As a fan of both hiking and the allure of jungle settings, there’s not much that excites me more than embarking on a trek through dense, untamed foliage. Recently, I found myself drawn to the mysterious depths of Chư Păh. . Little did I know, my adventure would be accompanied by a nifty app that has made me rethink the way I interact with the jungle – stay tuned for more on iNaturalist at the end.

My journey began in a village marked on the old US maps as Dang Rơia, now famous for it’s ruined church (complete with bullet holes). I had a chance encounter with local farmers sat taking a break from their work. Their curiosity piqued by this strange foreinger driving down a dirt road, they asked me what I was up to. I said I was going for a hike and they said there’s nothing this way and I should go to Chi Nam instead. I told them I’d already been up Chi Nam 3 times, they told me to try Chi Dang Ya, I told them I’d already been up there. I told them I was going to continue on that road and see what I could find. They merrily waved me goodbye. Little did I know, this encounter would set the stage for a truly remarkable adventure.

The ruined church still has some new year flowers

View down between chi dang ya and chi nam. Chi jor in the background. (Chi or chư is jrai for mountain)

Despite the warnings, I ventured forth, parking my bike near a ford and taking a path that led through the bush into the mountains. As I delved deeper into the wilderness the bush gave way to jungle, the verdant canopy overhead enveloped me in its embrace, shielding me from the harsh sun and immersing me in a world that felt untouched by human hands. What secrets lay hidden beneath the dense foliage, waiting to be unearthed?

I came across a bamboo bench next to an old fire pit. Lots of cow pats around so I think this was made by cowboys m

an inviting path at the edge of the jungle

I spent two days in the wilderness, carrying a tent that allowed me to explore deeper into the jungle without worrying about losing daylight. Venturing to the top of the mountain ridge and then descending into the denser jungle on the far side seemed like a promising route to the next valley, a familiar terrain I’ve hiked before. However, it quickly became apparent that this was a miscalculation.

The path downward on the far side offered stunning views but proved to be treacherously steep and ultimately led to a dead end. Retracing my steps, hauling my gear uphill at the end of a long day was far from ideal. With just 200 meters left to go and the sun setting, I found myself needing a rest every 100 paces! The thought of a warm meal and a beer at camp helped push me through the exhaustion.

I had an idea to do a vlog but I didn’t plan any of what I’d say and I didn’t edit the videos at all….

Enchanting!

Tiger Crystal is quite nice warm actually.

Despite the challenges, those two days in the jungle were a testament to its magnificence. Each moment revealed a new facet of its beauty, from the towering trees to the tranquil babbling brooks. As I reflect on my experience, I can’t help but hope that wilderness like this can continue to thrive in our modern world, preserved as a treasure for future generations to cherish.

iNaturalist

During this expedition, I used a great app that transformed my outdoor experience: iNaturalist. Introduced to me by my friend Joshua, this app offers users the opportunity to capture photos of wildlife specimens they encounter, identify their species., share with the community and contribute to a database for scientific research.

The app quickly became an addictive hobby for me, effectively gamifying my excursions into the wilderness. Every observation I took pulled me deeper into nature, sharpening my eye for plants and bugs. It’s been a real eye-opener, sparking this love for biology and making me feel a lot more connected to the world around me. As I keep using iNaturalist, I can’t help but think about how tech is changing the way we see nature. It’s not just about ID’ing species; it’s about inspiring people, especially younger people, to care about our planet. Embracing the diversity of life around us, from the smallest insect to the tallest tree, fosters a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of preserving our natural world for generations to come.