Tai Mo Shan Hiking

Today, we started at Tai Mo Shan bottom walked up to top of the Mountain, then down hill to the small hut there are check Point 144. Whilst the rains poured for about 25 minutes, we could not wait and we walked to top of Tai Mo Shan and down hill back to where we started In the morning.It was a nice walk as it was not hot, but the rain might prevent us to run too fast down the hill, we completed this trail of about 13Km in 2 hours.

HK Snob

NeedleHill before the Tempest

Needle Hill is probably the most popular trail for me in the past 15 years, over 50 times up and down this Hill. It was a tropical warning Signal No. 1 yesterday and we had moved up to the top in 38 minutes! Slow... yes... because of the intense heat under the Sun. It was about 31 degrees yesterday in the morning, and once we walked down the hill on the other side, The sky grew darker and darker, we saw volume of leaves blwoing in front of the trail. and then rained not long later.. It was a heavy raning evening last night, and over night till now...

MacLehose Snob

Ngong Ping 360 Trail walking on a Hot Dragon Boat Festival

With numerous walks up the Ngong Ping 360 cable car maintenance trails. Today ‘s one can be one of toughest, as today Weather forecast is 32 degrees early in the morning.
The hottest Dragon Boat Festival day was 2007, recorded a temperature of 32.9 deg C. The next high temp. Was dated back 1980 and then 1961.
Well, I think today Temperature right at top of the Hill was far hotter than 32 Deg C, I did not have my Tissot Touch anymore, or it may shock me displaying a temperature of 34 deg C likely. We took quite some time to walk up the hill to Ngong Ping.
The last section of the trail was blocked for repair and we had to detour to another far more big up-hill trail before we could reach the Great Buddha at Ngong Ping, anyway it was a great hike! And I did use the pair Diamond Zero crane, it helped a lot, the New Meindl Stride proved to be one of the bets shoes I have used. Though it is the maiden Voyage trip for it, It did not feel hard not uncomfortable… The 300 years of Meindl Shoe making experience was nevertheless a respectful data in perfect the shoe.

Ngong Ping Snob

Meindl Stride will beat Icebug Heros!?

This was classified a disaster for my last two pieces of IceBug Heros as they are very expensive.
They are perfect in the wet gripping, good cushioned sole, elegant comfort, But yesterday I found that the inner liners was broken toe portions due to some workmanship. That broken portion folded up and added extra pressure point on my right toe. I could not run down hill and shin was rubbed away, the sweated irritated me and I could walk slowly. I used Heros only THREE time,,, one Needle hill, Wang Lung Hang and Yesterday’s Phoenix.. I think that us unreasonably poor quality, this put me a question mark. Should I use it for this year trail Walker!? No!

I talked to Protrek and they will feed back to Icebug on that. Immediately I bought a old Brand Meindl Stride ref, 3452 78. The Meindl had carried me through to the 100Km of Trail Walker in 2010. I believe they are good shoe. Do not forget that this German Meindl have been shoemakers sine 1683!

Let see how this Meindl Stride would perform!?
NT Snob

Mt. Phoenix Hiking

We had a wonderful Hiking yesterday to Mt. Phoenix, we started at Tung Chung at 0730, and took a cab to Pak Kung Au and walked up the Hill under a teamperature of 27 deg. C. Cloudy... No Sun!!
Someone walked up to the Top within 52 minutes, and I was the last one as I was testing the Diamond Zero cranes. I reached the top in 1 hour 10 minutes.
HK Snob

Wong Lung Hang, Sunset Hill Hiking at Tung Chung

For Long tiime we did not hike at this Wong Lung Hang, Sunset Hill Trail. This was another challenge in May for this trail., we had spent 97 minutes to complete. It was not too tough as the temperature was 25 deg. C. Which was not too hot for the 2nd Saturday in May. This trail has enich my confidence on my new IceBug Shoes on wet trail for his best gripping feature. Also ensure me that the Icebug wears extreme fast. Since last Needle hill, this Wong Lung hang was the 2nd Trail is has gone through, but the rear sole has worn off more than 4 mm! So this shoes is good at gripping and shock absorbent, but wears off fast, I beleive this shoe can walk only for once at the 100KM OxFam Trail Walker Only. Kowloon Snob

Black Diamond Z-pole Series Trekking Poles

This is probably the WORLD's Lightest Tracking pole for Hiking! It comes with a pair of Left and Right pole... with a rapid deployment system that form a pole front three sections… It is Light, strong and shock absorbent made of Carbon fibre material…what a nice design for Hiking! We will test out on next Hiking. Likely it can relieve 30% of stress on my knees during the 100 KM Trail Walker! Price is HKD$950.00 after 20% discount at Protrek! Will test out and tell you how good it would be!?

HK Snob

Foo Yung Shan

After one Needle Hill practice on Saturday, I had pursuit of Foo Yung Shan Hiking yesterday.

I went up late at about 10 a.m. surprisingly to see there were still a lot of people there walking along the trail.
The view is beautiful as it used to be. It was a bit hot in the late morning. I took only one round of up/down hill, as I had not hiking for two weeks, my thighs were stiff and sore.. I could not push so much on my legs!

HK Snob

Needle Hill Hiking

This is the first Hiking afetr two weeks of rest due to limited time available for me in the past two weeks.
Since I worn Icebug Heors., I cpould run down the Needle hill in less than 3 minutes. and About 2 minutes from Gassy Hill top to the Lead mine pass. That was a good result. I will wear this Great Hiking Shoes for Trail Walker this year.

HK Snob

Icebug Heros, Probably the best Hiking Shoes for me

I have tested the new Icebug Heros, I felt that is the best Hiking shoes That I have been tried in the past ten years, Merrel, Montrail, Timberland, Nike, even the last Menidl!
Why, because it I extremely light, flexible and comfort.
The supporting sole material is very sot, I have used it for 9 KM yesterday running up Needle hill, it worn off about 2 mm at the aft of the shoes!

So I think this shoe can last only about 200mm maximum.

With this super light shoe, I Could run down the Needle hill in just less than 3 mins.

That was almost reaching my best record, and I felt having full confidence in doing so.

If you ask me what is the best Hiking shoes, I can rank this as Number One.
Icebug Heros 98 Pints Flexibility 9/10, Comfort 10/10, Durability 7/10 price 7/10.
Meindl Ventilator 7000 96 points Flexibility 8/10, Comfort 9/10, Durability 8/10 Price 6/10.

Montrail Masai 94 Point Flexibility 9/10, Comfort 8/10, Durability 9/10 price 8/10.
If I were asked what is the best Hiking shoe for Trailwalker ignoring the durability and Price I highly Recommend this Heros. buy one more pair for my alternate training. After run in, keep one pair as the Hiking shoes for Trailwalker this year.
HK Snob