YEN BAI – To climb Ta Chi Nhu, you must cut all your toenails, buy sticks and have a pair of good climbing shoes.
Ms. Hong Phuong, a tourist from Hanoi, recently had a trip to conquer Ta Chi Nhu peak, which is considered the “roof” of Yen Bai province, with an altitude of 2,979 m. This is also one of the 10 highest mountain peaks in Vietnam. The distance of more than 10 km from Mo Chi area (Xa Ho commune, Tram Tau district) to the top of the mountain is completely steep, with almost no “saddle” (level section), very tiring for first-time mountain climbers.
After completing the trip, Ms. Hong Phuong shared some experiences and advised on equipment for those who want to conquer the mountain peaks. Ms. Phuong also said that October is a beautiful time in Ta Chi Nhu because purple flowers are in bloom.
Before the trip
Buy a pair of climbing shoes with good grip soles (spike soles), one size larger than your normal foot size, from famous brands or stores specializing in outdoor gear. Do not wear regular running sneakers. often.
“This is the first and most important thing you need to prepare. Remember to choose shoes that are a bit loose, otherwise you won’t be able to walk,” said Ms. Phuong.
Before the trip, trim your toenails to avoid hitting the tip of your shoe when going down the mountain. If it’s mild, it will be painful, if it’s severe, it can peel off your thumb nail.
For a two-day, one-night trip, you should buy a 15-20 liter powered backpack. The straps against the shoulders and the latch on the stomach secure the backpack to the back, preventing bumps along the way, helping to reduce pain in the shoulders and arms. If you cannot afford it, use a backpack of about 20 liters made of lightweight, water-resistant material.
Prepare electrolyte mineral salts in tablet form to put in a drinking water bottle or suck along the way to prevent loss of strength. Anti-muscle strain spray or pills are necessary, because continuously high slopes make climbers susceptible to cramps.
Ta Chi Nhu is chilly at the end of autumn, you should bring a windbreaker or a light jacket with a thermal jacket when at night the temperature in the shack drops to about 13-14 degrees Celsius. The weather is cold and dry so trekking has few mosquitoes and almost no mosquitoes. No squeegee, but still requires insecticide or spray.
If traveling in a group, the group should share their belongings to reduce the weight of each person’s backpack. For example, if 5-6 people go, half bring toothpaste and phone chargers, the others bring necessary medicines and ginger tea for the whole group to share.
If it’s the first time climbing a mountain, members need to exercise by going up and down stairs and walking a few kilometers every day.
In the trip
The Ta Chi Nhu climb usually starts from the Mo Chi area of Xa Ho commune early in the morning. The time to climb to the top is about 6-8 hours for a distance of 10 km, with about 17,000 steps. The weather is cool, everyone hopes that when they reach the top they will encounter a sea of clouds. It rained two days ago, making many parts slippery. Two climbing sticks and a pair of thin gloves with good adhesion help the climber continuously climb steep slopes.
Even if you go in a group, you should still hire a local porter (luggage porter) to lead the way and carry your luggage. Porters are mostly local Hmong people so they know every slope. They will show you which spot takes the best photos. They constantly encourage climbers to make it difficult to give up before “breathing through their ears” steep sections, patiently standing and waiting when you have faltered.
Continuously climbing steep slopes can cause many people to experience cramps and muscle tension. You should use an anti-stress spray. “At that time, you should take small and even steps. Long steps will quickly weaken your legs,” Ms. Hong Phuong added.
After climbing 7 km of steep mountain road, the group reached the last rest camp, about 3 km from the top. Guests can leave their belongings here, have lunch and rest for a while, applying sunscreen to avoid skin burn before climbing again in the afternoon.
The road from the shack to the top of Ta Chi Nhu has only wild trees and a few blooming flowers. This is the real challenge for climbers. The path is not difficult, but it drains strength quite quickly when it is full of rocky mountains and strong winds on a rainy day. You should bring electrolyte salts, energy gels to eat along the way, along with a windproof hat, sun glasses and a light raincoat. The Mong porters also brought flutes and flutes to play while the group stopped to rest along the road.
It takes about two hours to travel 3 km to reach the stainless steel “Ta Chi Nhu 2,979m” landmark with the national flag.
After the trip
The Hmong porter led the group down the mountain in the opposite direction from the way up, where. Chi pau flowers bloom, forming an eye-catching light purple strip along the mountainside. Returning to the shack, guests can buy hot water to bathe for 50,000 VND per person, and eat a bowl of egg noodles to regain their strength. If you stay at night in a shack, you should bring a mini flashlight because the power source is limited here. Before going to bed, you should use patches on your thighs and calves to prevent muscle fatigue for the next day going down the mountain.
The journey down the mountain takes about half the time as going up. Continuously steep slopes can easily make your knees tired and your feet restless. “You should put the tip of the stick on the soft ground and walk with your feet horizontally so that your body’s gravity doesn’t press on your toes, causing them to ache,” Ms. Phuong said. Knee and ankle bindings will now be effective, helping climbers limit injuries. If you are too tired, ask the porters to help you by holding one hand on the basket behind their back on steep sections.
“Don’t go down Ta Chi Nhu mountain alone when your knees are weak and your legs are sore. You can’t predict all the difficulties along the way,” Ms. Hong Phuong advised.
Photo,Video: Internet (Vinlove.net)