After 4 months of preparation, I was facing the coldest ever Hong Kong trailwalker event. Just a week before the event, before I was flying out of Singapore, the weather forecast was 17-22 degree which is perfect temperature for trekking. I pack lightly with a SKINS long pant, one dry-fit t-shirt, one wind-breaker, that's all. In my support pack, I add, a spare t-shirt, a long-sleeve polo shirt, a long track-pant, towel, spare shoe etc.
But just 2 days later, the weather changed a lot and the temperature in Hong Kong dropped to 12 degree. Since my wife fly out later than me, she helped to pack an extra fleece long-sleeve polo shirt.
On the day of the event, it was cold, around 12-17 degree in the city and down to 7 degree in the mountain in the new territory. My team was team 0157 consists of 4 members all from HKUST MBA (Johny, me, Roger and our team captain YC). Our team is at the 9:00am start. We trek the first three stage under the daylight. Clothing was not a problem at all as it was a sunny day. I just wear a dri-fit t-shirt with a wind breaker. In stage one, it is very easy, paved road, beautiful scene around the High Island Reservoir. We top up some water and head for stage 2.
The first mountain to tackle is the Sai-Wan Shan (300m). When we finish the Sai Wan Shan, we reached checkpoint 1. We stopped to eat. I just had a banana plus an energy bar. Then we head for Ham Tin and Chek Keng and arrive checkpoint 2 at Pak Tam Au. One of the team member Roger has a problem with the ITB. I helped him to put on a pattstrap to see if it can help to control the problem. So far, the first 2 stages are relatively easy. From checkpoint 2, we need to climb up the Kai Kung Shan which is 400m tall. This started the most difficult two stages - 3 & 4. Not only we needed to climb up from sealevel to 400m but also dropped down to 150m and climb up to 400m again. In between, the sun started to set at around 5:30pm. The wind started to blow strong and is getting cold. I put on the extra fleece polo shirt and turn on the head-mounted light. The team arrived at Shui Long Wu at around 7pm. Roger was doing ok during the stage 3. The support team was waiting for us and serve us congee with seafood, sweet potato dessert. We stayed there for more than an hour. And the weather is getting colder and colder. One of my team mate has an extra long sleeve t-shirt and loan it to me. It proved to be essential.
Then, we started again to tackle the most difficult stage 4 during the night. I was really cold and the wind blows really hard. We head for the Ma On Shan (550m+). When we are passing the Ma On Shan pass, we were walking on the ridge with Kowloon on one side and New Territory on the other side. The wind was blowing so strong that I had to lower my center of gravity and fight the wind. The gust wind can blow and move my body left and right for up to 0.5m There is a fear that someone may blow off the ridge into the valley (though nobody suffer from that). Right after passing the ridge, we grouped in an area just below the ridge where the wind is calmer. However, with the cold weather and not enough clothing, I quickly feel that my body was cooling down too much. I told my team captain that I cannot stay and have to get started. Even without his reply, I have started my way. I was at the edge of hypothermia. If I had stayed station for another 30 seconds, my body will go into un-controlled shivering. The team captain quickly catch up with me. But after a while, he had to stop to rub Bengay. But it was so cold that even after drinking a cup of ginger tea, I was still feeling very cold. I had to jog in a small loop nearby just to keep myself warm enough. We went on to finish the stage 4. But then, one of the team member who has a knee pain had to give up due to excessive swelling of the knee.
We continue with just three of us into stage 5 and need to go through Tate's Cairn. But half way into stage 5, our team captain's knee also get into trouble (ITB problem). He had to quit as well. That left Johny and me to continue. Johny's knee did not feel right as well (ITB problem again). My right knee also started to have pain at ITB and I started to be careful in going down steps. We went through the Lion's Rock and to the Beacon Hill to complete the stage 5. But at the checkpoint, it is so cold and with such as strong wind that we decided not to stop but move on to stage 6.
Through the Golden Hill, we arrive at the Jubilee Reservoir when the sun finally take over the sky. We endure through the night in the tough stage 4, 5 & 6. Now, we need to face the famous three mountains - Needle Hill, Grass Hill and Tai Mo Shan which is the highest mountain in Hong Kong. After recharge in Jubilee Reservoir with the support team.
The Needle Hill is tall (600m+) and have many steps. The top is very windy as well. We quickly decent the Needle Hill after reaching the top. The next is Grass Hill. This one is much easier as we are walking on paved road. After decenting the Grass Hill, we reached checkpoint 7. After 15 rest and eating, we setoff to the last major climb - Tai Mo Shan with the peak at 952m. The initial climb is tough but after the 1st stage, it becomes more gentle and easier to climb. The last stage is paved road to the top. After reaching the top, now is a long descent via a paved road to Tsuen Kam Au which is checkpoint 8.
When we arrive checkpoint 8, the sun is about to set. The support team has provided dumpling with sticky rice and sweet potato dessert. After a 30 mins rest and recharge, we turn on the headmount light and head for the stage 9. Stage 9 is a long paved road for about 9km+, mostly descent. So, it is not a difficult stage at all. However, with the knee problem, my teammate has some problem in going down the gentle slope. I loan him my walking pole and it works for him. With two poles, he can move at 5km+/hr!! After about 2 hour+, we arrive at checkpoint 9.
After 15 minutes break/rest, we continue to stage 10 toward Tai Lam Chung Reservoir. The path was twisty and in go down some stairs, my team mate had made problem on his knee worst. We slow down and move slowly (2~3km/hr) towards our finish point - Tai Tong.
After about 5km along the reservoir, we turn north into the new route towards Tai Tong. Johny took a 3 minutes stretch and then we head up the slope towards Tai Tong. We went up the slope surprisingly quick. And after the "new route confirmation point", the route turned into up-and-down steps which is very painful for people with ITB problem. Both Johny and me had to go down the steps slowly. After all these steps, another long uphill slope. Then, we saw Tai Tong campsite. But there is still 2km to go. We go around the campsite, finally reached the finish line at 9 mins passed mid-night. Total time spent is 39 hours, 9 minutes.
I did not have any blister on my foot but I had a very painful ITB. After about a week, my ITB just started to feel better (at least can walk downstair like normal). The trailwalker is a very good experience and I am glad that I finished the event.
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