Trip to Mon Ang Ket: Information and Instruction

Abstract

The mountains in northern Thailand sometimes provide a breath-taking view of its nature. Among the mountains in Chiang Mai, Mon Ang Ket (ม่อนอังเกตุ) provides a good vantage point to see most of the mountainous area surrounding the border between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. This writing aims to provide general information and instruction for anyone willing to visit the Mon Ang Ket. From the last visit to the mountain, the author found a short-length muddy road without asphalt in the forest that provides a challenging path to the camping site. Travelling on the muddy road requires good concentration of seeing the terrain and good driving skills--either motorcycle or car. However, the rest of the road to the camping site uses asphalt and provides a smooth, accessible way. 

The Panorama

The Mountain: Location and Trip Duration

Mon Ang Ket is a mountain whose height is 1,840 meters above sea level. This mountain is bordering Mae Hong Son province. Visiting this mountain from Chiang Mai city will take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. However, the information from google maps said it would take only around 2 hours. Here the author suggests an additional half an hour for unexpected stops will be helpful (such as going to the toilet, rest, buying an additional supply of food on the road). 

Equipment

To begin with, prepare everything in hand before going. It is better to prepare everything but not to use it, rather than wanting to use it, but it is not ready (In the Indonesian army, the original saying is "lebih baik disiapkan tapi tidak dipakai, daripada dipakai tapi tidak siap"). Typically, the essential equipment needed is as below. It is advised not to bring unnecessary items which can slow the trip. 

1. Sleeping bag or a blanket

2. Personal equipment (such as charger, power bank, toothbrush, and medicine)

3. Food and beverage that is easy to prepare

4. Umbrella and raincoat (if any), suppose there is any sudden rain

5. Insect repellent

6. Food and beverage utensils (if needed)

The Trip

For the first hour of the trip, the road will have asphalt and rarely rugged terrain that creates difficulty for the driver. This journey is long and often lonely. Sometimes, there is a group of motorbikes riders or bicycle riders who will travel along the road. During these times, some people might have travel sickness due to the lengthy trip. After one and half hours, there will be some villages. The villages are the last point of buying food and other stuff. The rest half the hour of the journey will have almost no access to street lighting, where the muddy, rocky, rugged terrain road will start. At this point, slow but sure driving with careful observation on the road is necessary. 

On Arrival at Camping Site

The area on the camping site is around 100-300m², where the plain area dominates it; some parts of the camping site has a dense, wooden forest (around 30-60m²). The temperature of the camping site is usually from 15-29 Celsius. The coldest temperature will be from midnight and gradually increase from 10 AM onward. On the camping site, there will be no toilet, restaurant, nor food stall. Access to water and electricity will be not available on the camping site. The phone and internet signal is still available, but their signal strength varies, depending on the condition. From the author observes, the mountain has no security guard or forest guard in the area. The only building on the camping site is a small temple located at the highest peak of the camping site, and it has one solar-powered lamp.