Buzz
“Here we are, Ha!”
“Tà Chì Nhù, two years ago”
“Can I make it?”
“Absolutely!”
New year, carrying the 7kg backpack as per the demanding team leader's orders, female - I kick off with a challenging trek, my first ever, to ascend the sunlit and windy summit of Tà Chì Nhù. This journey concludes the long days of struggling, fearing I couldn't make it, afraid my slightly aching knees from a careless fall in Mộc Châu at the end of the year would hinder my beloved companions.
Tà Chì Nhù, also known as Phu Song Sung by the Thai ethnic group or Chung Chua Nhà by the Mông people, is a mountain peak ranking in the top 10 highest mountains in Vietnam. Standing at the 7th position with an altitude of 2,979m in Trạm Tấu district, Yên Bái province. However, in terms of difficulty, Tà Chì Nhù is categorized at the top due to steep paths, sparse vegetation, and abundant rocky terrain.
Youth should fear no challenge.
The whole group set out towards Sơn Tây in the late afternoon, driving straight to Trạm Tấu covering over 230 km to rest overnight, preserving energy for the two days of mountain climbing. Unsure of how other groups approach mountain climbing or leisure, our team prioritizes food, with the team leader placing it on top.
Instead of carrying dry rations and a few bottles of water to lighten our backpacks, we hauled up the Tà Chì Nhù summit a hot pot of kimchi with a variety of meat, eggs, and vegetables, a roasted chicken, and even brought hot milk, bread, and coffee for a lavish mountain breakfast for the entire team. Therefore, the team's shared load for the mountain climb is quite heavy, with a minimum of 10 kg for males and 5 kg for females, and no porters accompanying us.
Surroundings shrouded in white, erased mist.
“In Winter, we ascend the mountain - In Autumn, we descend to the sea”
The whole group takes a break, sipping Glucozo to recover after grappling with the towering first ascent.
First time trying a dish called “Porky Pho”. Sounds amusing, but it's the best bowl of pho I've ever had. For this reason, whenever I go out, I always ask the restaurant owner to make me a bowl of pho loaded with porky goodness. The morning pho is still warm, freshly sliced pork, sweet and tender meat, with a few sprigs of green onions and the vibrant green of coriander, creating an enticing aroma.
The entire group has warmed up and is ready for the challenging ascent towards Tà Chì Nhù.
After the group finishes breakfast, the journey begins with over 10 km of rough road to reach the Lead Mine, the starting point of the trail reaching the 2,979m summit. The path is rugged with gravel, rocks hitting the vehicles creating a frightening clattering sound. It's uncertain when someone or something might fall onto the road, or if a vehicle might break down in the middle of the journey. Hands cling to the person in front, legs tense up for fear of flying rocks. It takes almost an hour to reach the mining area. The whole group parks their vehicles and begins the initial steps of the journey.
The initial path steeply ascends, with the mist still lingering due to the early morning.
Tà Chì Nhù greets me with steep ascents right from the base, where the fog is still lingering in the early morning. Climbing, I have to cling to trees, with my boyfriend pushing from behind to help me overcome. The red dirt trail and rocky slopes reveal themselves after each segment, playing hide and seek. On both sides, the layered mountains hide behind the clouds, and the sun begins to cast its rays as it's now past nine in the morning.
The scene as the entire group takes a midday break to recharge.
Halfway up, exhaustion sets in, some showing signs of sunstroke even though the sun isn't too harsh. The group decides to take a break at the 3 km milestone for lunch. From here, looking around, you'll see a sea of clouds and mountains. Looking down, the roads just traveled are obscured by the mountainous forest. Looking up, the high road feels daunting, creating a sensation of being suspended between the sky and the ground.
Distant mountain ranges subtly emerge behind the veil of clouds.
The sky now, dark clouds are steadily gathering.
The group is seated, grilling food.
Sipping coffee and indulging in grilled noodles in the early morning rain.
Surrounded by thick fog, the three of us stopped in this area for nearly 30 minutes, hoping for a break in the clouds. Unfortunately, since it didn't happen, we had to head back to catch up with the others.
Looking forward to meeting Tà Chì Nhù on a not-so-distant winter day!
A few small tips for climbing Tà Chì Nhù
Wishing you all an enjoyable trekking adventure!
Author: Nguyễn Quỳnh Trang
* Article participating in the Mytour Golocal program.
Mytour Golocal is a blogging program showcasing beautiful destinations across Vietnam. It's a fantastic opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you'll receive 800,000 VND and the chance to become a contributor with Mytour. For detailed information about the program, visit: https://www.Mytour/en-gb/golocal
