Ditch the sales and hit the trails!

There’s no denying it: Hong Kong is a trail walker’s paradise. Although hiking and humidity don’t exactly go hand-in-hand, I’ve found myself doing more of it than ever before these last few months – and the odd thing is, I think I’m addicted!

I’m not 100% sure where this new-found love of pounding the pavement has come from, however, it can only be a good thing as I’m getting married at the end of this year (which means I must stay on track with operation ‘get amazing wedding bod’). I’ve also signed up to do a 40km trek as part of MoonTrekker 2011 this October.

Now in its third year, MoonTrekker positions itself as one of Hong Kong’s most exciting endurance competitions. Held during the night, MoonTrekker is split into two events: the Moonlit 25 or Sunrise 40. Racers can compete as individuals, duos or teams and can feel good knowing proceeds from the event are going straight to MoonTrekker’s charity of choice, Room to Read. I’m looking forward to the challenge – and enjoying postcard perfect views like this one (from Lantau Island)!

Registrations for Moon Trekker are open now. If you’re keen to sign up or want more info, visit www.moontrekker.com

So, what’s my hike of the month?

Name: Morning Trail (skirts around Victoria Peak via Harlech Rd)

Where: Hong Kong Island

Distance: 2.8km (one way, excluding Mt High West)

Keep an eye out for: The fitness trail by Pinewood Battery – a great place to stretch or do a few extra exercises.

Don’t forget to pack: at least 2L of water and your camera!

Highlight: On a clear day, the 360◦ view from Mt High West is well worth the extra 552 stairs. At 500m above sea level, it’s like nature’s answer to Ozone Bar at the Ritz Carlton (if you’re imaginative enough to think of your running shoes, sweaty singlet and bottle of Pocari Sweat as a pair of heels, little black dress and ice cold mojito)…Ok, so that might be pushing it. It’s pretty cool though!

Tip: Before you head out, download ‘Enjoy Hiking’, a fee app available on iTunes. It’s essentially a one-stop-shop for everything hiking. It sorts trails by region, lists all the key specs (maps, distance, gradient, estimated time to complete etc), and has a stack of other useful info.

Enjoy and have fun!

Emma recently decided to trade in the laid-back shores of New Zealand for the bright lights of Hong Kong. A PR practitioner from 9am – 5pm, Emma strives to achieve a healthy work – life balance. She ticks all the ‘love’ boxes when it comes to exercising, shopping, travelling and eating well. To follow Emma on Twitter, search @EmmaDeeNZ