Hiking revelations along Maclehose Trail Stage 3

Maclehose Trail Section 3 begins with a long pull up a hill

but the sights from the trail make for a great reward

The trail passed through landscapes that I almost have

a hard time believing are actually in Hong Kong!

 

 And the clouds in the sky really added to the

overall natural beauty on display this afternoon ;)

Every year since 1986, the Oxfam Trailwalker has seen its participants attempting to complete the entire 100km Maclehose Trail in 48 hours or less.  At this year's event, the winning team took only 10 hours and 58 minutes to go the entire distance, one that also involved going up and down several hills and mountains.

 

I personally know at least three people who have taken part in the Oxfam Trailwalker and have a couple of other friends who have talked about taking part in the event one of these days.  But I have to say that however admirable its fundraising component, I simply cannot envision myself ever taking part -- because I truly would find the going way too arduous for my liking.

 

This fact was hammered home this afternoon when a friend and I hiked along a section of Maclehose Trail Stage 3.  More specifically, our route took in the first seven kilometers or so of it but detoured down to Pak Tam village and the Lady Maclehose Holiday Village rather than also include the ascent up Kai Kung Shan (that's made more challenging than it otherwise would be because the trail descends down a valley before necessitating a haul up a few hundred vertical meters up again) and then down it that comprises the final portion of this stage of the Maclehose Trail -- and even so, it took us some four hours to complete.

 

And it's not just that the first couple of kilometers of straight uphill climbing were on the challenging side.  For the truth of the matter is that, like many other sections of the Maclehose Trail, this portion passed through some landscapes so beautiful that I couldn't help but pause every once in a while to admire and plain enjoy them -- and of course take plenty of photos along the way!

 

Put another way: I hike to exercise and I often do get a sense of accomplishment upon completing certain hikes -- but those are far from the only reasons that I love hiking so much.  For I really do love how hiking allows me to see so much more of Hong Kong -- and appreciate its natural beauty -- than I would be able to if I only stuck to sections of the territory accessible to motorized vehicles.  And, as was the case this afternoon, it truly is amazing to temporarily remove oneself to a place where the loudest sounds are made by birds chirping and one can behold vistas with not a single building in sight! :)