Getting High at Pirate's Viewpoint, Kamala

[Gforcejunkypkt]

The island's environment surely has its [human-derived] issues that seriously need to be addressed (and yeah, I'm not holding my breath). That said, it does get a bit tiresome reading posts/comments saying what an ugly place Phuket is nowadays...imho it's possible a lot of these folks are just hanging out a bit too much at the wrong places.

So if you'd like to take a break from all the naysayers and see, for example Kamala from a somewhat different perspective, grab a cuppa your favorite....and come along on a recent scooter, trek and on-sight free solo climb to the top of 'Pirate's Viewpoint' at Kamala KIiffs. It was my first visit was well, and it fully reminded me that Phuket's really not such a bad place at all...

*Best watched in HD*

Edited May 29, 2016 by Gforcejunkypkt

[phuketandsee]

Great stuff! Thanks. Is there any other way up there for old farts like me?

[Gforcejunkypkt]

Great stuff! Thanks. Is there any other way up there for old farts like me?

Yes, by helicopter and a long rope Thanks for watching and your comment @phuketandsee -- kind of tricky to answer your question though -- as I know some old farts who are in better shape than many young farts (and at 49 I'm no young gun), so it really depends on what kind of shape one is in.

Basically if you could manhandle a scooter (or even better a light enduro) up the pretty steep 'road' to get to the path which cuts off left and then goes directly across the mountain, then yes you could get up to the area (though off-road riding experience sometime in the past would certainly help; and you have to be pretty careful coming back down, it's steep with loose gravel, dirt and ruts, so not difficult at all to lay her down, just have to go slow and use brakes smartly.

Likewise if someone were into hiking, esp. hilly stuff (which I really am not, and wanted to save my energy for climbing) and in decent shape, they could hike up the approx. 600 m. approach 'road', go past the big villa construction site, then turn off to the left at the trail you see me riding in pretty thick vegetation. From there it's a relatively easy (and beautiful) hike about 500m to get under the the rocks. However, to get from the path up to the rocks though is a pretty tough ~160m hike, esp. if you're carrying a heavy pack as I was, it's mostly about 70-80 degree; I was dying...

Interestingly though, the path itself goes further past below the rocks, and if you look close enough on Google Earth or Bing Maps, it looks like it actually curves up, around and back to the top of the cliffs (why though is currently a complete mystery to me). I didn't go further on this first visit as I wanted to get up to the rock, but this is likely the easiest way to the top of the cliffs.

Plz excuse the long post....with this kind of stuff I'd always want to give as good as info as possible and hopefully not lead anyone astray; if one were to get lost, hurt or say bit by a snake up there you'd likely be *ucked

Here's a Google Earth pic showing the route to get under the cliffs:

[phuketandsee]

Thanks for all the detail. I'm in decent enough shape to hike it but this is not quite the weather for it. I will definitely try it next dry season though.

[Gforcejunkypkt]

Thanks for all the detail. I'm in decent enough shape to hike it but this is not quite the weather for it. I will definitely try it next dry season though.

Good on 'ya, you'll enjoy it. I also plan to re-visit the area as there are at least a couple of other rock formations there I'd like to explore/climb. Also if you see at the top right corner of the Google Earth pic above, there's a placemark named 'What is this on Kamala Mt.?' -- it looks to possibly be a quite large rock wall (just northwest of Kamala Lake), and for sure I'd like to check it out some time to see if it's suitable for climbing. But like yourself I'm going to wait for the dry season

[Guest]

Thanks for sharing! It's great to see not so traditional ways to experience Phuket.

[gandalf12]

Sounds a bit like Adams Peak in Sri Lanka. That starts off flat but increases in gradient. Took me 4 hours to get to the top and 2 to get back down. Worth it though

[Gforcejunkypkt]

Thanks for sharing! It's great to see not so traditional ways to experience Phuket.

Nice to hear from you oilinki buddy, I trust you are still up to your own adventures and taking beautiful photos.

[Gforcejunkypkt]

Sounds a bit like Adams Peak in Sri Lanka. That starts off flat but increases in gradient. Took me 4 hours to get to the top and 2 to get back down. Worth it though

I checked out Adams Peak online just now -- beautiful formation that yes looks very inviting to climb! (but I better even tougher than Kamala Kliffs as it looks to be decently higher; also I was able to 'cheat' by going a good portion of the way by extreme scootering That's a proper accomplishment gandalf12 to be sure, and I bet good memories.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Gforcejunkypkt

[gandalf12]

Sounds a bit like Adams Peak in Sri Lanka. That starts off flat but increases in gradient. Took me 4 hours to get to the top and 2 to get back down. Worth it though

I checked out Adams Peak online just now -- beautiful formation that yes looks very inviting to climb! (but I better even tougher than Kamala Kliffs as it looks to be decently higher; also I was able to 'cheat' by going a good portion of the way by extreme scootering That's a proper accomplishment gandalf12 to be sure, and I bet good memories.

Wonderful memories. My driver kept making excuses as to why I couldn't go and walk up it but being a bit stubborn I ignored them and went to the top. There is a temple right at the top and the views are unbelievable. If you ever get the chance to do it, go for it. Yes it is very hard but worth the effort

[Gforcejunkypkt]

Disintegrated drive belt...I guess I won't be taking the Honda Click up any more mountains....

[Gforcejunkypkt]

With the recent tragic death of a young UK guy (Aiden Webb, RIP) in Vietnam who was trying to climb Mt. Fansipan by himself, and who may have also attempted some free solo climbing without protection -- see http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/923533-british-climber-aiden-webb-missing-in-vietnam-jungle-after-calling-for-help/ (they have since located his body and are trying to retrieve it) -- at the risk of being over-dramatic I am reminded that I should have put in the follow disclaimer/advice when making the OP:

1) Every adult is responsible for their own actions. Do not attempt to highball or free solo climb this or any rock without protection unless you are a very experienced climber and super confident in both your abilities and the rock quality. Even then you or I may die. (Google John Bachar, one of the greatest climbers and free soloists of all time.). Nearly all the news reports say the UK lad was a "very experienced climber" -- at 22 yr. old, most climbers would agree this is very doubtful.... Aiden had reportedly just completed his very first free solo climb a few days beforehand, and imho was probably still riding a wave of elation/confidence...but shit happens and that's all there is to it. [Also he might not have been free soloing at the time he was injured, they're not sure yet; he might just have gone off the established trail and fell in a ravine or down a waterfall].

2) It is generally not advised to go climbing or for that matter really do anything alone in the wild; take a friend along! Call me a hypocrite, I can live with that, it's just the way I've rolled in most of my adventures for over 30 years now, but I certainly would not recommend others to do it. [As a side note: a good buddy was following my every few steps with a real-time GPS tracker...still if I would have fallen and gotten seriously hurt, maybe losing a lot of blood or whatever, it really is questionable whether rescuers would have been able to get to me in time given the location/terrain, I acknowledge this and was aware beforehand the risk I was taking -- you should be too].

Edited June 13, 2016 by Gforcejunkypkt