PHUKET MOUNTAIN RANGE EXPEDITION

Expedition Details:

This Rainforest Survey expedition has the aim to promote wildlife conservation and to gain field base data of unexplored areas. The expedition will be supported by the local National Park Office and filmed for further promotional needs.

The 8 team member expedition will head out to one of the remotest areas of Thailand “the Phuket mountain range”. Rough terrain, dense Jungle and steep limestone cliffs will make this expedition a defined challenge. Following a river we will hike across almost the whole southern part of Thailand from west to east over a distance of more than 70km through pristine Rainforest.

There will be an extensive 7 day Jungle training in Thailand beforehand which includes all necessary emergency procedures as well as abseiling, survival and navigation training.

Essential Requirements to join the expedition:

o   A good fitness level

o   Non Vegetarian

o   Previous outdoor experience

o   Own Gear and equipment

o   Great Personality

We are especially looking for people with experience in the following skills: Cross country Navigation, First aid or any other medical knowledge, Abseiling, Survival or Filming

If you do not have any of the above skills but feel like this is something you would really enjoy contact us. This may be your opportunity of a lifetime. Feel free to contact us by email.

Cost:

This is a private expedition on share basis and sponsorships. The expedition will have a set budget which is shared between the team members. Special gear such as satellite phones, safety gear and maps will be given to us from sponsors.

ROUTE:             (see yellow line on map)

for more information and updates please contact us info@outdoorexplorer.info 

5.04.2008

...After passing the last town and marked in Vhipawadi it was still another 20km on a dirt road to the National Park Headquarters. Not a single sign marked the way, which indicated to me that not many people would visit this place.

Upon Arrival at the main office and the surrounding park area It was quite and empty. Of course nobody expected us since trying to contact the office in advance by email and phone failed.

After a few minutes one of the Ranger wife's popped up with big eyes wondering what a foreigner is doing here. She explained that everybody was out in the jungle and would be back later that day. We asked for a room for the night and possibly something to eat as there was no single shop in sight since the last 15km or so.

The very friendly girls was very keen to help us with everything we needed. The Park Headquarters offered 1 basic accommodation building with 4 rooms and 2 showers. Everything looked unused and very clean.

After a quick shower I went straight for a short inspection of the Rainforest and was surprised to hear the gibbon calls straight away. I saw the typical large dominating trees that indicated a good health and minor human impact of the forest.

At dinner we where told that only a few foreigners and some Thai visitor groups from Bangkok had visited the Park before. One reason was that it was only established in 1991 and the main access road leading into the park was only build in the last two years. The other reason may be the lack of tourist treks or tour operators in this area, except the towns major who is running small rubber boat and trekking tours since the 10km road into the forest was completed.

On our survey trek with the park rangers the next day we took GPS coordinates of the area, got info's on flora and fauna as well as an inside story of the daily problems they face with illegal logging and hunting.

We walked for a few hours through the jungle and I was surprised that only animal trails would lead the way for us. We encountered hordes of wild boar tracks, Giant Red Bull Tracks as well as a 2m monitor lizard which rested in the shade only a few feet away from us. There was a large variety of bird life singing and chirping as well as the continuous call of the gibbons far up in the tree tops.

The River streams we followed where abundant with fish which that day attracted a few local people a bit further downstream. They where hauling in buckets of fish with each time they dragged the net along a deep part of the river.

After uncountable questions to the rangers we finally found out what we where hoping to hear. Nobody has walked our planed route across the Phuket mountain range before. At least the that is what the senior Park ranger told us. In his words he said there is nothing out there. For him it may means nothing, for us it means everything.

After discussing route details and satellite photos back at the office with the rangers we heard the area was full of wildlife and completely undisturbed by humans as of its remoteness and lack of access. We would very likely encounter tigers, wild elephants and giant Red Bulls in this area all of which the Park Ranger had the highest respect for and knew to well of the dangers about them.

Even though large area we will cross does not belong to the National Park anymore we decided on further meetings to survey the area and to finally cross the Phuket mountain range with the help and support of the Kaeng Krung National Park Rangers.