Linking the Mae Sakop trail north to the Oro Forest, Salaween Natl Park, Mae Sariang

[KTMphil]

We had NO IDEA if it went through, Colin had a hunch it did so we gave it a shot

Photo: David Bailey



Broken bridges and caved-in trails. We got passed them all and linked them up

Photo: David Bailey

 

[KTMphil]

Map of the new trail mapped below, NW of the big village the trail turns to single track and follows the river bed, this trail would no be achievable after any heavy rain.

Map Copyright RideAsia.net - All rights reserved

 

[Captain_Slash]

Congratulations phil & David on doing it

 

[KTMphil]

Thanks Colin, was a really fun day.



A quick 7.30am bfast at the PTT in Mae Sariang

Then westwards out of Mae Sariang on the trail that heads to Mae Sakop on the Salaween river. We had the turn waypointed and missed it the first time, a very inconspicuous dirt lane. It was surprising how big and graded the trail was, we though it would be a tiny track

 

[KTMphil]

NW to the big village whre Colin turned around last year it was fast riding most of the way, you could take a Versys down there.

 

[KTMphil]

Huge bamboo

The veteran Mr Bailey still doing it all by paper map (even though there's no trail on the map), marking the distances in km traveled in each direction ( ie making his own paper map).

 

[KTMphil]

Still a really, fast, fun trail before the big village

Arriving at the big village

Makeshift bridge across the river in the village, concrete one has washed away

 

[KTMphil]

NW of the big village, a complete change, single track, rocky , in and out of the river and steep little switch backs

 

[KTMphil]

Some nice shade in places

...more to come

 

[Ally]

Really enjoying this report Phil.

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

A local that was pretty surprised to see us out there, looks like there might be another village ahead, he confirms that the single track goes through to the Salaween River

We are now following the Mae Nam Kon river NW to the Thai/Myanmar border/ Salaween river

The trail weaves in and out of the river and in some places is in the river for 100 meters or so, in rainy season this wouldn't be doable after some rain.

 

[KTMphil]

There's a repetitive clanking sound coming from Dave's DRZ. We stop and inspect it and its a broken spoke on the rear wheel

A few wire tires to keep it on place and its not a problem

 

[KTMphil]

The single track comes out at the checkpoint just east of the Oro Forest Ranger Station. We pop up to the ranger station (where Alex and I slept a while back) & have lunch with the rangers

Photo: David Bailey







They do have a nice lunch view

 

[KTMphil]

There's a trail that runs north along the Salaween river from the Oro Forest Ranger Station, 6km to the Oro village, I hadn't been up there before so we went and took a look.



It's single track with some nasty switch backs with caved in bridges especially at the turns. Here one of the rangers headed to his post

Photo: David Bailey

Photo: David Bailey







This bridge was pretty nasty

This one big gaps between the logs

 

[KTMphil]

6km north along the Salaween you come to a Ranger station and small village. The rangers tell us it's dead end there and just a walking trail from then on

A particularly nasty switchback, tight turn and steep, handled with experience (it never shows how bad it is in the photo!)

 

[KTMphil]

All the mapping completed, we head eastwards on the main trail to Ban Po So (Sur) which is about 65km NW of Mae Sariang. I use this village as a staging post for the salaween Park, it's too far to head back to Mae Sariang if you're exploring.


There's a useful motorcycle mechanic in Ban Po So at co-ords:




N18.34066



E97.68743

The lovely lady in the shop

 

[KTMphil]

The road ( R 4044) from Ban Po So, east to Mae Sariang is 35km of nasty, rocky trail , then about 30km of concrete then tarmac, it isn't really a fun road to ride, but the main way out of the trails.

Back to Mae Sariang and the evening market is underway

Another successful, fun, mapping trip. We stayed at the Mitaree Hotel in mae Sariang, 400 bht, excellent value and they will let you leave a pickup there if you head off for a couple of days

 

[KTMphil]

& another dinner with the Captain, this time in Mae Sariang (he didn't eat here)