Trekking to the summit of K'lang

Enjoy touching the roots of the centuries-old trees. Photo: CP

We reached the summit of that mountain, slept in hammocks in the bone-chilling cold, and listened to the Co Tu people tell stories about the sacredness and mystery of that forest and mountain peak.

The path to conquering the "eagle"

Mr. Bh'riu Liếc, former Secretary of the Tay Giang District Party Committee, challenged us to climb to the summit of K'Lang. "It's quite close, only about 4 hours," Mr. Liếc said.

K'Lang is not the name of any Co Tu boy or girl, but means eagle. Mr. Bh'riu Liếc said that in the past, the Co Tu people got lost and ended up on the rhododendron peak.

Seeing that the mountain was too high for humans to reach, yet covered in seashells, the forest dwellers said that only an eagle could spread its wings and fly to the summit. The name K'Lang comes from that, meaning the high peak of the eagle, and only eagles can set foot on it.

The path to the rhododendron forest is truly a challenge after about 4 hours of trekking through the woods. After a relatively gentle "greeting" from Mother Forest, hairpin bends and steep slopes appear more frequently.

Trekking on the summit of K'lang.

At 1 PM, after traversing many stretches of forest that moved in slow motion like a magical film, we reached a canopy of forest mostly covered in bamboo. Forest dwellers know that areas with bamboo are often accompanied by intense heat and dryness. The bamboo groves, growing precariously on the high mountains and deep ravines, left hikers exhausted.

Based on GPS maps, the entire route to the summit of K'Lang is approximately 8km long. Following the road through A Banh 2 village shortens the journey considerably, but this route sends chills down anyone's spine due to a sheer, vertical mountain range stretching for about 1km right at the beginning of the journey.

The path leading up to the rhododendron forest was magically beautiful, like something out of a color film. After about six hours of travel, the group arrived at a clearing where only tree roots were visible above the ground, resembling the claws of a ferocious beast.

As the group trudged forward, a shower of blossoms suddenly fell. Many, upon returning to the foot of the mountain, recounted the experience to each other, expressing deep regret at not having had the strength to capture the romantic scene amidst the forest.

Night in the deep forest

We reached the rhododendron peak at 6 PM. The sacred forest was bathed in the reddish-purple hues of the late afternoon sun.

Lighting a bonfire on top of K'lang mountain. Photo: CP

Mount K'Lang is divided into two distinct areas. At the highest point, you can see foliage all around. Rhododendrons bloom profusely, with four colors interwoven, looking down from above like a giant brocade fabric. About 15 minutes from the rhododendron peak, following the cliff face, you will reach the highest point, which is also the border between Laos and Vietnam.

For a long time, K'Lang peak has been a landmark with stunning, unique scenery that anyone who loves exploring nature would want to visit at least once.

The most fascinating thing is the peculiarity of the plants on the high mountain. At an altitude of 2,050 meters, even in the middle of summer, it still feels chilly. It's hard to believe that at this high peak there is an entire forest of rhododendrons.

Capture the beauty of rhododendron flowers.

The rhododendrons here come in four colors, not just the pure white or purple commonly seen in other national parks. Each rhododendron tree is covered in a carpet of moss.

Green moss grows intertwined with tree trunks, along with parasitic plants and orchids, giving the forest a mysterious, timeless feel. The moss is so thick that peeling off a single clump reveals an entire sheet; many people enjoy wearing these mossy patches on their heads like green hats.

We were walking on layers of leaves and decaying organic matter. In some places, it felt as if our footsteps caused a tremor, like standing in a swamp. The dry trees and leaves had formed a thick layer of decaying organic matter, nourishing the pristine, pure flowers that bloomed brilliantly in a place rarely visited by humans.

Reaching the rhododendron peak as the sun was setting, the group had to quickly find a tree trunk and choose a suitable spot to hang their hammocks. Night falls faster on the high mountain. In just a moment, the cold arrived. Each person wrapped themselves in their hammocks and turned around the bonfires that had been lit.

Bags of liquor were brought out, and each person shared a sip of white wine to find warmth. A group of young men carrying supplies accidentally discovered a lake nestled in the mountains, teeming with small fish. One strange event followed another, keeping the entire group awake all night as they tried to listen and feel everything before returning to the city.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/trekking-len-dinh-k-lang-3141565.html