Renowned as "Mokochu," hikers know it's a challenging trail. But securing a quota is even more difficult. (Just kidding!)

"Mogokju" is the name of the highest peak in Mae Wong National Park, standing at 1,964 meters above sea level. It ranks eighth among the top ten highest peaks in Thailand. The name "Mogokju" is derived from the Karen language and means "like rain is about to fall." This name likely originates from the frequent presence of clouds and mist on the mountaintop.

The challenging aspect of this journey lies in the fact that, in the past, conquering Mount Mogochu required a five-day, four-night trek. However, the park authorities have recently implemented a new itinerary that reduces the duration to a more manageable three days and two nights, making it an appealing option for busy individuals like ourselves.

The more difficult it is to access, the more people want to go. So, let's not wait any longer and follow me. After gathering the members according to the conditions set by the park, we waited for the booking day. All our hopes were placed on the trip leader, while the rest of us 11 could only wait anxiously from afar. We trained our bodies as usual, waiting for the announcement from the park to see if we would be able to go. And then our group became the first 4 groups to go. Yay!

Here is a rough overview of the regulations of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT):

Our group consisted of 12 people. We rented a van and drove one of our own cars. For food, we mostly brought dried goods, such as fried fish, fried pork, sun-dried beef, and bottled chili paste with shrimp paste (my friends made all of this, not me!). We focused on food that was easy to prepare, carry, and didn't take much time to cook. This was because we had to leave early both mornings we were in the forest, and we packed lunch to eat on the way.

After gathering fresh supplies, we departed from Bangkok around 9 pm and arrived at the park around 2 am. We then found a place to sleep and rest for the next day, using the tourist service center as our base camp.

Please go outside.

Inside some

In the morning, after taking care of personal matters, we will organize our luggage and weigh it before distributing it to the porters.

Porters charge 500 baht per person per day, so for 3 days, it would cost 1,500 baht per person. Each porter can carry approximately 20 kilograms of luggage.

Our group used four porters to carry the communal supplies, while we carried our own personal belongings.

This is for the vendors.

The female street vendors here are quite charming and attractive.

This part is our own. A 10kg+ backpack and a 3kg waterproof bag for the camera (still smiling because we don't know our fate yet --").

Note: For those who are planning to go, I recommend bringing only what you need. Don't follow my example, haha.

Taking a photo with the sign before setting off.

After breakfast provided by the park, it's time to set off. We will take a car arranged by the park to Mae Krasa Camp as stated in the document above (car + 2 guides 12,000 baht). The distance is approximately 16 km and takes about 3 hours by car. (In the past, this 16 km was a walk!)

The car that will take us to Mae Krasa Camp.

This is our team! Each car is loaded with supplies and porters for each group. The one in the yellow shirt is our trip leader, who successfully fought for our quota.^^

Two other members sat in the front with two officers leading the way. Our trip was led by two officers named Ann and E.

Leaving the National Park around 9 am, you should arrive at Mae Krasa Camp around noon.

The campsite offers restrooms, but guests are required to collect water from the nearby stream. This provides a convenient and refreshing experience.

We stopped for lunch here before setting off. We ordered packed lunches from the National Park shop.

After finishing our meal, we set off on our journey. Our destination for the day was the Mae Ra Wa Camp, located approximately 4 kilometers from our current location.

Crossing the Mae Krasa Canal, we saw some water spinach growing, so we helped Yi pick some for tonight's menu: stir-fried water spinach with oyster sauce.

The translation of the sentence "หน้าตายังชื่นมื่นกันอยู่คร่า (เพิ่งเริ่มเดินนิ)" from Thai to English is:

"Your faces are still cheerful (we've just started walking)."

This 4-kilometer trail winds through a bamboo forest, providing ample shade and keeping the temperature comfortable. The path is mostly flat, making for a relaxing and enjoyable hike.

After about an hour's walk, we came across a canal called Arumi Rai. (I forgot to ask the officer what the canal was called, I just remember it was on the way to Mae Rawa Camp.)

A picture of the wooden bridge crossing at this point, but on the way back down instead. I would like to see a picture of the natural scenery. ^^

The cool water in the forest is refreshing. Especially after a hot walk, it's great to be able to wash your face and eyes and feel refreshed.

One more photo, because today I only walked 4 kilometers and had time to take photos leisurely.^^

Continuing on through the bamboo forest, I truly love these green hues.

It took us about an hour and a half to get from Mae Krasa Camp to Mae Reua Camp. We helped each other set up the flysheet, groundsheet, and claimed our territory.

Most of our group chose to sleep on mats, which means sleeping side by side on the ground. This option is convenient for storage. However, some people chose to sleep in hammocks or tents. It's up to each individual to decide and be responsible for their own belongings. As for lazy people like me, we prefer the easy option! Haha.

Here's a glimpse of our camp, captured by my friend. I'm the one lounging comfortably in the picture, while she's busy taking photos.

We cook rice, prepare meals, and sleep there.

In fact, there is also Mae Ri Wa Waterfall here. It takes about 3 hours to walk round trip from the camp, but our group did not go. It's a bit of a pity.

If you're heading to Mo Ko Ju, don't make the same mistake we did! We only managed to capture photos at the campsite entrance. We were too busy admiring the handsome guys to explore further. 😉

As evening fell, we all pitched in to cook dinner. I was the sous-chef, as usual, and I was incredibly helpful on this trip. Haha!

Today's menu included shrimp paste chili dip, fried fish, stir-fried fiddlehead fern (harvested from the Maekrasam Canal), and clear soup. What a pity I didn't take any pictures!

Note: We also need to prepare food for the hawkers. Most of the officers will prepare their own food, but it's a good idea to prepare some extra for them as well. They will take very good care of us!

At this camp, we bathe and brush our teeth in the Mae Reua River. However, if you need to use the restroom, there are three toilets available for both number one and number two. As before, you will need to collect water from the river yourself.

The night was quite chilly, and our friends gathered around a bonfire to keep warm after dinner. I, however, had to take my medication and go straight to bed. It's not fun to travel when you're not feeling well. The next day, we quickly ate breakfast and packed lunch for our journey. Our goal was to camp at the foot of the mountain and reach the summit in time to watch the sunset. The distance from Mae Reua Camp to the foot of the mountain was about 8 km, but it was all uphill and very steep. We had to carry about 2-3 bottles of water each because the next water source was quite far away. (I remember we started our hike around 7-8 am and reached the first stream where we could refill our water bottles around noon.)

We usually fill our water bottles directly from the Mae Reua stream. However, on this particular trip, we were fortunate to have a companion who brought a water filter, so we all benefited from clean, filtered water.

Their slogan is "Filter clear but not filter disease." 5555+++ But at least it's clear, right? Friends, don't forget to buy one and keep it with you. It's good for peace of mind.

We started walking with the officer, whose name is Ann. We will be in the front group because there will be officers leading and closing the line. Well, we are the front row women, haha.

During our hike, we enjoyed the company of park rangers, who answered our numerous questions. Along the trail, we spotted various animal tracks, including those of wild boars and banteng. While we couldn't identify them ourselves, we relied on the rangers' expertise. Unfortunately, we didn't capture any photos due to the challenging terrain, heat, and fatigue. (We were so exhausted that even taking out our cameras seemed like an insurmountable task.)

I happened to come across the model while walking around.^^

It's really steep. ><

Encountered this little creature along the way, so adorable. Now, it seems we'll be entering a stage of scattered clues.

Along the trail, there may be some leeches, but not many. They are mostly found near streams. Ticks are more common, they are small but their bites itch. I saw some people recommend using dog flea powder, which seems to help. However, we used a general insect repellent lotion, which had a lemongrass scent that was a bit overwhelming.

Auntie Ann rolled up her pants and fought. She said that when something bites, you can see it. Oh, right? I covered myself tightly^^"

They walk and rest in groups, spreading out the risk. In case there are any ticks or fleas, they can choose to eat as they please. Haha.

We arrived at Khlong Nung around noon and had lunch there.

Before continuing, the trip leader took a moment to pose for a photo, much to the amusement of the other participants.

After lunch, we continued our journey. On the way, we stopped to buy some water, but this time there was nothing to filter it with, so we couldn't keep up with the others.

Walked over to the tree and saw this guy passed out. ><

However, the forest also has many beautiful things, such as this one.

A tree of the future. ^^

Wandering through the leaves and blades of grass.

I don't know what kind of fruit this is, but the color is so sweet.

Walking on and on, I stopped when I felt tired. The destination was still far away, and I almost cried. "Hin Ruea Bo" T^T It's so far (The small object in the middle of the picture is Hin Ruea Bo, our destination).

Around 3:00 PM, we arrived at Khlong 2, the last stream before reaching the base camp. At this point, the male members of the group had to help fill 5-liter bottles with water and carry them up to the camp for cooking. As for us ladies, we could only offer our support, as our bodies were barely able to lift our own legs. We estimate the incline to be around 60-70 degrees. After setting up camp, we continued our trek to the summit. The distance from the base camp to the summit is approximately 1 kilometer.

It seems we arrived a little late, but the view in front of us is absolutely stunning. I don't know what I was doing, but I didn't take any pictures of the scenery. Oh no! --"

Sail Rock at dusk.

At least the sky was on our side, allowing us to witness the beauty of the scenery above. Personally, I prefer the sunset moments. The Olympics were great, haha. As for Saturday morning, our group went up a little late and didn't get to see the sunrise. It was soooo cold!

Let's call this morning's session the "Pose-Off Challenge."

Let's start with the trip leader.

I was so surprised that I stood up.

The girl gang and their finnere outfits, the designated chefs for the trip.

Version Fear of heights ^^

This photo was secretly stolen from the owner. (Don't tell anyone)

The view from here isn't just about the Sail Rock. On the day we visited, there was also a sea of fog. That white expanse you see in the distance? That's it.

Standing there, looking all high and mighty, is none other than yours truly. Hahahaha!

This morning alone, I've changed outfits three times. It's not that much, though. The heavy backpack, I confess, is mostly filled with props.

If anyone says I'm dramatic, I won't argue. Hahahahahaha.

Many thanks to the owner of the beautiful pictures. ^^

We brought the national flag and the yellow flag with us, intending to take them to the top to take pictures. But now the officers have beautifully planted them together on the top of the mountain. We are so proud!^^

Group photo of our team (sorry not everyone could make it). P.S. I borrowed the trip leader's headwear for this one.^^

Just a sailboat rock, right? ^^

View

How beautiful can it be through the eyes of others? We have to see for ourselves^^

The final set of photos on the Sail Rock, which we had planned to visit since last year but were unable to book. This year, we finally made it! Let me show off a little.

We simply want the world to know that we reject the Mae Wong Dam.

"No, I don't want the Kaeng Krachan Dam," Duangnapasatcha said again.

After taking photos, we quickly descended to eat lunch and pack up camp. It was around 9:30 AM when we started our descent. Today, we had to walk back to the Mae Krasa unit, a distance of approximately 12 km, which was all downhill. Oh my, my legs were about to fall off! Even though we were wearing three pairs of socks and an additional layer of leech socks, our toes were still in so much pain that we could barely hold back tears. Each of my friends had their own technique for coping with the pain, some sliding down sideways, others walking backwards. It was quite hilarious.

This person is incredibly resilient. We commend her for her perseverance.

Our chefs are no slouches, always smiling for the camera no matter how tired they are.

Taking a moment to capture a quick selfie while I rest. I rarely have photos of myself.

This person is going on their first hike and they're starting with Mount Mogokju.

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The children in our group walked very fast and didn't wait for us.

Our team is the worst in the group, but the worst at the moment should be the photographer. 555+

Our group arrived at Mae Krasa Camp around 5 pm. We met the trip leader who was already waiting for us in the car.

At approximately 5:30 PM, our group departed from the Mae Krasa Camp. However, during our journey, the vehicle transporting us broke down. We were forced to tow it several times, and unfortunately, we found ourselves in a location with no signal, preventing us from contacting the other vehicle or the unit via radio. The officers had to walk approximately 2 kilometers to find a signal and contact the unit to send a replacement vehicle. We waited for about an hour before the vehicle arrived. Despite the inconvenience, we maintained a positive attitude and enjoyed ourselves. This unexpected delay provided us with the opportunity to spend more time in the Mae Wong forest. We were even picked up by a four-wheel drive vehicle. We finally arrived back at the unit around 8:30 PM. The head of the National Park was incredibly kind and had prepared dinner for us. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for their hospitality.

In conclusion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my fellow travelers for their kindness and friendship. It was a truly enjoyable and hilarious trip. Thank you for the beautiful photos and for taking care of me when I was sick. I promise to be in better shape for the next trip. If there are any future trips, please don't forget to invite me. I'm so glad that you all enjoyed it. Thank you for reading my bragging. There were only a few of us. The rest were recruited from various pages to meet the required number of participants. Try opening your heart to new groups of friends. I guarantee that you will gain valuable friendships. It seems that the officials tried a new management approach this year. They will review the feedback to determine how to proceed next year for tourists. It is possible that vehicles will only be allowed for one year. Additionally, due to the ongoing construction of the Mae Krasa unit, vehicles may be useful for transporting supplies and personnel to the unit. Personally, I am fine with walking, but having vehicles would be convenient, as it is quite difficult to take time off work.