Unsuccessful entry in Loi Tai Leng

[KTMphil]

Unsuccessful entry in Loi Tai Leng






At the last minute, it looked like I had time to get to the Loi Tai Leng, Shan State Army Parade day on February 7th, 2012. I has been warned by a friend that is an officer in the Shan State Army that it might not be possible without a Mae Hong Son Government permit, but i gave it a shot.


Managed to get up to Pang Mapha/ Soppong before dark and had been curious to try immaculately manicured "The Rock" Chalets in Pang Mapha.





There's a fantastic girl runs the coffee shop there, her sister owns the GH business. they wanted 1,000 bht, talked them into 800 bht, was a great deal for a beautiful chalet.
















The Rock has a great garden area with bridges on the river, would be a perfect place to bring the chic for a weekend

 

[KTMphil]

Pang Mapha was pretty quiet, usually like to eat at Little Eden but it was shut, so grabbed a bite at the Soppong River Inn, then 53 seconds of Red Tube and off to sleep ready for a 0615am start.





It was great being in the mountains north of R 1095 so early, the sun has to climb pretty high to rise above the peaks

 

[KTMphil]

Then more beautiful views





Then disaster - at the very 1st checkpoint, the soldier radios his boss and he's told no-one through without a permit




I've never been not been able to pass this checkpoint in the passed. Luckily, I knew several back ways around. You can see on the tracks below where teh gap in the magenta trail is. On the eastern side is where I turned around south and then headed west over to another trail that would take me north towards Loi Tai Leng








More to come .............

 

[KTMphil]

So back track from that checkpoint and see some of the views that were in the mirror








With all the trucks and cars & no rain, the mud has turned to a fine powder, basically riding in sand in the dirt track more west, lean back and power on.





Beautiful views ahead of the flowing trail, areal joy to ride up




Then I get to the Loi Tai Leng (Shan State, Myanmar) border checkpoint, it's a very bright day, not a cloud in the sky





The Soldiers were all pretty excited, as they were confused how I could have got passed the checkpoints "downstream".




On a clear day the view looking east at the checkpoint is spectacular

 

[KTMphil]

I tried to get hold of the Shan State Army officer, who might have been able to talk me in, but no signal, while trying on the phone, I couldn't get over how blue the sky was, bright blue







You can just make out the trails through the mountains in this shot'




It wasn't going anywhere, so time to turn around and do some exploring on the way south - more deep powder on a different trail south

 

[KTMphil]

Stopped down in Ban Pang Kham, A Tai Yai village about 6km south of Loi Tai Leng for some fuel & found these guys admiring what seemed to be a new gun to them









Ban Pan Kham from the next hill, behind it you can make out the dirt trail up to Loi Tai Leng

 

[Ally]

Looks like you enjoyed yourself despite the apparent dissapointment, you should be happy you saw that blue sky, wonderful scene Phil.
:RO

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

Had a few hours spare, so poked around and got some new data for Auke, this region, with its hill tribe villages is fabulous.






A few obstacles here and there





This view gives an idea of how great the roads and trails are north of R 1095 towards the border

 

[KTMphil]

This barbed wire around the Army barracks is new here at this checkpoint









Building a new bamboo house, they told me it would be finished in 3 days, in this Lehu village










So it wasn't a wasted trip, got to ride again in the fascinating area, through some new trails and new villages

 

[barrygrussell]

Great post and images, which has left me trying to figure out why I still live in Bangkok!!

 

[KTMphil]

Great post and images, which has left me trying to figure out why I still live in Bangkok!!

There's still some great undiscovered new riding up here Barry, we're updating the North Thailand Road & Off-Road data all the time, it's a great project. Even in the last couple of days I got some new data up there, fantastic region

 

[KTMphil]

Looking at the tracks, it's starting to look like there might be a link "east-west" of a couple of trails.

I've marked in red where the trails might link, a job for the future

 

[KTMphil]

The dirt trail north from Ban Pang Kham, 6km north to the Thai Army border checkpoint with the Shan State Army camp, Loi Tai Leng

 

[nikster]

Nice pix phil, nice report. That is indeed a very blue sky, wow!

 

[RoadcaptainPeter]

Hi Phil,
great pics and good adventure, like all your postings. Thanks man.
Greetz from Goa,
RC Peter

 

[Captain_Slash]

A bit of a bummer being turned back Phil after getting through last time