MacLehose Trail Section 4 at Ngong Ping, Ma On Shan, is one of the most popular hiking routes and serves as an important route for major cross-country running races, so the volume and intensity of its use are significant. Over the years, the soil on the surface of the trail has been worn away by the footsteps of walkers. Combined with rainfall, this has led to increased erosion, which has caused walkers to move to the grassy areas along the path, resulting in the continuous widening of the path.

In 2017, a group of volunteers made a concerted effort to repair the road surface with boulders. However, when it came to collecting the materials, they faced the challenge that the boulders were too heavy. Normally 3 or 4 people could move a boulder, but here it took 7 or 8 volunteers. It was later discovered that this difficulty was due to the history of mining at Ma On Shan.

Ma On Shan is rich in iron ore resources and has a history of more than half a century of mining development. The rocks in this area have a higher iron content. This makes them heavier than ordinary stones and more difficult to move. Volunteers worked together to move the rocks and piece them to a flat surface, while drainage channels were constructed at both the upper and lower sections of the trail to direct rainwater and prevent soil erosion.

Although the surface had been repaired, the work was not complete. The following spring, the volunteer team returned to the trail and replanted trees on both sides in the hope of restoring the vegetation. Now the trail has gradually recovered and its condition has improved. The once bare spots on either side have been restored to their former green state, making it a “showcase” for our eco-trails!