Huu Lung Day 2

Go back to Huu Lung Day 1.
Go back to Vietnam.

Chuc Suc Khoe

Chuc Suc Khoe, pitch 2.


The following morning we took a cab to the wall that hosted our route of choice. Chuc Suc Khoé is a tightly bolted, 5-pitch 7a+ route (or, as we call it, 6b A0) which at 105 meters in length is the longest established climb in Vietnam as of 2018. The climbing was fun but far from clean for us – some resting on bolts & we essentially aided the last pitch (kind of what we had expected given the grade). The position overlooking a small village in a valley below was pretty cool as well. Things went reasonably quickly (4ish hours road to road?) and soon we were hiking back to camp some 6 km away; fortunately got picked up by a couple of friendly Quebecois on scooters half way there. In the evening we were back in Hanoi and looking around for the correct train station for our overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai on the Chinese border.

Photos

Huu Lung

Heading out for our planned Huu Lung climb in the morning. Taxi – though aid – was nice for the ~6km approach (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

On our way (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

The 20 minute approach from the road to the base of the climb (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Nearing the base of the Chuc Suc Khoe Wall (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Starting up the 5-pitch Chuc Suc Khoe route. This first pitch (6a+) was the only easy one of the day. Though the cheat stick did not have to come out, there was hanging on the bolts of the harder pitches above (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Leading pitch 1. Photo by Lena (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Higher on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley on pitch 1. Photo by Lena (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Higher on pitch 1 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley topping out on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Starting the lead of pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley starting pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Views from the route (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Topping out on pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Leading pitch 3 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Pitch 3 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley topping out on pitch 3 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Starting up pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Higher on pitch 4 – this lower half is easier than the steep top out of the pitch (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley on the easier lower half of pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Views from the route (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley becoming one with the bush (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Higher on pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

View from the route (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Steep and hard finish of pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Shirley topping out on the route – pitch 5 (Nov. 2018).

 

Chuc Suc Khoe

Quick descent from Chuc Suc Khoe (1 single, 1 double). Note the banana tree with fruits and the red flower (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Interesting geology of the next-door wall where most of the area climbs to date have been developed (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

No cab ride on the return trip (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

But there were some cool sights along the way (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

More sights (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Chilling back at the homestay (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

It would be easy to get lazy there (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Kids of the homestay’s owner, Mao (Nov. 2018).

 

Huu Lung

Waiting for our afternoon ride back to Hanoi (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

Looking for the right railway station back in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

But first some food and beer at a station-side establishment (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

The correct train station (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

At the station in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

Our overnight train to Sa Pa (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

Shirley in the sleeper compartment (Nov. 2018).

 

Hanoi

Settling in (Nov. 2018).

Go to Sa Pa Day 1.
Go back to Vietnam.