Chiang Mai - rock tower downhill

[chiangmaiexpat]

I tried out a new MTB route last weekend (GPS track + description), which is NOT on Doi Pui / Doi Suthep for a change. The trip starts on Rd. 1096, leads through the Mae Sa valley, then up to Mon Cham and back to Mae Rim on a downhill forest trail. The route is named for the rock tower viewpoint (1400m) which it passes near Mon Cham. Highly recommended.

Cheers, CM-Expat

[ogb]

Thanks for posting this.

How would you describe the climb, compared to say the Suthep/Palace climbs or some of the other local climbs?

[chiangmaiexpat]

The altitude difference is roughly the same as from the zoo to Doi Suthep (i.e. climb from 400m to 1050m), 100 vertical metres more if you want to go all the way to the restaurant, 300 vertical metres more if you want to go to the rocktower viewpoint. The road from Pong Yaeng to Mon Cham is shorter and steeper though, which means this section is really exhausting, but you are rewarded with food and drink and great views at the top. For more details, see the altitude profile in the link I posted.

Cheers, CM-Expat

[ogb]

Thanks. Sounds like it will be slow going for me, but I plan to give it a go when the weather clears a bit.

[impulse]

Do they offer oxygen on the menu at the restaurant?

Business idea. Especially for us old farts. They could charge me whatever they wanted.

[rebo]

Made it today. Wow - what a stunning place the summit is, especially at weather conditions as we had today: magic atmosphere in the fog forest ... But also the various "Mon XYZ" settlements offer beautiful views (and mediocre accomodations even though 1'000 THB/night don't match what is effectively offered. But the look-outs ...) worth to spend at least some hours.

Didn't have the balls to go down the mentioned remote single trail because I was alone and would probably not have been found on time in case of mishap. So I continued the loop on the #4027 which was also a nice 20 km descent into Mae Rim.

Thanks, CNXpat, for introducing this wonderful piece of urban hinterland.