Chiang Khong trails with David Bailey

[KTMphil]

David's pretty passionate about his off-road riding, so much so, he's almost mapped the whole area of Chiang Khong, where he lives.

Photo: Mark Rossi


On the way back from Laos, we had the opportunity do to some riding with him on some of the nastier trails. Hes got tons of data from the area & we'll try get it documented here as one thread.


Here coming down one of the trails NW of Chiang Khong facing the Mekong river

Photo: Mark Rossi

 

[KTMphil]

This is some of the stuff Colin has done in the area, we'll be updating it with the new trails

 

[KTMphil]

Mr. Bailey explaining that he can't find a way to get over the top of that hill

IMG_1091_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





After a week in Laos and a fully packed bike, we wern't sure if this was a good idea. A steep rutted trail filled with rock


IMG_1093_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




This is as far as David had ever been before

IMG_1094_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




From here up, its a walking trail up a red clay, mossy, steep nasty incline


IMG_1095_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Mr. Rossi got up it without a problem .... we declined

IMG_1096_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




IMG_1098_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





It turned into a real walking trail higher up, so he'll have to discover another away around it looks like, so back down


IMG_1099_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




IMG_1100_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Quite fun having our local scout show us what links to where. We'll be able to put some new trails on the North Thaland GPS map for sure


IMG_1101_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Off onto a different trail over a different hill


IMG_1102_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Real slippy coming out of this stream


IMG_1103_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Beautiful view NE over the Mekong


IMG_1104_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




More great local knowkedge


IMG_1105_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



IMG_1106_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Views over R 1129


IMG_1107_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Through some Hmong villages on the way back down


IMG_1109_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




IMG_1110_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Dumbfounded how much good trail riding there is there, we'll try piece it all together

 

[Oddvar]

Last month I too came with David for a 2 days of riding in and around the beautiful Chiang Khong. We did not find any loops at that time. But we decided to try again January 17th, and we did. 2 more days of riding. More prepared this time and a OSM map of unknown origin with real tracks as well as not existing tracks. This time I had my previous tracks up on the Montana in all different colours to ease the strain on the brain. (GPX at the bottom).



Thanks David, great riding with you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/29eopn5ujohy8wa/Chiang Khong Loop 1.gpx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yvjhsvr7xxwxmg7/Chiang Khong Loop 2.gpx?dl=0

 

[DogusB]

Great post, thanks for sharing!