We took a few hours out on xmas eve and xmas day to ride the Khao Ito downhill trail with the new mountan bikes that we will be using for rental.

The trail itself (after a shuttle to the top of Khao Ito ( it was xmas !!)) is 90% downhill and consists of a main section complete with jumps ( and thankfully ride arounds) into a short technical loop track, followed by sngle track with a short tech section and a final 2km run on the road back into the lodge.

 

The bikes are Gary Fisher Wahoo 09 Hardtails specced with basic Deore/Acera kit and v brakes and suntour front shocks. We have them in 13.5, 15 and 17" which covers all sizes except XXXL

The bikes were purchased from the Prachinburi bike store in keeping with our policy of local purchase and they will be maintained on site in our own workshop with parts being sourced from the Prancinburi store.

In addtion to the downhill route we rode over xmas there are a number of other potential trails and loops within Khao Ito ranging from easy to full on.

Project for early 2009 is to install a minimal impact North Shore style loop around the imediate perimieter of the Wild Lodge making use of the big bomb holes and single track around the access road to the park. We plan to construct this using sustainable ecalyptus and the reclaimed hardwood off cuts from the construction projects at The Wild Lodge.

Dave and myself put on our packs and trekked the base route up to the Plateau on the top of Khao Mot Deng last week with the aim of doing a little bush-walking and GPS logging a fixed base route.

This route will form the base line from which other exploratory routes leave and return to the lodge, it departs from just behind the main lodge ends at a great camp area on the top of Khao Mot Deng. It is a relatively easy and can easily be completed in a couple of hours.

On the way up there is a small rock outcrop which affords great views out over the plains past Khao Ito.

 

 

On the way down we followed the route of the watercourse that is the origin of the stream that runs past the Wild Lodge. It is possible to canyon down this stream and Dave and I descended for a few hundred metres before deciding we were not equipped with the right gear for the canyoning style scramble down and returning to the base route.

More pictures as the routes are developed over the next couple  of months.

Sally Madden and Andy Mac (IYA big cheese in UK)  ran an International Youth Award group leader course in Bangkok during June and as a bolt on to the end of the course brought the attendees down to the Wild Lodge to have a look at what outside providers (such as ourselves) can offer for IYA groups.

The IYA award (D of E in UK) is a great program that gets students into the outdoors and challenges them though a series of projects and expeditions rising through Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

Attendess of the course came from all over Asia and the award is growing rapidly thoughout international schools in the region.

Upon the groups arrival at the lodge we had coffee and bisuits and, as usual I pointed out the parts that were still under construction (August 15th is the final completion deadline) and told them to feel free to wander.

I also assured them that the high ropes challenge course was defintely finished 

We also showed how the lodge has been used as a base camp for Bronze IYA programs and induction training, and talked about more challenging Silver and Gold routes into the forest directly behind the lodge.

Coffee over, we split into two groups and ran high ropes and low ropes workshop sessions entitled “adding value” showing how addtional team exercises can add to an IYA weekend.

During lunch both Sally and I chatted about risk assessment and then Dave “Old School” Williams and I gave short presentations on what we could offer in terms of locations and programs for IYA training and expeditions.

Dave runs a fantatsic kayak and nature touring company called Paddle Asia based down in Phuket and is the man to go to for anything in the Andaman Sea or Khao Sok National park in South Thailand

We had a fun day and it was good to swap idea and experiences with like minded people.

Big Thanks to Sally and Andy Mac for running the program and taking the time to visit us.

Anyone interested in possible locations for their IYA programs contact us :) Anyone interested in starting an IYA program in their school, have a look at www.intaward.org/