Reunion Trekking, Khao Luang, Sukhothai

Sunrise, Pha Na Rai

ปีนเขากับเพื่อนเก่า เขาหลวง จ.สุโขทัย

Peak Height: 1,200 m. [MAP]
Trekking Distance: 4 km.
Registration Office: Ramkhamhaeng National Park Office อุทยานแห่งชาติรามคำแหง [087-313-7897] [MAP]

Length of Stay: 2 days, 1 night  [11-12 MAR 2017]

Expense: Entrance fee: Adult 40 THB, Child 20 THB [Thai] / Adult 200 THB, Child 100 THB [foreigner]
Rental fee [per night]: a tent 225 THB / a sleeping sheet 20 THB / a blanket 30 THB
Note: Only 30 km from Sukhothai Town / toilets and showers available / many peaks to visit on the top

Long before this trip, I had climbed Khao Luang once with these university friends. As we gathered once again, we called the trip "a reunion trekking." When we met, I felt that our friendship was still strong, but after 16 years, our fitness was...mmm...going to be tested.

Getting Ready

The trail to Khao Luang was boasted to be very steep, so we fully fueled ourselves before trekking. We also took enough food for 2 days. But we didn't carry much of water because there was drinking water along the trail. It ran down in a pipe from the water tanks on the campsite.

We spent 4 hours trekking. My legs and butts had been working really hard. I was tired, but very happy at the same time, just like when I have finished doing squats in the gym.

At the campsite, we showed the bill to the officer. We got this bill after we had paid for the sleeping equipment rental at the registration office. The tents were already set up, we just had to move them from the shelter to the lawn. Then we paved the sleeping sheets inside and gently threw the pillows and the blankets on them.

After early dinner, we went to Khao Phra Mae Ya - เขาพระแม่ย่า to see the sunset. There was a beautiful cliff that people were queueing to take pictures.

The Cliff

Another Peak Nearby

Sunset

Moon and Men

At night, we were chatting about our time at the university and our lives at present. At 10 pm everything stopped. No more chatting nor doing other activities. Then the last man-made light on the mountain went off, left only stars twinkling in the night sky.

Next morning, we went to Pha Na Rai - ผานารายณ์ to see the sunrise. The scenery was stunning. I really loved the sky gradient at dawn.

Pha Na Rai and a Pine Tree

Waiting...

As Far As We Can See

Sunrise and a Little Pagoda

We came back to the campsite, packed and returned the sleeping equipments back to the officer. Then we started to trek down. At Ramkhamhaeng National Park Office, there were shower rooms and a small restaurant. We cleaned ourselves and had a meal. Then we were waiting for our friends to arrive.

At the end of the trip, our friendship was proven to be strong. And our fitness was also proven to be very good. No one was injured and we were quite on time on both ways.