Off-road to Doi Inthanon with Midnight Mapper & Harry

[KTMphil]

Off-road to Doi Inthanon with Midnight Mapper & Harry



Midnight Mapper was still in town and Harry had some trails towards Doi Inthanon he wanted to show us . What view were in store for us after a night of rain - amazing

A river crossing just a "little" (lot) too deep

The route SW of Chiang Mai

 

[KTMphil]

First off, had to create a very high-tech mount for MM's Garmin Montana, consisting of a pair of boxer shorts (cushion mount under the GPS holder) and gaffer tape

Worked absolutely fine for a whole days hard riding

 

[KTMphil]

As we entered the Ob Kahn National Park, it was interesting to see how swollen the rivers were from the first big rains of the season, a week ago you could have ridden in this river bed

A local lady very curious as to why we would be heading in this direction .... we'd find out why soon enough

 

[KTMphil]

Last Karen house before the nasty steep stuff starts\

From the rain the night before, we weren't sure if we were going to be able to get up this section and may have to turn back

 

[KTMphil]

Around the next bend some Karen locals hunting birds with dogs and a rifle

Then some really nasty stuff -- with the rain the clay was greasy, took 3 of us to get each bike up here

 

[KTMphil]

More nasty steep rutted trails-- Max, Alex, LUFC and Jon would love it

A Karen lady on the trail who told us she was off to pick fragrant leaves

 

[KTMphil]

Harry getting a refreshing drink from a bamboo water faucet

Then more hell trails, here moving rocks to try make things a little easier

On this route there are about 5 very steep sections all in the first third of the trails

This is really steep but as usual doesn't show in the photo too well

 

[KTMphil]

Worn out - nearly at the top

Finished with the nasty rutted hills, now some fun trail riding (with road signs)

I'd never been to Wat Luang before. It's south of Samoeng about 25km on a 4wd trail

 

[KTMphil]

Wat Luang is one of the most beautiful Wat's i've seen in Thailand, This is what you see as you approach it, first views through the trees

And then this as you get closer

Being in the middle of no where it was amazing how well maintained it was

 

[Ally]

I like that temple very much. There is a feeling of solitude there you don't find in many places.

Great pics & report so far, you have still to reach Inthanon!



Ally

 

[KTMphil]

Harry's done many tours on this route and I can see why

There were giant wooden Buddha's in the both buildings

& a beautiful old teak building

 

[KTMphil]

A map of where we are in relation to Wat Luang!

 

[KTMphil]

Would be interested to see the route you take to get there Ally. The way we went was hell, would be interested in easier route SW to take people

I like that temple very much. There is a feeling of solitude there you don't find in many places.

Great pics & report so far, you have still to reach Inthanon!



Ally

 

[johnnysneds]

This looks remarkably like the death valley trails, is it not? i recognize the rutts

Here's the Death Valley trail, is it the same?

 

[KTMphil]

Leaving Wat Luang, Don realizes he a front flat, we try pumping it but it doesn't stay up

We had tools and tubes with us, so we found a bit of shade and got the tube changed

Interesting tip from MM:


When you've got the old tube out of the tire, run a rag around the inside of the tire in case whatever caused the puncture is still imbedded in the tire (thorn, nail etc...), this way you dont risk cutting your fingers.

 

[KTMphil]

All fixed and off through some great forest single track trails

The rain had cleared all the smoke and humidity, giving us great clear views in the Doi Inthanon area, a real treat.

 

[KTMphil]

Jonny -- yes, the SE part of your trail is the same one....it was wet, greasy and nasty.

This looks remarkably like the death valley trails, is it not? i recognize the rutts

Here's the Death Valley trail, is it the same?

 

[KTMphil]

A fast dirt section, the exhaust pitch changed on my exhaust, didnt think much of it, then realized the exhaust was missing

photo: midnight mapper


Scurried back along the track and luckily nothing had run it over

 

[KTMphil]

Wire tied the fixing holes and rode off, the wire ties and then wire didn't hold and ended up putting a nut and bolt in it which held.



Elephant camps in the Ban Huai Pong area, there are a few of them

 

[KTMphil]

this was a close top Doi Inthanon as we'd get, time to turn left and start heading east

A newly de-forested area

 

[KTMphil]

Back into the jungle and trying to see if there's a way around this huge fallen tree

No way around it, the only way is through the river and to limbo with the bike under it

No problems

Then another huge tree, this one we found a way around

MM in the river bed with some very friendly dogs accompanying some fisherman

 

[KTMphil]

The route SE away from Doi Inthanon involves following the river bed, not sure if this route would be possible in rainy season

Cool tree along the way

There were some beautiful, river bed sand trails towards the end as we approached the paved section, after the rain the greenery had returned

 

[LivinLOS]

This looks remarkably like the death valley trails, is it not? i recognize the rutts

Here's the Death Valley trail, is it the same?

I thought the same when I saw the pic..It looks identical..

I would like to give death valley a go.. but that technical bit looked intimidating..

 

[KTMphil]

A fantastic days riding apart from a river crossing that was way too deep..... lots of water in the motor



only option was to turn the bike upside down with the spark plug out, rotate the back wheel in second gear and get the 8 liters of water out of the 2 stroke crank case.



worked surprisingly well



photo: midnight mapper

 

[jb2112]

Wow! Fantastic stuff. Great post and terrific photos. Did the bike make it out?

 

[KTMphil]

Wow! Fantastic stuff. Great post and terrific photos. Did the bike make it out?

JB-- we had it all going again in 20 minutes ...love 2 strokes!

 

[KTMphil]

this was the only way to get the bikes up this horrendous hill



photo: midnight mapper

 

[KTMphil]

At Wat Luang - this route the went S/SW towards Doi Inthanon, not north to Samoeng

This looks remarkably like the death valley trails, is it not? i recognize the rutts

Here's the Death Valley trail, is it the same?

I thought the same when I saw the pic..It looks identical..

I would like to give death valley a go.. but that technical bit looked intimidating..

 

[Ally]

Would be interested to see the route you take to get there Ally. The way we went was hell, would be interested in easier route SW to take people

I like that temple very much. There is a feeling of solitude there you don't find in many places.

Great pics & report so far, you have still to reach Inthanon!



Ally

Phil, indeed there is an easier route, from Mae Win or as Slash did it recently, from the north via Samoeng.

Here is my trip Jan 2010.

I guess having 2 skilled guys along with you made for a tremendous journey.

Ally

 

[Ally]

A map of where we are in relation to Wat Luang!

Who needs a map when you have local knowledge, some flattened earth & a few bits of stick!

Love it !

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

Harry & Don in the river bed

Harry's custom/ purpose made truck for bikes, with built-in loading ramps

 

[LUFC]

Good job getting the KTM going again so quickly. Had this happen before and as you said, its pretty easy on a 2T.

One thing I would recommend Phil is to increase the amount of premix on your next ride, maybe double concentration to say, 32:1 just to make sure the bearings have plenty of oil on them after their little swim. It will smoke a hell of a lot but worth it for more peace of mind.

My (your) poor bike!

 

[KTMphil]

The Karen Eco Lodge about 1km NE of Mae Win looks a very interesting place to stay. Reasonably fancy, near the Elephant parks, rooms im told are about 1,000 bht a night.

They have a pretty cool bamboo bridge across the river

Karen Hill Tribe lodge

Sprawling rice fields, deep green valleys, lush jungle and meandering rivers: the view from the balcony of the Karen Hill Tribe Lodge is unforgettable. Set to a dramatic mountain backdrop, from here you'll see no buildings, roads or power lines. Don't forget your camera.

Built in the traditional Karen Hill tribe style using local pine and bamboo, the lodge interiors have been kitted out with European-style home comforts to make your stay as relaxing as possible. Unlike some of the other accommodation in the area, here you can enjoy your incredibly peaceful location while relaxing in the knowledge that hot water, electricity, comfortable beds and built-in mosquito nets await you after a long day on elephant back.
Keren Hill Tribe Lodge Features

7 twin rooms
3 double rooms
Every room is equipped with comfortable bedding, electric lighting, fans and mosquito nets.
Every room has a private bathroom with a hot shower
Atmospheric dining area, using fresh local produce as well as supplies from Chiang Mai
Lodge bar
Log camp fire every evening
Outstanding natural scenery



The Mae Win area is all set up for elephant safari's, see the link below

http://www.asianelephantsafari.com/home



GPS co-ords of the Karen Eco Lodge near Mae Win

 

[johnnysneds]

Vorsprung durch Technik! Awesome. Whats the three prongs down the right hand side for?
Love the cut-out on the roof

 

[KTMphil]

Havin some fun in the river

 

[KTMphil]

I think he told me its some kind of set up especially for Songkran to attach water hoses - serious!

Vorsprung durch Technik! Awesome. Whats the three prongs down the right hand side for?
Love the cut-out on the roof

 

[Captain_Slash]

Thats a good trip to that wooden temple Phil, heres my trip there from november but the map of my route isnt showing

captain-slash-thailand/the-klx-gets-wet-off-road-from-samoeng-to-mae-win-t1072.html

 

[MastaMax]

Harry & Don in the river bed

Fantastic picture Phil. Looks like a great day riding!

Talking about a hellish trail. I went for a ride on Sunday with Alex USA and our Thai friends, we did a 10km trail up and down a mountain in the Sankampeang area which was basically a boulder field... Only recommended for masochist people haha... I think Derren would have loved it though. Don't think it's worth putting it on the north Thailand map as it's barely doable walking.

 

[Ally]

Talking about a hellish trail. I went for a ride on Sunday with Alex USA and our Thai friends, we did a 10km trail up and down a mountain in the Sankampeang area which was basically a boulder field... Only recommended for masochist people haha... I think Derren would have loved it though. Don't think it's worth putting it on the north Thailand map as it's barely doable walking.

[attachment=0:17h35ryz]boulders.jpg[/attachment:17h35ryz]

Max, can you provide the co-ordinates for that trail, I think I know someone that will want them. They like taking bikes for walks!

:boxing

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

That looks horrendous - like the Erzberg rock field