Previous: http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/05/taiwan-mt-dadong-alishan-20-21408_1.html
From Alishan, our bus headed towards Taipei on 22.4.08. Many of us took the opportunity to catch up with our sleep during the long journey to Taipei. We stopped by Jiji, a quaint railway station town for lunch. On arrival at Taipei in the afternoon, our bus left us at Taipei 101 for a whirlwind tour of the world tallest building. Thereafter, we visited Chiang Kai Shek (CSK) Memorial Hall before ending our day at Huaxsi Tourist Mall for dinner & shopping. CKS Memorial Hall has since been renamed as National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.
The next morning, after a quick walk through Chiang Kai Shek (CKS) Shilin Residence noted for its beautiful flowers and manicured garden, we left for Yangmingshan (YMS) National Park with the aim of climbing its highest mountain, Mt Qixing (Seven Star Mt).
To our chargin, it started to drizzle the moment we stepped out of the bus upon arrival at YMS’s Visitor Centre. The YMS’s official was however nonchalant about the gloomy weather and encouraged us to trek up using the nearby Miaopu trail located on the South-West of the mountain and return via Siaoyoukeng trail which ends on the North-West side.
Starting at the Miaopu trailhead at 10.40 a.m., we took 1 ½ hours to climb up the 2.27km long basalt pavers (concrete steps) which snaked all the way to the peak at 1,120m high. The tropical rainforest gave way to scrub-like trees and tall silvergrasses when we approached the summit. YMs is supposed to be a grassland ala Broga Hills. Unfortunately, we saw nothing except white mist because of the awful weather. At the peak, we could feel the strong winds and heavy rain drops due possibly to the absence of any trees. We also had to crouch behind rocks to shelter ourselves from the howling wet winds. After a quick photography session, we scrambled downhill rapidly to evade the thick mist which had begun to envelope the peak.
On our way downhill, I had to change into my proper rain jacket because the wind kept my thin poncho (Malaysian type) ‘flying’ about me, thus marring my movements. The trek downhill was treacherous because of the slippery terrain as well as poor visibility due to the thick mist. The mist was so heavy that we could not see more than 6 ft ahead of us. Nevertheless, we took sometime to examine the geothermal clouds steaming from fumaroles encrusted with yellow sulfur. We managed to reach Siaoyoukeng trailhead (elevation of 811m) at 1 p.m. after trekking 1.6km downhill for less than 1hr.
The rest of the afternoon was well spent at the National Palace Museum which has the most awesome collection of Chinese artifacts outside mainland China and the Martyr’s Shrine where we witnessed the changing of guards; followed by dinner and shopping at the famous Shilin Night Market.
For the photographs, please refer to: http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/2569.
Next: http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2008/05/taiwan-jiufen-jinguashih-24408_3.html
That's what I find rather annoying about many of the popular Taiwanese trails. They "concretise" too much.
ReplyDeleteAlmost sexy in your transparent outerwear. :-))
ReplyDeleteI also do not like the concrete steps of Miaopu trail. However, Siaoyoukeng trail which cuts through the fumarole area is more natural. There is another trail from Lengshuikeng to Mt Qixing peak. Not too sure about the nature of this Lengshuikeng trail.
ReplyDeletePlease do not use flimsy poncho when you climb up Jade Peak. Use wind cum rain jacket with proper hood and hip drawstrings. At 1,120m the wind was so strong... but it was a BAD day. The wind strength was something like this at the Yushan's wind tunnel section but on a GOOD day. Heard that people had been blown away before; hence the construction of the wind tunnel. Maybe you can verify this when you are over :-D
ReplyDeleteHmmm... must be very cold, this guy is in space suit.
ReplyDelete