8th March 2024
-Unknown
West Dog Teeth is well-known for having the hardest and most treacherous ridge in Hong Kong. After climbing it with my own feet, or, more accurately, with my own hands and feet, it was justifiably correct. It was a literal mountain climbing that involved both hands and feet to conquer the treacherous ridge. This isn't a hiking trail for everyone, but only for the risk-takers and advance hikers. One wrong move, and you'll find yourself at the bottom of the cliff. That was on my mind while climbing the ridge of West Dog Teeth. So this isn't recommended for beginners.
Also known as Kau Nga Ling in Chinese, West Dog Teeth is a series of steep mountains on Lantau Island that, when viewed from a side perspective, resemble dog teeth. Those two canines were, if these are dog teeth, the hardest to climb, I must say.
My ultimate goal that day was to reach the 2nd highest point in Hong Kong, Lantau Peak, via West Dog Teeth starting from Shek Pik Country Trail. So it's killing three birds with one stone. The excitement of mountaineering in Hong Kong is that, with the right strategy, you may be able to visit several trails in a single day.
Lantau Peak (the highest point in the photo below), and West Dog Teeth Ridge (a series of mountains below it) are evident from the Shek Pik Reservoir. You can view more photos of Shek Pik Reservoir here.
Satellite Map of West Dog Teeth Ridge to Lantau Peak. The distance may be short, but scrambling onto cliffs and rocky trails takes like forever.
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How to get to West Dog Teeth
It was on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year, particularly on the 12th of February when I opted to visit this ridge after some contemplation. Despite being fairly late due to stopping at the incorrect bus stop, this article guide helped me find the correct path. It is one of the travel websites I followed in Hong Kong to look up directions to mountains and other destinations I want to see.
From the Shek Pik Country Trail (endpoint) near the reservoir, I followed the road until I reached the bridge on the left.
Surely, there is a lot more to discover if I trace this straight road of Shek Pik Country Park. The right trail to the West Dog Teeth is after the bridge, so I crossed it and traced the paved rocky paths.
This country trail consists of rugged terrain and steep stairs that almost drained my energy at the beginning of my hike.
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This was the longest and most steep stairs. Although it is concrete, it should have been much better with handrails, especially for the elderly, like those people going down. They appeared that they took the Shek Pik trail from Ngong Ping. And I was the only one going up who just started the hike.
My afternoon walk continued on a flat terrain. Albeit alone, I felt comfortable immersing myself in nature, and I enjoyed my own company. Of course, the tripod was there too.
There are some signs of flash floods. It was nothing to be concerned about because it was a dry season.
The more time I spent on the trail, the more beautiful scenery I could see. I arrived at this location in about thirty minutes, but I could not see where the West Dog Teeth starting point was. The stunning view of Shek Pik Reservoir made my tiredness fade.
Take a break in between walks to admire the beautiful surroundings. Many of the natural beauty of Hong Kong is found on Lantau Island. It is a place worth visiting.
Lantau Peak and Big Buddha are now visible from this point.
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Some mountains on Lantau Island are formed of volcanic rocks, making them difficult to hike, but add an element of thrill and excitement. It takes bouldering and scrambling. Gloves are even necessary here which I didn't bring because I wasn't aware that they'll be needed.
Rugged terrain. Just be careful with every step. The cliff is just on the left.
At around three in the afternoon, I reached this cliff. It was as if I reached the summit, but I didn't even start yet. For a while, I took a break and admired the breathtaking views of Shek Pik Reservoir and Lantau's verdant landscape.
Starting Point To West Dog Teeth
The beginning of the West Dog Teeth Ridge is just next to the cliff. It appears to be merely a shaded rocky patch on the hill. The starting place is marked by the Chinese inscriptions on the rock.
There are warning signs up to warn anyone attempting to cross this treacherous ridge. There are cliffs ahead, and this ridge is where deadly incidents have happened. That very day, there was a helicopter hovering around. Probably an accident happened nearby.
I actually had a second thought about pursuing this hike as I was uncertain if it was really the right trail. There is another trail on the left but with flat paved paths. I asked a foreigner who came from the opposite route which way was the correct one, and he confirmed that it was, but it was too risky for me to try, especially since I was alone.
As he said, "Only advanced hikers can hike West Dog Teeth, and you don't seem to be fit for that."
I was a bit insulted. Is it because I am a lady? I just replied,
"I'm fine. I've been to different mountains already. I can do it."
I may not be an advanced hiker, but I hiked some of the tallest mountains in Hong Kong alone which tested my endurance and strength.
Climbing West Dog Teeth Ridge is surely challenging and involves bouldering. The only thing I regretted was not bringing gloves for my hands, so I used my sleeves to cover my hands when touching edgy rocks and boulders. I got some scratches after this hike, but worth enduring the pain.
I took some rest when I noticed a suitable area because I was already tired at this point. I searched for a method to stabilize my Bluetooth tripod that was inside my bag to capture beautiful moments like this. Fortunately, I could stretch it out at a better angle because it's quite lengthy. The scenery became more picturesque as I ascended.
My stomach was starting to protest, so I decided to stop and eat my food at about four in the afternoon while overlooking the beautiful scenery and taking some time to recharge. When hiking alone, this is what I enjoy doing; I don't mind the duration of breaks and level of pace. My only concern is the time it will take to reach the peak.
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When I thought I was done with scrambling after reaching the summit of one of the series of mountains more difficult situations came into sight when I saw a mountain of rocks and boulders to scramble on again.
After passing the big boulders and outcrops, I needed to climb again to the next hill, taking a little break in between rugged terrain.
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At this point, I felt like I could no longer go on, so I thought of just calling 911 to get me off the hill. I suppose it was the first time I experienced extreme fatigue on my hike. Because of how steep the ridge is, I had to use up most of my energy to scramble. I screamed out of exhaustion since no one could hear me. It somehow gave me some pain relief and vitality back.
I wasn't even halfway yet. And there are a few more steep hills to climb to reach the summit of West Dog Teeth. My legs and arms were already weak, and the sun was about to set.
I continued at a slow pace when I regained some strength because I didn't want to give up. More steep hills to scramble!
I called this one of the canines as it looks so sharp and steep.
And this was the view after reaching the top of the first canine. It's worth the effort when seeing a breathtaking view atop the hill.
A real dog climbed up too and marked his foot on it.
Looking back to the first tooth I climbed, can you imagine the struggle I experienced? It was where I spent more or less an hour of bouldering and scrambling from the very bottom. The sun was slowly setting down which worried me more.
Breathing in some fresh air and taking some shots of the scenic view before I continued my climb. The higher I got, the windy it was which made it more difficult to scramble.
I felt additional pressure building, but I was also eager to go to the top of the last canine, and let go of a ton of exhaustion. The tallest and steepest was this one. I completed this steep climb in more than twenty minutes, having begun at five in the afternoon.
Can you see the beauty of this hill showing the tapestry of green and brown? As if it shows the transition from spring to fall.
As I got to the top, I saw a group of Filipino hikers going up from the lifeline. I kind of know them, and I even want to join their group for extreme adventures. I thought I could have some company, but they were about to go down to where I started.
This is the lifeline, the border between West Dog Teeth and Lantau Peak. Which means I already reached the summit of this treacherous West Dog Teeth Ridge.
And that's exactly what I did the entire hike, I crawled like an ant, trying not to make any mistakes that could leave me lying in a bloodbath at the base of the cliff. Those hikers were truly prepared and even wore gloves to protect their hands, unlike me who's so abrupt. I usually plan to hike in the morning, set off before lunchtime, and start the hike in the afternoon.
When they realized I was trekking alone, they were taken aback. They also mentioned that I still had a long distance to go and that I might get to Lantau Peak after dark. To be honest, I became concerned about it, but I just didn't want to give up.
If scrambling up is difficult, I bet, climbing down is more dangerous because it is more prone to fatal accidents. I bid them goodbye and good luck. Their real struggle just started.
While they were complaining about how to go down the cliff, I slowly made my way down to the lifeline, and up to the next hill.
As I rested in the middle of the steep trail, I saw a couple going down tracing the West Dog Teeth ridge in my direction, and I got a little hope because I wouldn't be alone on the trail at night anymore.
West Dog Teeth, I finally conquered you! This bucket list has been marked!
It was another solo hike that put my strength and endurance to the test again. I've climbed a lot of tall mountains in Hong Kong, but I think my journey to West Dog Teeth was the hardest. I wouldn't want to hike that treacherous ridge alone again unless I had company. It was a real climb, and I experienced the true spirit of climbing and adventuring while scrambling over rocks and boulders.
I have to conclude this exhilarating climb on West Dog Teeth Ridge. I'll share with you next time my other struggles scrambling up to the peak of Lantau, the second-highest point in Hong Kong.
See you next time!
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can.
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