Working in a school that runs clubs and activities after the academic day usually means we finish work fairly late but with disrupted timetables and COVID protocols we now find ourselves finishing at 3pm instead of 6!
Sat in the staff room a few friends started asking about local camp spots and if there were any. They knew that I had spent previous holidays and breaks in the north of Thailand but wanted something closer to home. I listed a few spots but explained a 4x4 was necessary as the tracks were rough.
We shared experiences of previous camp trips and came to the conclusion that we would all go camping together if we were all free. We joked that the sky was clear, sun was shining and that we all got off work at 3 and why not go that evening! A brief silence came over until one said "Yeah, let's do it, it only takes 20 minutes to pack up!"
Living and working just outside Pattaya, Thailand, we are fortunate to be surrounded by rolling hills and small mountains. Many of these places are riddled with tracks and trails suitable for off roading and enduro riding.
A local spot that I had camped at a few times before was to be our destination. It was guaranteed to be quiet, offer good views and was only about 12km from school.
No sooner had we left the hardtop did the fun start. There are a few routes up to the top of Khao Phai, each as difficult or as awkward as the next but all good fun.
With lots of rock and some steep maneuvers we would have considered airing down if the trail had been longer but since each obstacle was an isolated event and tyres had yet to slip we didn't see the need.
We also found that 4HI was adequate for most of the offroading with only a couple of short sections needing 4LOW.
Rocky steps and overgrown hedgerows weave up and over small hills before leading you along the main ridge to the top. The narrow tracks are not the kind of place you want to meet another truck as one of you will have a lot of reversing to do unless there is a spot on either side to drive up in and squeeze past. On top of the worry of meeting another 4x4 is the greater concern of having a head on with a moto rider or offroad UTV buggy, both of which travel at much faster speeds and after often in the area!
With friends and gear loaded up in the truck, another friend who was riding his enduro bike had gone on ahead, acting as a warning to anyone travelling in the opposite direction.
Dry weather and a rocky track made for suitable traction even up the steeper sections.
As we arrived at the main ridge, the route started to flatten out and we found ourselves driving through a windswept forest. Obviously catching the winds coming off the sea day in day out, all of the trees had a slight lean to them.
As adventurous as the track looks in the photos, it only took about 20mins to reach the top. We cleared a few old logs and rebuilt an existing fire circle and set up camp.
None of us had really prepared much in the way of food so we were all cooking basic things such as toasted sandwiches, noodles and frozen curry meals - not bad for a last minute camping trip.
We were all out of cooking gas but happy to cook over an open flame, plus the fire would keep the bugs away at night.
Setting up the tents was the easy part, wood was easily found but we gave the job of making the fire to one of the boys who had joined us. He was 11 and this was his first wild camping type trip. We thought it was only suitable that he took charge of the fire... with a little help from us to chop up the wood with the axe he managed it.
Half a pack of matches later and after a smokey start, the fire was perfect. We rolled a few rocks over and set up a couple of camp chairs and prepared to cook while looking out at the view in front of us.
It wasn't long until the sun started to drop and the temperature began to cool.
As it turned dark we started the cook and pushed the pans in. With only small pots and pans we had to take turns but ended up sharing buffet style.
A couple or longer branches were placed a foot or two above the fire and held up by some larger tree stumps we had dragged over. It made for a perfect toaster and bronzed the slices of bread just right.
With darkness upon us we discussed the days routes and decided to exit a different route the next morning. We wanted to know what else the mountain had to offer. We zoomed in and out of Google Maps checking different trails. Since I had explored most of them on previous trips, either by 4x4 or enduro riding I did warn them that we had already experienced the best section - as to not get their hopes up!
Image source: Google Maps, https://goo.gl/maps/UbzstcQXnsw5ys7v5
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All content is original: the photos (unless stated), the writing and the adventure!