On the afternoon of March 22, ice rain appeared in many communes of Son La, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho provinces... Many tourists trekking Phu Sa Phin directly experienced this extreme weather.
Ms. Trinh Huong Giang (Tuyen Quang) did not think that she would encounter this phenomenon on the mountain on the first day of conquering Phu Sa Phin. Stone rain began to appear when Ms. Giang's group was about to reach the top.
The female tourist expressed: "Indeed, I found it quite interesting because it rained in the mountains, a rare experience. Before the trip, I carefully checked the weather. At the same time, local people and tour guides had notes about accommodation, so I felt safe and not too worried.
Similarly, Mr. Tran Duy (Hung Yen) recorded ice rain occurring at about 4:20 pm on the same day, when he just went to the shack to rest. This is also the first day the male tourist conquered Phu Sa Phin Palace in the direction of Tram Tau, Lao Cai (old Yen Bai).
I was quite surprised to see ice rain. At that time, I had just gone up to the shack to rest for about 10 minutes, ice rain started to fall," he calmly recounted.
The first hailstorm lasted about 10-15 minutes. However, at about 9-10 pm on the same day, Mr. Duy observed this area and continued to record another hailstorm. Until the next morning, many stones had not completely melted on the climbing path.
Not only facing harsh weather, Mr. Duy's journey to climb Phu Sa Phin on a rainy day became even more difficult due to slippery, muddy roads and limited visibility due to fog.
Although the weather is not as expected, for me, the moss forest here is as beautiful as a painting. Many ancient trees covered with moss combined with fog create a scene that is both mysterious and attractive," Mr. Duy added.
Phu Sa Phin is one of the still quite pristine peaks in the Northwest, attracting trekkingers thanks to its unique scenery and less commercialized. The climbing route in Tram Tau direction is considered more difficult than the Hang Chu direction due to its steep slope, long distance and complex terrain.
A prominent feature of Phu Sa Phin is the primary moss forest ecosystem. Along the journey, visitors will pass through forests covered with green moss, interspersed with decades-old ancient trees.
The phenomenon of ice rain appearing at the end of March in the high mountains of the North is not too rare, but can cause many risks for mountaineers, especially those without experience.
Therefore, those who plan to conquer Phu Sa Phin or high mountains should follow weather forecasts, prepare raincoats, gloves, light helmets and choose a suitable climbing time.
In bad weather conditions such as rain or thick fog, the road becomes slippery and muddy, requiring climbers to have experience, specialized shoes and careful preparation in terms of physical strength as well as skills.
