Yin Ngam Stream 燕岩溪

17/7/05　　photos 相簿 [跟華嶽]
本來我們幾個去行燕 岩竹林隧道，但剛要入林時友人們在我拍照時跟錯了'華嶽'入澗，我叫住他們又因水聲太大而聽不到。追上他們時又已不願回 頭，於是便照跟了。後來11月我們才去返未去的燕岩竹林隧道。這天酷熱天氣警告，全靠林蔭保護，沿途才不覺難受。
自大埔墟火車站出發，進入元墩下村不久，即抵衛徑的一座涼亭。走右邊支路上行一點入竹林即見燕岩溪下游，其實入村後已 見其更下游的支流經村通往他處。沿澗上有不少巨石，甚少山路，幸那些石並沒有大城石澗的大。可是從另一方面看，被水淹 了的石卻更多，少了踏腳石。此澗潭瀑不多，我也只是在初段時，正式下了一次潭，亦即彩燕潭，其他的可算是大小水漥而已 。潭水頗冷，不知是否由於氣溫高相對覺得水冷的原故。瀑布不多，高的也只一兩條。過了瀑布不久，澗道開始不段收窄。遇 明顯分支時，大伙選了右支。抵一長有高大樹木的澗段時，攀上一崖壁後接不明顯小徑。沿石磴路再前行一會才接上位於台地 上草叢中的山徑，此徑則橫過剛才分支的左澗上源。過此位後又是草叢中的山徑，緩緩上升至四方山一坳位便接回麥徑九段。
跟大隊分手，沿暗徑下走明顯山徑，再下行，先經一條龍對上澗源，才過大城主澗有肥佬麥塗鴉處。現在除了該塗鴉，更多了 另兩個常見的無公德心者的塗鴉！自虎跡徑開始多為下山林徑，經過杜鵑潭的支徑口時，有衝動下去再浸一會水。此徑有兩三 個分叉位，由於地圖上沒有完整顯示，要靠經驗估計了。出車路後，下山轉右，前行一段見龍門郊遊徑牌樓。出菠蘿壩的折徑 正進行工程，要繞路走。

靈渡山>臥龍潭 (杯靈雙渡)

於西鐵站出 發沿屏廈路走至田廈路廈村市，那裡是處還保留著舊日色彩的村落。新屋村與舊李屋村之間有條車路，前行不久左方有條更小 的車路，兩旁有著圍板或鐵網，也有惡狗守門。圍板那邊是貨櫃場，另一邊是村舍，然後西部通道的高架路下出現了指示，引 領路人往靈渡寺。那是一所翻新過的寺廟，寺旁有大片空地，到處都很潔淨。拜別該寺，轉而從鐵絲網旁的不明顯小徑登山至 一"箭頭柱"前。繼續前行的話即沿山坡抵圓頭山頂附近。雖較辛苦，但我們則從柱旁直上山脊的電塔下[如從同一條徑下山便太 陡滑了]。自電塔開始至良田坳，兩邊風景都目不暇給。西面有建築中的大橋通往內地，當中隔著泥黃的后海灣；東面則是元朗 及屯門的市鎮與及背景的大欖。由於浮沙碎石不絕，加上風勢強烈[BF4-5]，我曾數次被吹至站不穩。很多時都是吹東至東南風 ，吹向貼近山谷的那一面，令人更膽戰心驚，步步為營。將登圓頭山時，有一安裝了鐵鍊的泥徑，幸好我們是往上走，因它上 段最是直峭。有次以一塊看上去像泥石柱的東西借力，卻在我上引時，用力一扳之下粉碎， 自此事後更增我心裡的顧忌。
途中有處兩面都已塌下了的深溝，獨餘僅容一人通過的"土橋"，疾風下惟有耐心待風勢稍息時盡快過去。其實也可選從左下方 崖腳繞過去的，只是要多走一點了。過了扇岩[一塊有些像扇貝的岩石]不久便是乾山山頂，橫跨東西的車路及稔灣堆填區清晰 可見。自良田坳下走那條已毀爛不堪的舊車路，前往臥龍潭浸水。由於多天的大雨，不單那車路成了小溪，潭水也上升了不少 ，看那岸邊舊水位應曾再高一呎，稍為有點落差的地方水勢更急。臨走前有兩架越野電單車經過...岸邊的生銹車架不知是否這 類車的。離開臥龍潭時遇見兩孩子在訴說找不到蝌蚪云云...唉！都給大家捉去了，那來青蛙吃掉蚊子呢？一整天也沒怎麼見過 陽光，可是太陽油仍保護不了我，晒了個紅鼻子！大抵是只在起步時搽過一次罷，我怕下水前才塗會污染澗水，更會被下游煮 食的人唾罵嘛。

Castle Peak Firing Range [Four Successive Pools] 青山腹地〔四疊潭〕

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因有人大遲到至使損失了寶貴的大半小時。雖然先到，卻也沒心情再細找傍澗走的路了，大概是在村屋後吧！曾沿村前空地走了一趟，不見便算。改為登龍門徑經皇帝岩，差不多到測量墩便轉東下山。上次過了那兒才下山的。無論上山或下山都是粗砂的土壤，植柀比早前還少。谷底不是小澗便是長了草的濕泥，常會給濕泥濺污。天明前才下了場雷雨，不料途中除了初時有點陰晴不定外，大多數時候都是像走在正午的沙漠中。炙熱的砂反射著熾熱的陽光，即使太陽鏡加寬圓邊帽也掃不去那像是走在烤爐中的感覺。
先下大冷溪，到附近看一塊像切片"麵包"石。那石的裂紋垂直的居多，裂開後沒有倒下，被旁邊較小的石托著，好端端地留在澗中。可惜我今天一直沒胃口，可能太熱吧！否則又怎會不'吃掉它？'另外，奇怪的是汗也不太大，一點都不像平時。自登山後發覺極目都是鬆散的黃砂，與及燒焦枯萎的植物，十分心痛！甚至連五渡水一帶也面目全非，簡直無法辨認。從前植物是有人般高的，也有三兩支清雅的蘭花一類。現在甚麼都沒有了，一經雨季的土壤流失後，更難覆本來面目！到底是人為還是天然災害做成？當然，山火後燒不掉的鋁罐，及新被遺棄的垃圾也更明顯。
下四疊潭浸了一會，可能昨夜的大雨還未滋潤到這區，水量不多。加上一些焦黑的灰燼被沖到澗中，當人移動時便被帶起。坐了不久更遇上可恥的煙民，污染空氣，迫他人食二手煙，導致敏感症發作...更可能隨處丟煙蒂。最不幸是令人聯到剛見過的四野焦土，那滿目蒼痍的景像！要吸煙便不應到郊外，妨礙他人享受大自然。浸完潭之後走原路到路交，轉而登山接非法開墾的梯田下良景路。那段登山路是第三次走了，這次要走了一段才能說服自己眼前的焦土光景是從前的翠綠山窩。登了一小段乾山便放棄，走回頭下良景。因沒胃口，一直沒正式吃多少東西，也因一開始的延誤至使時候有點不早，不想太急走山脊出天水圍，待遲些再算吧！

Tsang Pang Kok Tsui ... Po Pin Chau 罾棚角咀...破邊洲

sunny　photos 相簿

This time, we had a tough small group　which gave a good reason to cover both the vehicle roads of Sai Wan and Man Yee. Drizzles were with us now and then. Yet, the hottest and toughest part of the trek was the scorching sun. Not having been to Sai Wan Shan for quite some time, it's a surprise to find two newly built pavilions. Nonetheless, the bigger surprise was to come across 3 pale bikini ladies who were of fashion models' figures. Soon after the first pavilion, we left the main trail for Cheung Ngam Teng [長岩頂]. The day was too hot to go up Tai Yue Ngam Teng [睇魚岩頂], I'd rather spend more time enjoying the sea breeze at the tip of the Tsang Pang Kok promontory. A large clump of soaked and decaying sheets and mattresses were found near the Tsang Pang Kok Teng [罾棚角頂], not far from the trigo. pole. Everyone of us wondered if those were left behind by IIs ... but then why would they choose to bring those bulk items to such an unsheltered place? A large surface of weathered bare rock lied in a valley facing the solitary Conic Island [飯甑洲]. Several anglers whiled their time away on the northern part of it, as yachts and boats sped passed the strait and the ocean. A greyish band of mist at the horizon blended the sky with the sea. Columns of hexagonal rock pillars formed the coastal cliffs, somewhat like those at Po Pin Chau [破邊洲] .
Leaving the promontory after lunch, we descended to Long Ke Tsai [浪茄仔]. It looked picturesque from afar. At a closer look, disappointment filled my heart to see lots of rubbish with PRC brand names being washed ashore. Why is 'she' sending us rubbish and IIs? Even the cigarette packets found at different places of this trek were of PRC brand names. Long Ke Campsite was crowded with campers. A few offenders even built make-shift BBQ stoves on the white sandy beach with large pebbles, urgh! Detouring off the road on East Dam, we went down to the coffer dam, with a quick look at some rhyolite pillars beside the road at the pond. They're twisted into wavy patterns. Reaching the end of the dam, we slithered around the high fence to join the hillpath of Fa Shan [花山 ]. Clambering up to the knoll off Po Pin stack, we finally came to the edge of the precipice above the strait. The fabulous scene of sheer cliffs of Po Pin stack was unforgettable. Retracing the path to the junction, we ascended a spur of Fa Shan for a level path which brought us to a pebble laden beach, it was named Seven Layers of Rock Beach [七重石灘] because of the different types of pebbles, each forming a separate layer. Within the same bay, there're two small beaches, the sandy one is called Pak Lap Tsai [白腊仔]. On the other side of the shrubbery pass was Pak Lap Village. After having the papaya sweet soup at its store, we went uphill taking the long and boring Man Yee Road in the dark. Unhired taxis passed by in both directions, hoping that we'd take them.

High Island 糧船灣洲

Overcast w/sunny patches
Starting at the estuary of Lung Hang [龍坑], my mind was filled with the first fascinating scene - clear water running over pebble-laden bed, reflecting a variety of green leaves. A jetty was just outside the museum, with the Po Leung Kuk campsite on the other side of the bank. After a pause at the jetty at Hei Tsz Wan [起子灣], we retraced a few metres to take the indistinct path uphill into densely vegetated areas. Crossing a dried up stream, we came across a junction from which we took the left branch to join the country trail. The Po Ku Wan [曝罟灣] Campsite came into sight within minutes. The country trail was open and good for running. Just before Chong Hing Water Sports Centre came into view, we passed by another junction branching off to Nam Fung Wan [南風灣] Campsite. Some steps leading downslope to join the west dam, where runners and crowds of day-tour visitors were found. Going down the road south of the pond, we took the indistinct path on the left. Besides being narrow and having dried up streams, the path was covered with loose and slippery stones. It became much easier than before when we're on the other side of Shum Tuk Wan [深篤灣]. Facing the south tip of Urn Island [ 大頭洲], a finger-like boulder [企人石] stood out remarkably from the rocky shore. One of the streams above Tam Shui Wan [淡水灣 Fresh Water Bay] had a small pool below a falls, I believed this was one of those 2 streams we saw when kayaking in rainy days.
Coming out of the forest behind Tai She Wan [Big Snake Bay/大蛇灣], a ruined mansion with funitures and many other daily utensils stood before us. Paints on the walls didn't give us a feeling that its inhabitants had departed long ago. If not for the broken windows and wide opened doors, one might still think that it's occupied. A make-shift BBQ stove was left behind the benches bewteen a jetty and tall palm trees. In case you visited the place at night and saw the photo album lying opened on the tree pot, you'd probably think that the house was haunted. Pak A [北丫] was noisy with holiday-makers enjoying their seafood feasts. Newly-paved paths led us round Leung Shuen Wan, passing the primary school [still in use] and Tin Hau Temple. We left Tung A [東 丫] by an uphill path through a burnt land. Pak Lap Beach [白腊灣] was somewhat like Tai Wan [大灣], with a row of tall trees behind the beach, sheltering the village from the damage of sand and wind. Taking the path behind the village, we joined Maclehose Trail #1 for a short while before ascending Fa Shan [Flower Hill/花山] for a panoramic view from its peak. Since most of the day was cloudy, we're not that interested to go down to the promotnory off Po Pin Chau [stack/破邊洲]. Hence, we descended an indistinct dried up stream. Retracing Maclehose Trail #1 to Tsak Yue Wu for the bus back home.

Mid-Kau-Nga-Leng 中狗牙嶺

Had been worrying if the weather would allow us to go .... Everything seemed not so favourable. Rain, cold wind and fog were common for days before this day. The 'leader' told me that we could keep going as long as there's nothing heavier than drizzles. Unlike last time when we ventured the West-Kau-Nga, it was overcast the whole day long. Lantau Peak was kept hidden under a layer of rolling fog. I'd been wondering if we could see anything once up there.
We took the Shek Pik Country Trail till we met the junction. This junction branched off much earlier than the one to the west ridge. Unlike the west one, the first part of the middle ridge was gentle and had much more vegetation and shades. We didn't have to do any climbing until we're almost up to the Narrow Escape [一線生機] - a large gap between two crags. Only one of the crags was jagged, the one on the west was not as steep. By then, was a rarely seen clear day, the view of those Mainland islands [ 萬山群島] at the horizon was the best proofs. Right in front of us was the Shui Hau Peninsula [水口半島], Tong Fuk Miu Wan [塘褔廟灣] was on its east shore. It has a large mudflat of which I'd love to visit one day. On both sides of the middle ridge, the bottom of ravines were covered with thick vegetation. The east ridge can only be reached from the catchwater by a stream, thus making it the most unfrequented one among the three ridges of the Kau Nga Leng.
The wind got higher and higher as time went by. Before long, it was as if the strong wind signal was hoisted. In such a condition, it was rather awkward to move uphill against the forceful wind. Even though the wind came from the side, I found it hard to walk with a straight back, nor to steady my stance. Still, the wind helped keeping me cool. The temperature up there should be below 5^oC, nevertheless, I found it alright to have only a T-shirt over a long-sleeve one for most of the time. No hat was needed at all. It was only when the wind got too chilly, then I had to put on a thin windbreaker for a short while. A mask also helped my allergic nose from becoming runny. Yet, the breathing vapour soon blurred my glasses. So you see, summer would be as hot as hell to me. It didn't take us long to reach the Lantau Trail near the summit. No more than two hours were spent for this uphill leg, much less than expected. If not for the strong wind that had made me clung close to the King of Hades Cliff [閰王壁], I could move up even faster. By then, the fog looked as if it was running away from me. It seemed that the fog only enjoyed sticking to Lantau Peak. Soon, we're descending the Jacob's Ladder, its upper part was slippery with traces of dampness on the steps.
Without having a long break, we headed for the donkey shed. The donkeys were having a good time listening to the radio. This time, it was not the western music. Instead, they had been localised and got the interest in horse-racing programs. I tried to greet Oscar who's on the nearest left, he ignored me by retreating into his shed. But when I turned to Larry who's on his opposite, Larry retreated while Oscar stuck his head out. Had they swapped places or were they thinking that I was calling them to work? We moved on downhill via a new path, it was muddy and slippery due to days of pouring rain. Before us lay the magnificient panoramic view of the airport and Tung Chung Bay, we enjoyed it for some time before descending for downtown.

Razor Hill ... Shek Nga Shan 鷓鴣山...石芽山

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The day was chilly, overcast and had intermittent drizzles. Yet, to me, the first two conditions made it a wonderful day for hiking. Besides, the hiking group I joined met my preferences very much since they departed sharply on time, had no smokers, and have no break of more than half an hour [on a later trip with them, it was found that not all of their leaders banned smoking, what a pity!]. We started going up Yau Yu Wan [魷魚灣] Traditional Trail at Razor Hill. As one could realise form its name, the slopes of this hill was steep. Its ridge rose upwards gradually with several small peaks. Disappointingly, the haze and drizzles made it almost impossible to view the scenery properly. At the trigonometrical pole, I only had a short break for photo-taking, then we had to rush in order not to become frozen up there. The descend was somewhat slippery at certain spots, though the one done later at Shek Nga Shan [石芽山] was all the more slippery.
Crossing Clear Water Bay Road, we took a lane between Pik Uk Prison and a village, bounding for Hebe Hill [尖風山]. At Lower Hebe Hill [葵拗山], a hidden path led us pass beside Hebe Knoll, then down to Nam Pin Wai [南邊圍]. This part of the leg covered mostly indistinct paths in the forest. From Nam Pin Wai onwards, we took the vehicle track to Kai Ham [界咸], passing by a golf course. The path leading uphill to the ruin of Tai No [大腦] Village was hidden behind a boarded up small construction site. The stone steps led us to the side of an almost dried up waterfall of Wong Chung [黃涌石澗]. After a break outside a clan house, we headed for the Maclehose Trail via Sheung Yeung [上 洋]. The path cut through a thick bamboo wood, out of this wood, a maze of trails in the sea of sedges lie before our eyes. Such a maze did look like a brain [Tai No]. Spectacular views came into sight ever since we ascended West Buffalo Hill [黃牛山]. Sharp peaks of Buffalo Hill [水牛山] and Shek Nga Shan seemed to compete with that of Ma On Shan. At Ngau Au [牛坳], we turned south-west for Fa Sum Hang [花心坑] where Kwong Yuen [廣 源] Estate was within hearing distance.

Ho Hok to Tai Lam 蠔殼山>掌牛山>四排石山至大欖

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從兩個可能路口中選了較近的一個，那即是從油站旁路口進入。可是地圖上部份路被封了，後來得村民指點才得以越閘上蠔殼山。但仍沒有山路，只有一片剛從山火中復原的雜草地。山頭上有著十分遼闊的景觀，只是霧還沒全散去，一些較高的山頭，譬如雞公嶺就蓋了一頂小白帽。由於四周大部份是本地少有的平原區，十八鄉，元朗市中心，錦田及八鄉等，全都盡入眼簾。今天本來是約好了去薄刀屻的，但天氣預告說有霧又有微雨，惟有改地方，結果卻十分好陽光又熱！加上初時的兩山不屬於郊野公園，植物不高又少，更覺炎熱。不知是否只有元朗區好天氣呢？
下一個山丘便是掌牛山，這山比前一個高一點，接著的四排石山則再高些。從掌牛山開始便有不少大小沖蝕溝，跟青山大冷水的差不多。而大欖郊遊徑自四排石山起始，很多石級面已被侵蝕，令得那直豎著的石屎板有機會絆倒下山的人。郊遊徑接麥徑的永吉橋段，繼後我們訪伯公凹的其中兩間小廟宇。後應要求改下麥徑十段走塘畔迂迴小徑出掃管笏，並加遊黃金海岸。在水塘範圍的車路上，不時有私家車風馳電掣的經過，彎也沒先響號，對行人做成很大危險。那不是限制道路嗎？以前已常聽到有遊人不滿，我也在吉慶橋那兒見過不少私家車經過，活像無王管。其實這次我有遇過漁護處巡邏，可是那時還未碰上私家車。

Hung Shek Mun 紅石門

　Sunny w/smog　BF1　 18 ^oC　photos 相簿
The bus was detained at the roadblock for more than a quarter of an hour at Tai Mei Tuk due to a marathorn race. Hence, a train of vehicles were held up with engines on, polluting the air all the more. We hurried on from Bride's Pool to an indistinct path [GPS GR reading: KK189911] branching off from Miu Sam Ancient Path [苗三古道 ]. From that junction onwards, we scurried through a bewildering mix of paths in the forest of Ma Niu Shui [馬 尿水] area. The end of the path led to a cliff, a nameless creek lied below. The creek had already dried up, making it easier for us to clamber among the boulders. Its estuary situated near the dead end of Pak Hoi Tuk [ 北海篤]. The secluded shore was covered with remarkably pink sandstone, with weird weathering features. It was ebb tide when we moved along the coast to the next cove - Tai Shui Wu [大水湖]. Taking the path again from its east end, we reached Hung Shek Mun village not long after descending a path from the junction at KK215909. A weir blocked much of the water from the sea. Further inland lied another pond. The kind of rock at this part of coastline was not as pink as those at Pak Hoi Tuk, yet it was much easier to reach this ruined village from the main path. On the other side of the strait was Double Island where the OBA was located. A small reservoir was found en route halfway uphill. Perhaps the eastern wind and the sunshine had worked the wonder, the haze was not as thick as expected. Visitors could enjoy a splendid panoramic vista of the rolling hills and numerous islets in the vicinity of Double Haven.
Ascending towards Hung Shek Mun Au, we joined the main path from then on. It was shocking to find that the haze was almost as thick as a shroud of mist over the Plover Cove Reservoir. Without proceeding on to Chek Ma Tau [ 赤馬頭], we descended Tai Tung [大峒] for Ha Miu Tin [下苗田].