Copyright ©www.RideAsia.net - Permission to copy required

 

[KTMphil]

Ban Huay Sa is really out in the middle of no-where, the first views you get of the village are breathtaking

Ban Huay Sa Village, the people are from the Lahu tribe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahu_people)

Any electricity came from solar

The rangers admin and accommodation area

 

[alexuk]

any problems with military checkpoints?

 

[KTMphil]

After the visit to Ban Huay Sa, Off NNE to the Shan border at Loi Tai Leng, mapping the dirt trails on the way

It's currently difficult to get into the Shan State Army camp at loi Tai Leng, advisable to try and get a permit at the Mae Hong Son Government office


Then SE to the Shan checkpoint at the road Wah tribe. You can see the Wah tribe checkpoint on the top right of the map below

The checkpoint, looking north

Had a go at getting into the Wah village, cigarettes nor cash didn't help, but the Thai military commander was kind enough to take me to his look out

From the look out, you can see the Shan State Army's look out post to the left & the Wah look out to the right, amazing how close they are considering only 4 years ago these tribes were still at war with each other.

The road from the Thai Army checkpoint that leads to the Wah village

 

[KTMphil]

Then off south to get some more tracks and waypoint data, we've got most of the fuel shops mapped in the area now

Looks like they were getting ready for sports day at one of the local schools near the border

Got some decent data for Auke on the way down

R 1226 at the more southern end

 

[KTMphil]

The village of Ban Pang Kham is only 5km south of the Loi Tai Leng border. Here you can get fuel, food & cold drinks. The photo below shows the dirt road north to Loi Tai Leng

Beautiful views in the Ban Pang Kham area

One of the dirt roads near Ban Pang Kham that Auke already had mapped, it continued some more

 

[KTMphil]

9 hours of mapping i was pretty knackered - back to the ranger checkpoint to get organized for the night.

I gave them one of the RideAsia.net - "North Thailand Road & Off-Road" maps, which the proudly stuck up on the checkpoint hut

 

[KTMphil]

1KM north of the Nam Khong police box, on R 1095 (road to MHS) TURN RIGHT onto R 4015 is the "Wilderness Lodge" 1km north. Heading north on R 4015, it's a turn on your RHS

The bridge is strong enough for motorbikes, stay to you RHS

Peter, who runs the place charged me 100 bht to sleep inside this tent with a clean pillow case and blankets ( Colin would be proud)

It has the same feel to it as the Cave Lodge & funnily enough the story goes that John who own the Cave Lodge, built the Wilderness Lodge for his sister-in-law.

 

[KTMphil]

The Wilderness Lodge is an EXCELLENT base to use for exploring the area by dirt bike. Below Peter who runs the Wilderness Lodge

There are bungalows there too

 

[KTMphil]

Peter making us some hot tea in the morning

Then off for another days mapping, this time in a NW direction, plan was to get as NW as possible

Map Copyright ©www.RideAsia.net - Permission to copy required


Some beautiful mountains on the way north

They are several villages on R 4015 north, most of them (probably all) have fuel available, some even have 95 octane benzine

 

[KTMphil]

A lady with a basket supported by her head feeding her pigs

 

[KTMphil]

Spectacular views half way north on R 4015

Helicopter pad for the Thai Military

Poking around off of R 4015, the views were amazing

Farmers working the hillside fields

 

[KTMphil]

At the north end of R 4015, near the Shan border, there's a dirt loop to the east, with great views

Exploring off R 4015

 

[KTMphil]

More exploring off R 4015

 

[KTMphil]

This is at the very north end of R 4015, at the village of Ban Khong. A new Dam is being buily

Here at the very north end of R 4015 looking east - this might be a trail through to Myanamar, which would be just over the hill

The village of Ban Khong at the very north end of R 4015, there is fuel available here

 

[KTMphil]

Managed to collect quite a bit of data for the area, Auke will add it to the map

 

[KTMphil]

The trail through the national park at the very north end of R 4015 next to the village of Ban Khong

Very nearly got stuck here

A Shan Wat on the way down

Another Shan Wat

 

[KTMphil]

Concrete wall to protect the village from the rising river in rainy season

Lots of Thai military checkpoints on R 4015 being so close to the Shan, Myanmar border

 

[KTMphil]

More great views from R 4015

A very cool tree

Looks like this was the end of this trail

 

[KTMphil]

Beautiful dirt trails in the area (now it's dry)

Outside a Shan Wat

 

[KTMphil]

The Nam Khong river that runs parallel tp R 4015 is beautiful

 

[KTMphil]

More shots of R 4015

Village in the distance

Looks like the public telephone system works off of microwave

 

[KTMphil]

Typical house on R 4015

 

[KTMphil]

any problems with military checkpoints?

Just trying to get into the Wah village, they weren't budging!

 

[Lone Rider]

Wow, was tempted to join but too busy with work and mapping but, when looking at the pictures, I made a very wrong decision. The weather is so nice and the views just magnificent. Thanks for the pictures and write up and getting all that data for the North Thailand Off Road Map.

 

[MastaMax]

a pleasure to read Phil, great report!

 

[LUFC]

How did the scooter perform?

Get any accurate fuel consumption figures for it? I know you were concerned about that.

 

[Captain_Slash]

Some great photos there Phil plus lots of new tracks for the map

 

[KTMphil]

LUFC - The 2-smoker performed flawlessly, even with all the gear on the back.

Because, i was off scouting & didn't know what fuel availability would be like, I carried a 10 liter bladder full of pre-mix in the © Giant Loop Coyote bag, worked very well.

Every village i saw fuel, i topped up to give me the most range in the sticks, so didnt get any accurate fuel ratings, but would guess about 12km per liter. Also was forced to run on 91 octane & wasn't an issue which was a pleasant surprise. Have to remember to keep adding that 2-stroke mix.

How did the scooter perform?

Get any accurate fuel consumption figures for it? I know you were concerned about that.

 

[AlexUSA]

Very nice

 

[KTMphil]

A map and GPS co-ords. of the Wildlife Resort 20km west of Pang Mapha/ Soppong. It makes a great cheap base for exploring the very north west corner of Thailand, with unspoiled hill tribe life.