How many members have heard of Micro Hydro?. I certainly hadnt until a few days ago.
A friend invited me along to do a preliminary recce of a small river/stream to see if it was suitable for Micro Hydro. My blank look led him to explain it to me.
Apparently it involves using swift streams and steep gradients to generate hydro-electric power for small consumers.
In this case the idea was to use streams coming off the central mountain range to supply power for Orang Asli (aboriginal) communities in the belief that it was cheaper than grid power.
It sounds good but Im not sure how much this paternalistic government is prepared to bring in aboriginals as partners rather than dependant stakeholders whom they can control.
Anyway, I just wanted to a nice day out and a new location to explore so I tagged along.
We drove to a rather pretty recreational forest park and then walked till the park trails ended then carried on upstream along bush trails.
It was pleasant and cool walking as the cool water and cooler hill air descended down the valley.
After awhile the banks disappeared into steep wooded slopes up to 70 degrees or more and we had to ascend a trail up the sides of the gorge through which the stream passed.
We noticed that the boar had been busy looking for roots and tubers. Lots of pig sign.
There were monkeys and gibbons around as well.
The amount of mammals explained the number of leeches that were ambushing us and hurling themselves off leaves and branches in the hope of getting at us.
Everyone was blooded a few times. I had worn only one pair of socks and leather walking boots, instead of jungle boots, to better cushion a cut toe, so I ended up with couple in the boots and a few danglies from the ankles.
A few got onto Jans hand and we stopped at an incomplete aboriginal hut for a leech removal break.
You can see why the Orang Asli, like almost all jungle folk, prefer to sleep and live above the ground with its leeches and other nuisances.
Its almost impossible to be neutral about them. While I can ignore them and carry them around till we stop and take my time removing them if needed, I dont like them one bit not least because of the itching that follows the next day.
I dont saw them in half usually like some people do. Just a flick if climbing or a scrape if they are already in blood sucking mode.
For those who a fascinated by leeches here is an earlier short video of them moving in on their prey (me).
A tributary stream joined the river at the hut so I did a short side recce though some tall bamboo.
Bamboo forests are often quite noisy due to the wind rubbing the stems against each other and loud cracks when an over stressed stem breaks.
I rejoined the others on a sand bar where they had stopped. A rock bar is probably more accurate
.
After the break, Patrick and I stayed on the sand bar while the rest continued ahead.
This was a good opportunity to practice fire making and have the obligatory survival cup of tea (which actually was hot chocolate).
The others came back about 2 hours later and reported that the stream just kept on gradually rising but no waterfalls.
They found another hut in the forest but no one at home.
They had a rest and we talked over the findings
After a swim in the stream we turned and headed back. Our next trip will probably be an overnighter and maybe a hike across the watershed to another a drainage.
A friend invited me along to do a preliminary recce of a small river/stream to see if it was suitable for Micro Hydro. My blank look led him to explain it to me.
Apparently it involves using swift streams and steep gradients to generate hydro-electric power for small consumers.
In this case the idea was to use streams coming off the central mountain range to supply power for Orang Asli (aboriginal) communities in the belief that it was cheaper than grid power.
It sounds good but Im not sure how much this paternalistic government is prepared to bring in aboriginals as partners rather than dependant stakeholders whom they can control.
Anyway, I just wanted to a nice day out and a new location to explore so I tagged along.
We drove to a rather pretty recreational forest park and then walked till the park trails ended then carried on upstream along bush trails.
It was pleasant and cool walking as the cool water and cooler hill air descended down the valley.
After awhile the banks disappeared into steep wooded slopes up to 70 degrees or more and we had to ascend a trail up the sides of the gorge through which the stream passed.
We noticed that the boar had been busy looking for roots and tubers. Lots of pig sign.
There were monkeys and gibbons around as well.
The amount of mammals explained the number of leeches that were ambushing us and hurling themselves off leaves and branches in the hope of getting at us.
Everyone was blooded a few times. I had worn only one pair of socks and leather walking boots, instead of jungle boots, to better cushion a cut toe, so I ended up with couple in the boots and a few danglies from the ankles.
A few got onto Jans hand and we stopped at an incomplete aboriginal hut for a leech removal break.
You can see why the Orang Asli, like almost all jungle folk, prefer to sleep and live above the ground with its leeches and other nuisances.
Its almost impossible to be neutral about them. While I can ignore them and carry them around till we stop and take my time removing them if needed, I dont like them one bit not least because of the itching that follows the next day.
I dont saw them in half usually like some people do. Just a flick if climbing or a scrape if they are already in blood sucking mode.
For those who a fascinated by leeches here is an earlier short video of them moving in on their prey (me).
A tributary stream joined the river at the hut so I did a short side recce though some tall bamboo.
Bamboo forests are often quite noisy due to the wind rubbing the stems against each other and loud cracks when an over stressed stem breaks.
I rejoined the others on a sand bar where they had stopped. A rock bar is probably more accurate
.
After the break, Patrick and I stayed on the sand bar while the rest continued ahead.
This was a good opportunity to practice fire making and have the obligatory survival cup of tea (which actually was hot chocolate).
The others came back about 2 hours later and reported that the stream just kept on gradually rising but no waterfalls.
They found another hut in the forest but no one at home.
They had a rest and we talked over the findings
After a swim in the stream we turned and headed back. Our next trip will probably be an overnighter and maybe a hike across the watershed to another a drainage.
uppy_dog 
