These trips involve summiting half of Taiwan's 'top 100' peaks, and traversing most of the best-known high routes in the South including two thirds of the main Central Mountain Range spine.
September.
Daba Jian (大霸尖山) from the North ridge.
2nd evening - 6th evening.
This is the 4-day approach from Hsinchu County to the famous barrel-shaped mountain.
Yushan (玉山, Jade Mountain).
8th evening - 10th evening. Note, permits must be applied for before August 5th.
The standard approach to the main summit. Excellent food, sleeping bags provided at Paiyun cabin.
Badasiou (八大秀) +Yushan main peak.
12th evening - 17th.
5 days along the western section of the Batongguan trail to the spine and back - includes summiting of Shiouguran Mountain (秀姑巒山), the highest peak in the central range, and a side-trip to Yushan's Main Peak.
Nengao Trail and Cilai South (能高奇萊南峰).
18th evening - 20th evening.
Fantastic historic trail to the spine of Taiwan.
Snow Mountain (雪山, Syueshan, and many other names...)
22nd to 24th evening
The standard approach to Taiwan's second highest peak. May consider Wuling Quadruple peaks 武陵四秀
Jiaming Meteor Lake (嘉明湖)
25th evening - 28th (Teachers' day) evening.
October.
Chitsai Lake and Hioushun Mountain (七彩湖六順山).
1st - 5th. Long mid-autumn festival weekend.
Hike to the spine of Taiwan from Hualian County.
Yushan (玉山, Jade Mountain).
6th evening - 8th evening. Note, permits must be applied for before September 2nd.
The standard approach to the main summit. Excellent food, sleeping bags provided at Paiyun cabin.
The Southern Stars (南橫三星).
9th evening - 11th evening.
The peaks of the Southern Cross-island highway. May do Guan Shan (關山, Kuan Shan) if requested.
November.
Beidawu (北大武山, North Dawu)
2nd morning - 3rd evening.
The most southerly of Taiwan's 'top 100' peaks.
Nenggao-Antongjyun Traverse (能高安東軍縱走)
4th evening 10th evening.
Up the Nenggao Trail, south along the spine, and exiting at Aowanda. See http://barkingdeernews.blogspot.com/2009/06/nenggao-andongjun.html for more detail.
Snow Holy Ridge (聖稜線)
11th night - 15th night.
The circular 'O' route. Fast, tough, not for those with vertigo.
Badasiou (八大秀)
19th evening - 23rd night.
Up the western section of the Batongguan trail to the spine and back - includes summiting of Shiouguran Mountain (秀姑巒山), the highest peak in the central range, and a possible extra day (to be decided) side-trip to Yushan's Main Peak.
Private trip.
25th - 29th
December.
Danda Cross-Island/Southern Third Section (丹大橫斷/南三段)
November 30th - December 10th.
One of the longest cross-island routes - tough.
Baolai Hot-spring river trace.
11th evening -13th night.
Yushan (玉山, Jade Mountain).
14th evening - 16th evening. Note, permits must be applied for before November 11th.
The standard approach to the main summit. Excellent food, sleeping bags provided at Paiyun cabin.
The Batongguan Trail (八通關越嶺).
17th evening - 24th.
Our favorite destination!The entire historic cross-island trail from the west, across the main spine, via the Formosan Bear research station at Dafen, exiting by Walami. See Robert Kelly's blog for an excellent write-up.
OR
Dafen Bear Reserve and hot springs.
3 days hiking in to the Bear Reserve Station on the stunning Walami (eastern end of the Batongguan) trail. Spend 2 days at Dafen exploring the nearby hot-spring and Japanese-era ruins, exit over 2 days.
Dawu Ghost Lakes
December 28th - January 2nd.
The last possible home of the Clouded Leopard.
2010 January.
Yushan (玉山, Jade Mountain).
3rd evening - 5th evening. Note, permits must be applied for before November 30th.
The standard approach to the main summit. Excellent food, sleeping bags provided at Paiyun cabin.
Southern Second Section (南二段), exiting via Yushan Main Peak .
6th evening - 13th night.
Follow the spine of Taiwan through Yushan National Park, from Jiaming Lake to the Main Peak.
Beidawu (北大武山 North Dawu)
16th morning - 17th evening.
The most southerly of Taiwan's 'top 100' peaks.
Sinkang Ridge (新康)
18th - 25th
From the Jiaming Lake, over Sinkang, exiting via the Walami trail.
Yushan (玉山, Jade Mountain).
27th evening - 29th evening. Note, permits must be applied for before December 25th. Main summit likely to be closed for the month of February.
The standard approach to the main summit. Excellent food, sleeping bags provided at Paiyun cabin.
Sinwangling Mountain or the Jinshuiing Trail (浸水營 Jinshui Camp).
30th morning - 31st evening.
Either the not-very-famous forested peak in the Sanming/Namaysia Valley of Kaohsiung County. Or the lush Japanese-era trail between Taidung and Pingdung. Will confirm later.
February.
Snow Mountain via Sikayo (Jhihjiayan) Mountain (志佳陽雪山)
1st evening - 4th night.
The original approach to the mountain. Descend via the East Peak.
OR
Snow Mountain North Peak and Cuichr Pond, checking out the dragon's spine and glacial cirques (combes) of the area.
Baigu Mountain (白姑大山).
5th evening - 8th evening.
The rarely rarely climbed, south of the Snow Range, made more inaccessible by the 921 earthquake.
The Mapo (Mapolass) Ridge Traverse (馬博橫斷)
12th - 19th.
High and challengeing. Away from the New Year noise and boredom.
Jiaming Meteor Lake (嘉明湖)
22th evening - 25 evening.
Siluan Dashan (西巒大山)
26th evening - 28th evening.
March.
Yanshui Fireworks (鹽水蜂炮)
Not our usual sort of trip. We will spend the main night of the festival in Yanshui (Yenshui) for this adrenalin and smoke-laced event.
..... ............ ..............
Some other hikes that we really hope can be scheduled in closer to the time, but depend on typhoons, snow, and various other - more human - factors:
Cilai East Ridge (奇萊東稜). The epic 6-day from Hehuan right down into Taroko Gorge.
Snow West Ridge (雪山西稜). The, still technically/terminally closed, 7-day route exiting at Dasyueshan.
Nanhu Dashan (南湖大山). The 3-day wintery Northeastern beauty...and other peaks in the area.
Southern First Section (南一段). The 6-day ridge, lacking in water, south of Yushan Nat. Park
Jyunda (郡大). 2 days for views of the best peaks in the center of Taiwan.
Gandzwowan (干卓萬).The approach from Aowanda.
Please note: Dates and other details listed here are liable to change for various reasons. Will try to keep things updated! These trips are of the standard hiking sort - each hiker carries a proportion of the team's gear, portering not standard, some rough conditions and danger to be expected. You should only attempt activities that you have the appropriate experience and ability to deal with. Much better to spend 5 days doing a 3-day hike and then some relaxing, than giving yourself 5 days of torture.
