YEN BAI – October, Ta Lead Nhu is not only an attractive cloud hunting spot but also attracts climbers because purple flowers spread all over the slopes.
The roof of Yen Bai province with a height of 2,979 m is the 7th highest peak in Vietnam located in Xa Ho commune, Tram Tau district. This high point was conquered by visitors for the first time in 2013 and was dubbed the “cloud paradise on earth”. Last year, a set of purple flowers on the top of Ta Lead Nhu was shared on a forum for climbing enthusiasts, making this place famous. Indigenous people, when asked about wild purple flowers, also say “chi pâu” (meaning “do not know the name”).
It took 7-8 hours to reach Ta Chinh Nhu peak and had a lunch break, so our group of 17 rented a car and departed from Hanoi the evening before and went to rest in Tram Tau town (5 minutes from Hanoi – 6 hours driving). Some other groups rent a bed car to go to Nghia Lo town and spend the night here so that the next morning, take a car or motorbike to go straight to the climbing point about 30 km away.
After getting up for breakfast at Tram Tau, the group traveled a very bad and 15 km long way to Mo Lead area. After exchanging with the guide team and delivering items to the porters, everyone brought light backpacks of water and snacks to conquer Ta Lead Nhut at 8am.
Because at the end of the week, visitors climbed to nearly 150 people, so Mo Lead refused to let go through their factory area, all climbers had to take a detour and cross 2 large streams. It takes people about 1 hour to pass this short journey due to the crowds and the fast flowing stream.
After crossing the stream, the group passed several hills before having lunch break. These hills are not too steep, but due to the hot weather and no shade of trees, people’s fitness is “eroded” quite quickly.
Around 12:30, all climbing groups find a cool place to have lunch and rest, to regain strength to prepare to cross the most “harsh” slope in this mountain range – Hai Cay slope.
The way up is very hard, but in return the mountain and cloud scene in this climbing is beautiful and poetic. People were walking while taking photos and filming of the white clouds on the mountainside and the old forest stretching in the beautiful afternoon sun, so it took quite a long time.
After crossing Hai Cay slope, the group passed a small bamboo forest before reaching the rest area. We were one of the first groups to reach the camp at 16:30. From the shack can see Ta Lead Nhut peak and according to the guides, the average person takes about 2 hours to reach the top.
The shack accommodating about 120 new people was erected last year after many visitors came to explore. On the weekend when we climbed, there were about 150 tourists, so we had to sleep in a tent outside because there was not enough room in the shack. According to Giang A Long, the porter of the delegation, the most crowded occasion has ever had up to 200 tourists to explore Ta Lead Nhut.
The shack area is arranged in two wooden blocks, with two fairly clean toilets and hot water (50,000 VND / bucket of hot water) for bathing. However, due to the large number of people, it took a long time to wait in line for the bathroom and toilet.
We had dinner at 7:00 a.m. and then quickly went to bed to keep fit the next day. Expected to get up at 5am and depart at 6am to climb up and down the mountain tomorrow.
The weather in the mountains at night is quite cold, wind is strong and it rains all night. We woke up thinking that the rain was heavy all night so we definitely wouldn’t be able to climb to the top due to the slippery road and the possibility of floods. However, Mr. Manh Chien, the leader of the tour organization, said that the whole night only rains lightly, because the rain hitting the metal roof makes heavy rain feel. We can still execute the plan. Everyone heaved a sigh, quickly got up for breakfast and got ready to go.
We left at 7:30, 1.5 hours slower than originally planned. After more than 30 minutes of climbing, the group reached the mountains where wild purple flowers were dense. The weather is still light rain at this time, so the flowers are not as colorful as people expect. However, no one misses the opportunity to pose and take pictures with the special flowers that grow only in this region.
We will be away for about an hour before we reach the top. At this time, there are more than a dozen young people starting before taking pictures together with landmarks.
According to Mr. Manh Chien, Ta Chinh Nhu not only has this purple flower but also is the place to watch the clouds and welcome the most beautiful sunrise in the mountains that he has ever set foot on.
“Purple flowers are also available in Bach Moc Luong Tu, but with less numbers, there is no scene of the mountain full of flowers blooming so brilliantly as here. September to early October is the best time to see the plum blossoms. From November to March of the following year, Ta Lead Nhut is an ideal cloud hunting place for tourists, “said Manh Chien.
When she first climbed the mountain, Linh Dinh said that climbing Ta Chinh Nhu was too difficult for her, sometimes she wanted to give up. However, she was encouraged and supported by her friends and experienced guide and the beautiful mountain forest scene with romantic clouds and purple flowers helped her conquer the top of the mountain.
“It was really hard to climb to the top, sometimes I want to give up, but in return you will find the reward worthy of the view on the top”, Ms. Linh Dinh shared.
We went back to the snack shack and then a group accompanied the porter down the mountain first. When it took about 7 hours to get off the group, it only took half of the time, although the road was quite slippery. Another reason we went faster was that we passed the Lead Mine, we didn’t have to cross 2 streams like the day before.
The experience of climbing down in rainy weather and slippery roads is to walk slowly and swing across feet. This is also the time when many people experience knee or ankle pain, toes and thighs due to the continuous weight of these parts when down the mountain. Even though you are in good health, you should be prepared to bundle your knees, ankles and climbing sticks to help reduce injury to your body.
The group went first down to the starting point at 15:30 and took a motorbike taxi to Tram Tau town to take a hot mineral water bath while waiting for the rest of the group to descend. The whole group left Tram Tau town at 19pm to return to Hanoi, ending the memorable journey to climb Ta Lead Nhut 2 days 1 night.
Nguyen Duc Hung/vnexpress
Photo: Duc Hung, Manh Chien, Pham Tuyen