tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75170267512716393412024-03-04T22:42:10.216-08:00Barking Deer NewsComments from Taiwan's mountain & nature specialists.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-3872644404232302402012-08-06T21:01:00.002-07:002012-08-06T21:01:46.778-07:00Paiyun, Baiyang, and Shakadang.Purposely keeping this short and sweet.<br />
<br />
Paiyun Lodge '<strong>at the very earliest'</strong> will reopen late October 2012. We shall see...<br />
<br />
Baiyang Trail (original route) is open again. We have seen.<br />
<br />
Shakadang Trail will be closed for some time due to damage caused by Typhoon Soala. Don't want to see.<br />
<br />
Most other stuff as normal. Take care!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-72826915689322216362012-02-23T23:17:00.000-08:002012-03-05T08:15:57.461-08:00Paiyun continued...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.17278644152978972" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paiyun continued...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOytkCH9YhDNEUoUJaMabaqpmuXv4o0JNwRDdYWTfGsGja-cXHDMUStqb-gBScUFJxIduBOV_znR16Wg_jfOzB4bpZGEKk4k3aIW0vaWRrUHfWr9JI6DzXUEiWcj0T874yzlnJ_5qdWk/s1600/Chris+on+Yushan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOytkCH9YhDNEUoUJaMabaqpmuXv4o0JNwRDdYWTfGsGja-cXHDMUStqb-gBScUFJxIduBOV_znR16Wg_jfOzB4bpZGEKk4k3aIW0vaWRrUHfWr9JI6DzXUEiWcj0T874yzlnJ_5qdWk/s320/Chris+on+Yushan.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It
may surprise my some of my friends (if they were really listening to me
in the last couple years), but I do have a life beyond figuring out
options for climbing Yushan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The main cabin on Yushan - Paiyun Lodge - made the English news today. I have reproduced the </span><a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/02/24/2003526261"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">article from the Taipei Times </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">below
that makes public some of the rumors I have been hearing. A couple
minor errors, and dodgy interpretations, but gives you a flavor of the
issues involved</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My conclusions:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
The conventional approach to Yushan (staying in Paiyun) may not be
available as hoped for this spring/summer. This legal argument could
drag on some time - I hope I am wrong.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the meantime</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> if you are fit and have good mountain hiking experience, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">and really want to get to the highest point in Taiwan, then the only half-sensible option is the tough </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">single-day ascent</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
If you just want to do fantastic hiking in great mountains, then
consider other trails such as Snow Mountain, the Hehuan area, and in
greater Taroko. Taiwan has much, much more than Yushan (Jade Mountain).
Richard </span><a href="mailto:HikeTaiwan@gmail.com"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">HikeTaiwan@gmail.com</span></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;">--------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
<span style="color: red;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7739083229192725" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A couple other bits of (early March) info/personal observations.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yushan National Park (YSNP) have announced (well not really announced - more sheepishly let slip out that is) that:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Once
Paiyun reopens, foreigners will pay three times what Taiwanese will for
the use of the lodge. Their reasoning is that ‘this is what happens
overseas’, and ‘is to cover the cost of bilingual services’. I ask -
does this make it right, or a good overall idea? What bilingual
services? Their website, trail signs, hiking maps, signs at Paiyun, and
other advice is the worst of the other equivalent Taiwan organizations -
Taroko NP, Shei-pa NP, Forestry Bureau etc. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Another
issue: once Paiyun reopens, foreigners will not be allowed
(regardless of being able to prove extensive experience on serious
Taiwanese or foreign mountains) to apply for single day ascents.
Idiotic! Unsafe!</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quick FAQ notes:</span><br />
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">No camping at Paiyun.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The main peaks are not open yet (early March) but possibly will be by April.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If wanting great hiking on great mountains - and not ‘needing’ to do Yushan - consider some of Taiwan’s other mountains.</span></li>
</ul>
<div align="center" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">-----------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Complaints raised over Yushan lodge</span><br />
<h3 dir="ltr">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">BROKEN
LAWS? One complainant said the park was actually rebuilding the entire
lodge, not refurbishing it, and that the true cost was being kept a
secret</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yushan
National Park Administration may have violated the Government
Procurement Act (政府採購法) and the Construction Industry Act (營造業法) in the
reconstruction of the Pai Yun Lodge (排雲山莊), a source said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
lodge is a rest building for hikers, located 3,400m above sea level. It
can accommodate 82 hikers in the main building and 20 in its camping
area. Due to the heavy traffic on Yushan hiking trails, the park
administration decided to refurbish the lodge and add a second floor in
2010. However, environmental protection groups opposed the plan on
grounds that it might cause an ecological disaster.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To
allay those concerns, the administration spent NT$1.3 million
(US$43,946) in 2009 commissioning outside sources to evaluate the lodge
project, and in 2010 spent another NT$900,000 on environmental and
ecological monitoring.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Construction began in October 2010, but was soon met with protests.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
reader who tipped off the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister
newspaper) on the alleged violations said the park administration had
torn everything down except a few walls, and was actually rebuilding the
whole building under the guise of refurbishing.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The administration’s methods to sidestep environmental criticism were in themselves very controversial, the reader said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
reader said that in an effort to evade inspection by the Public
Construction Commission and to be able to apply for green architecture
labels, the park administration said it was only spending NT$40 million,
but the estimates deliberately omitted the expense of airlifting
materials by helicopter, which would have brought expenditures close to
NT$100 million.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
park administration may have violated the law, the reader said, adding
that it was illogical that the designers weren’t looking into the matter
because there was such a serious breach of design.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Deputy
park administration Director Wu Hsiang-chien (吳祥堅) said that while it
was true that there were some additional fees in the construction
process, any such fees would be handled through contracts.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
original budget for the construction stood at NT$45 million, and the
winning construction bid came in at NT$38 million, Wu said. However, due
to multiple design changes during construction process, the budget had
been increased to NT$44 million.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
differences in the design conception of the construction and the design
companies may cause the cost to increase to more NT$50 million, but no
costs had been omitted from the budget quotes, Wu said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
project is currently 93 percent complete, the park administration said,
adding that it had asked the construction company to expedite work and
finish quickly to avoid inconveniencing domestic and foreign hikers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">‧
The Yushan National Park Administration spent NT$1.3 million
(US$43,946) in 2009 on outside sources to evaluate the lodge project.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">‧ It spent NT$900,000 on environmental and ecological monitoring.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">‧ The original budget for the project was NT$45 million, but the winning bid was NT$38 million.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">‧ Multiple design changes have boosted the budget to NT$44 million.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">‧ A complaint says the true cost may reach NT100 million.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-34549087823723790322011-12-30T21:40:00.000-08:002012-08-02T05:16:48.094-07:002011 Round-up<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9773645358229298" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hope you all enjoying the holiday season - and that you will have time in 2012 to explore Taiwan more.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcvIeWDX3SvPFbt-uXm_6T0XIdh2ZgsXdDV_13pADYpYOws9qNNo8qViRFmAXFfd3ZbXFufI1zcriYoT98Zu4N_DriJakTitUlv01zdlYdHWsxrEW62odf7YNj8XeojURSAdSho6il0s/s1600/Jump+Taiwan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcvIeWDX3SvPFbt-uXm_6T0XIdh2ZgsXdDV_13pADYpYOws9qNNo8qViRFmAXFfd3ZbXFufI1zcriYoT98Zu4N_DriJakTitUlv01zdlYdHWsxrEW62odf7YNj8XeojURSAdSho6il0s/s320/Jump+Taiwan.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">An end-of-year round-up:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Firstly, most trails/roads/cabins in most places open and in proper working order.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
usual, <strong>Yushan Main Peak Trail</strong> (from Tatajia) will close for the month
of February for all hikers. Snow and ice on the trail will probably mean
this being extended well into March.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
renovation of <strong>Paiyun Lodge</strong> (the main cabin on Yushan) is ongoing.
Officially it is to open “after Chinese New Year”, I predict it will the
summer at the earliest. We can still arrange single-day ascents (only
for the fit and experienced) after the mountain reopens in March/April.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9773645358229298" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A
much needed bus service between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan (via Tatajia)
has been launched. Buses leave at 07:00 and 09:00. Single trip ticket:
NT$307, return: NT614. More details later.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Repairs to bridges on the <strong>Walami Trail</strong> have been completed.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We’ve recently scouted out areas in the south damaged by <strong>Typhoon Morakot</strong> in 2009:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
<strong>Southern Cross</strong>-island Highway (#20, the ‘nan-heng’) remains closed to
visitors between Meishan on in the west and Xiangyang on the east. There
has been lots of work done to make the road passable, we hope it may
open to some traffic in 2012.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The road to <strong>Tengjhih</strong> is passable but in rough shape. The Forest Recreation Area is scheduled to reopen in August.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Shanping</strong> will be closed to all visitors for at least another year or two.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>Maolin
and Wutai</strong> are open to visitors. Roads are generally in OK shape, lots
of reconstruction work being done to roads and trails.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
wonderfully-located Tienchr Cabin reconstruction - on the <strong>Neng-gao</strong>
(Cilai South) Trail is very close to completion. Should be open for use
in the spring. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
highway running through<strong> Taroko Gorge</strong> is usually open. In the next few
months expect delays occasionally at the east end of the Swallow’s
Grotto (where there was a large landslide November 2011) and just west
of Tianxiang.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Birders
can look forward to the 2012 Dasyueshan (aka Anmashan)<strong> Bird Race</strong> on
April 13 and 14th. As well as being one of the best places to bird in
Taiwan, foreign teams qualify for free accommodation. Contact the </span><a href="http://bird.org.tw/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">bird society</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - or </span><a href="mailto:barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">me</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for further advice.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Two useful and practical <strong>apps</strong> for traveling around Taiwan have been launched. Here and </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/tw/app/taiwan-adventures/id460420731?ls=1&mt=8"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Taiwan Adventures.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Steve Crook’s handy </span><a href="about:blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Does and Don’ts in Taiwan</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is now available in Kindle format.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-4074598111734742162011-10-05T04:02:00.000-07:002011-10-05T04:02:59.832-07:00Second Asian Bird Fair, Tainan<span id="yiv1776990892internal-source-marker_0.8110731919152615" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_0"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Second Asian Bird Fair, to be held in Tainan, is only a few days away (October 15-17). I went (on scooter) in search of info on what will be going on.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This event is (rightfully) aimed mostly at Taiwanese visitors, thus the 'bilingual' </span><a href="http://www.bird.org.tw/2nd-abf/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">official website here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> follows the Taiwanese highly-animated style. In other words not very...best not to say.</span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The related Asian Bird Fair’s group website </span><a href="http://www.birdfair.asia/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">is here.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;" /><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13178115126161944" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday & Sunday</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Various activities for adults and children at the recreational docks in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_1">Anping</span> harbor <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_2">9am to 5pm</span>.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Speeches,
preformances, and discussion groups all day at the nearby stage and
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_3">Jincheng</span> Activities Center. Many of these will be by foreign bird group
representatives - in English.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Free
shuttle buses morning and afternoon from the Wuchi side of the bridge
to birdwatching sites. Route A: Sicao ‘inland sea’. Route B: Sicao
mangroves ‘green tunnel’. Route C: Cigu (Qigu). First registered gets the
limited spaces.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">On <b>Monday</b> there will be other activities for invited foreign guests.<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Pester me for more details. Hope to see you there. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> _______________________________</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The bird race at Tataka (trailhead for Yushan) will be <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_4">on November 12-13th</span>. See the </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.bird.org.tw/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">ROC (Taiwan) Wild Bird Society</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for registration.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HEEdjESQc-JLW3uckKpsvpWZVXFfraV7AI_5xZlNpxpmhkQQstMjw38NQlUMHlOBiXSrXYgbxfsZL4TJ2AONxVwZ4Fygr6I44Z8-yqrNbExHtPJxKhc" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As
of the start of October, there have been 11 Black-faced Spoonbills spotted in
the Cigu area. If wanting a day-trip out there email me at
<a href="mailto:HikeTaiwan@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317811508_5">HikeTaiwan@gmail.com</span></a> </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-26271625571135623772011-10-04T23:50:00.000-07:002011-10-04T23:51:35.097-07:00Nanhu Mountain<span id="yiv23745625internal-source-marker_0.21217621006733778" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nanhu Dashan (南湖大山)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317796787172203" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you ask 10 experienced Taiwanese high-mountain hikers which mountain is the most beautiful, 9 are likely to say ‘Nanhu’.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHhmcmRSx3E5qCfXK07UJme8g0P1t9_yw3zQHq2TkhnjtqG6wMmsrdWMR2LJ6i39tiS1Fz195ErBoB2Zophmecq1BaNtzU99SuS3GdN57hrsaabnpRqfCWqLL6EJW6VLGfXXRxyY4LFM/s1600/Nanhu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHhmcmRSx3E5qCfXK07UJme8g0P1t9_yw3zQHq2TkhnjtqG6wMmsrdWMR2LJ6i39tiS1Fz195ErBoB2Zophmecq1BaNtzU99SuS3GdN57hrsaabnpRqfCWqLL6EJW6VLGfXXRxyY4LFM/s320/Nanhu.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taiwan’s
fifth highest (3,742 meters) and the highest in the North-East. If you
have climbed any of the main peaks in Shei-pa (Snow) National Park you
may have watched the sun rise from behind Nanhu and its formidable
neighbor, Jhongyangjian Mountain.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
trailhead is 3 hours from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317796775_0">Taipei City</span> in southern <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317796775_1">Yilan County</span>, quite
close to Wuling Farm - the trailhead for Snow Mountain. The first day’s
trail passes through lush mixed temperate and pine forest. On later days
there are expansive views from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317796775_2">alpine meadows</span> of dwarf bamboo, juniper
and rhododendron. At the higher sections the paths traverse craggy
cliffs next to enormous landslides, ending in the glacial cirques these
mountains are famous for.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">More</span><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/NanhuMountain?authuser=0&feat=directlink" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317796787172196" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1317796787172193" style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> photos here.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Nanhu
is only suitable for the more experienced and well-prepared hiker
prepared to invest between 4 and 8 days (doing a loop including
Jhongyangjian). If time-limited or if there is a a lot of snow present,
consider making Nanhu <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317796775_3">North Peak</span> your target - thus avoiding the
trickier fixed-rope sections before the final peaks. Less experienced
hikers should consider other peaks elsewhere such as Snow Mountain,
Hehuan, Cilai South etc.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrqeqv3XyfycvL83CaxW4eXdYoPAgKnF7B9PSXatuxb9SeZnh1CZO4icgR_4x4jh3noS6LDGi8DTLEAbGKNwyGvhfpQTb8K1dgR6fyBmRy_sDFxmHX0CCoaBaCmXFrT5eZ28DUomvXYc/s1600/Nanhu+Dashan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrqeqv3XyfycvL83CaxW4eXdYoPAgKnF7B9PSXatuxb9SeZnh1CZO4icgR_4x4jh3noS6LDGi8DTLEAbGKNwyGvhfpQTb8K1dgR6fyBmRy_sDFxmHX0CCoaBaCmXFrT5eZ28DUomvXYc/s320/Nanhu+Dashan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I
can assist in arranging logistics for this area (serious hikers only):
permits, cabin booking, and booking the direct shuttle from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317796775_4">Taipei</span>
(getting off right at the trailhead).</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-14465773255864500732011-10-03T06:23:00.000-07:002011-10-03T06:28:27.088-07:00Paiyun Lodge - not ready yet...<span id="yiv1685949105internal-source-marker_0.5433530384867544" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paiyun
Lodge (排雲山莊) is the only significant accommodation along the trail up
Yushan (Jade Mountain) from Tataka (Tatajia). An old structure, it
worked well when there were few hikers climbing Yushan. In recent years
its basic facilities and modest capacity were deemed insufficient for
modern climbers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">From
September 2010 it has been closed and undergoing reconstruction. Real progress has been made, but many factors mean it is slow.
Multiple deadlines for completion have passed. My latest prediction for
it operating normally is sometime between spring and fall 2012. Please
note, this is not the official line, but is based on personal
observations and conversations with many individuals.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMrF4mp-EE318-xPeWAJN1pFHpWKMvO_VgcP7IZYMzE_2HZXpcqhoi0j46NOIwrF3877fEXWdGTA5UOiFJPJ3CpJnB1j5FUGdhZPGQhWVd1AUsMlvscJOqT4N1aiMc9DXi79MvdlVlhw/s1600/Paiyun+Lodge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMrF4mp-EE318-xPeWAJN1pFHpWKMvO_VgcP7IZYMzE_2HZXpcqhoi0j46NOIwrF3877fEXWdGTA5UOiFJPJ3CpJnB1j5FUGdhZPGQhWVd1AUsMlvscJOqT4N1aiMc9DXi79MvdlVlhw/s320/Paiyun+Lodge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
As it was late September 2011. More images <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111610770705736482579/PaiyunLodgeOldToNew#">here</a><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prior to Paiyun being completed and opening there are essentially 2 options for those wishing to summit Yushan’s main peak. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Single-day ascent,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and camping at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yuan-fong</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Both are tough and only suitable for the hiking-fit and experienced. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
are one or two irresponsible individuals that will boast that that
these options are ‘easy’ or ‘anyone can do it’. I (as someone that
regularly guides hikers to the top) want to make it clear that this is
nonsense for most people. Yes, some some very fit people can run up and
down it in a day without a problem, for most it is extremely exhausting
and potentially dangerous.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Yushan
Main Peak (via Tataka/Tatajia) will, as usual, probably be closed for
the month or two around Chinese New Year. Not announced yet (wish they
would plan ahead...never do), but probably January, February, maybe
March. Even if open around then, there may be extra restrictions or
requirements for crampons, helmets, ice-axes etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
longer routes into remoter parts of the National Park are opening up
after the damage caused in 2009’s Typhoon Morakot. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317647606_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Mapo</span> Cross-Island,
the Southern Second Section, and Hsin Kang (Xinkang) Routes are now open
- special case applications needed. Batongguan Cross-island is still
closed. The Walami Trail should reopen within the month. I hear (haven’t
personally been there recently) conflicting reports about the condition
of the trail near Guanggao - some say it os OK, some say it is lethal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Look further north in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1317647606_1" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Taiwan</span> for better trails at the moment.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-42816046668596874842011-09-05T06:16:00.000-07:002012-08-02T05:17:04.615-07:00Fall & Winter 2011 Open Hikes.<span id="internal-source-marker_0.8313574471419167" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Scheduled guided hikes (open to anyone) in the next months.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Full Moon Festival long weekend.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Join us for 1,2 , or 3 days for fun hiking in Taroko Gorge for Mid-Autumn Festival. As well as checking out most of the main sights (Shakadang, Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow’s Grotto, Lyushui-Heliou Trail, Tianxiang etc) we will focus on one or two excellent trails. Last-minute arrivals welcome. All you have to do is to take the bus/train to Taroko, be ‘reasonably’ fit, and possess sensible walking clothes/shoes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Day 1. Saturday September 10th:<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/WenshanLyushuiTrail?authuser=0&feat=directlink"> Wenshan-Lyushuei</a> Trail, easy 4-7hours. Plus lots of main gorge sights.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Day 2. Sunday September 11th: Zulun Mountain 1599 meters elevation, 5-7 hours hiking. Not far from the Lotus Pond and the trail to the <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/MeiyuanJhucunTrail?authuser=0&feat=directlink">Jhucun/Meiyuan Trail</a>. Plus lots of main gorge sights on the way up/down. Option to ride bicycles back down to guesthouse.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Day 3. Monday September 12th (a public holiday in Taiwan) <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/DaliDatongTrail?authuser=0&feat=directlink">Dali-Datong Trail</a>: I will be doing the moderately hard route. Option available for those wanting a tougher option - and a very easy stroll. Finish with a little rivertracing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJybiJvskoF1A-ic0Ld_-X22czJcvdPOF9NuHvuOpA1UHJvBkEEbxzxnzvt9e_rycb_lVp2uEBHkMJD8GQCyJJ83xFpe2y10bq8_UpLRMNN8FqKZGL4dMjTWdiB0bo_YreDBEZkxGFro/s1600/Taroko+walking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJybiJvskoF1A-ic0Ld_-X22czJcvdPOF9NuHvuOpA1UHJvBkEEbxzxnzvt9e_rycb_lVp2uEBHkMJD8GQCyJJ83xFpe2y10bq8_UpLRMNN8FqKZGL4dMjTWdiB0bo_YreDBEZkxGFro/s320/Taroko+walking.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Price NT$ 2,400 per day or $ 5,900 for the 3 days. Includes: shuttle from Taroko (aka Xincheng/Sincheng) Train Station, good nearby guesthouse accommodation, breakfast//dinner/snacks, local transport - and me guiding throughout. As well as the general, fun stuff, I will be focusing on the flora and fauna of Taroko.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Note, reserved train seats the whole way to Taroko/Hualien that weekend will be very difficult to book. Better to take Kamalan Bus from Taipei to Yilan or Luodong, and then local train to Xincheng. It works - quick and cheap too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111610770705736482579/TarokoGorge" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">General Gorge photos.</span></a><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">___________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">October 10th National Day Long Weekend.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Similar to Full Moon weekend above, but hopefully including <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/Jhuilu?authuser=0&feat=directlink">Jhueilu</a> (Vertigo) and Baiyang Trails. October 8/9/10.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">___________________________________</span><br />
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American Thanksgiving TBA<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November Sunday 27th Yushan Single-day Main Peak hike. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We travel to the trailhead the 26th from cities on the west coast. Can be back in Taipei etc on 27th night. As the single-day option is only suitable for the hiking-fit. See previous posts as to why 2-day options etc are not possible. Repeat only for those in above average condition. Must be arranged well in advance.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">____________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Snow Mountain December 2, 3, 4.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We will travel via the west coast and Taipei to Wuling Farm. Standard route to Taiwan’s second highest mountain. Backup destination (should permits prove hard to get) may be Nanhu Mountain - Taiwan’s most beautiful mountain according to 90% of Taiwan hikers. Book early.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">____________________________________</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New Year Taroko - main gorge and fantastic viewpoint sunset/sunrise hike.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday December 30th. General great stuff in the gorge. Stay in guesthouse.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday December 31st. Solid 3-6 hour hike via the remote Dali Village to almost the summit of Liwu Mountain. That night we will sleep in the local aboriginal chief’s house - simple, no electric, but warm quilts in dorm-style rooms, good food, and fantastic views.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday January 1st. Arise and walk 15 minutes to the ridge - at 1,200 meters elevation, and similar horizontal distance from the Pacific Ocean. Hard to imagine a more stunning place to welcome the new year in. Hike 3-5 hours via Datong Village down to the Shakadang Trail and back to the gorge proper.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Other Taroko Tours can be arranged for the unfit/lazy/on a different level.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">HikeTaiwan@gmail.com</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-77366562787611613632011-08-24T05:17:00.000-07:002011-08-24T05:18:08.503-07:00Taiwan trails, roads, bridges, birds - and Yushan.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.44490569899231425">Taiwan trails, roads, bridges, birds - and Yushan.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">No typhoons!?! Not a bad summer - so far. Tip of the day: The best time for hiking in Taiwan is spring and fall but usually ANY month is excellent somewhere.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Work on the entrance to the </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Baiyang Trail</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> and </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Wenshan Hotsprings</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> in Taroko Gorge seems to be progressing smoothly. The tunnel entrance for Baiyang (currently accessible from a new trail starting behind the protestant church in Tienxiang) will be enclosed in a rock slide tunnel. Could be finished this year. The large concrete bridge near the waterfall was destroyed last month, work to replace it (with something less substantial) is likely to start soon. The trail will be closed for the second half of August 2011 to allow the cliffs to be ‘swept’ (</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">刷坡) of loose rocks and railings replaced.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Also reportedly soon (maybe this year) to reopen are the Wenshan Hotsprings.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Have updated </span><a href="http://barkingdeernews.blogspot.com/2011/03/taroko-and-yushan-spring-2011-updates.html"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000099;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;">earlier comments</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> on </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Taroko options.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> </span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> Southern Cross-island Highway </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">(Number 20) remains closed at its highest section following Typhoon Morakot in 2009. The highway department has officially announced it will not ‘rebuild’ it but attempt to ‘maintain’ it. </span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Residents of </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Namaxia</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> (formerly Sanming) in Kaohsiung fear the section of Highway 20 from Jiaxian northwards will not be fully rebuilt. Currently the road is passable.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The section of road from </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Wutai to Ali </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">will not be rebuilt. This is effectivly the end for the village of Ali. The old forest roads/hiking trails beyond here, leading to the mountains around the ghost lakes remain utterly impassable.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Highway 21 between kilometer 121 and 145K (essentially </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">between Tatajia and Dongpu</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">) will only be open to traffic between 7am and 5:30 pm for the immediate future. This is due to unstable road conditions in this area. This may be relevant to hikers coming off Yushan and hoping to soak sore legs in Dongpu’s hot springs. If needing further information (in Chinese), phone the relevant roads office at 049-2791511. Road to Alishan (and on to Chaiyi etc) usually open to most vehicles.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Another </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">bird race</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is to be held on November 12th and 13th at Tatajia - the trailhead for Yushan, 20km from Alishan. If wanting to compete, contact Elva at the Wild Bird Society, or me (will accept absolute novices on my team).</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Walami Trail</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> is closed until mid November to allow for repairs on the first couple bridges on the trail after Nanan. Should be on schedule.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">All Shei-pa National Park trails seem to be open. My earlier musings on the proposed rebuilding of </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Banan Cabin</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> (to the south of Daba) were sadly wrong. There are no plans to replace this beautifully-located shelter.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Yushan</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A reminder: The only, sort-of, sensible options for getting to Yushan’s summit at the moment is either a single-day ascent from Tatajia, or camping at the high up Yuan-fong campsite/small cabin. In my opinion the single-day is preferable. If wanting a simple, fun, hiking experience consider other mountains.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">When applying (paper/snail-mail option only) for permits, hikers must prove experience at on a high mountain. Proof - in the form of photos of you on a serious summit (or in snow...) seems to do the trick. Most hikers will start hiking at 2 or 3am from Tatajia (the highway, not the trailhead proper - handy van shuttle not possible) and return very tired between 2pm and 7pm. The National Park has the sensible, and enforced, rule that hikers must make it to Paiyun Lodge </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">before 10am</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"> - or not be allowed further up the mountain.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">This is all due to Paiyun Lodge still being unfinished. My prediction (based on discussions with numerous relevant people, and dependant on typhoons/snow/acts of humans) is that the cabin will not be effectively operating until spring 2012.</span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Richard </span>
<br /><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">HikeTaiwan@gmail.com</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-42172805127840025072011-06-19T05:35:00.000-07:002011-10-03T00:38:39.131-07:00Hehuan Mountain's Best<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALRl8QFSbxO3dTlo1oM2Py-lCZovbmjv8Y-PoKMT1pRsVchrcf1fdKsxsoNNZPn5WqNdK04ajZVys88mnVaUQnfhcn8Ndb1P9HkzkBwcXgwAPKVg2bzEDN5w4PK0s-UN6Lm7euQG6U4/s1600/Sunset+Hehan+mountain.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619922738181122818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALRl8QFSbxO3dTlo1oM2Py-lCZovbmjv8Y-PoKMT1pRsVchrcf1fdKsxsoNNZPn5WqNdK04ajZVys88mnVaUQnfhcn8Ndb1P9HkzkBwcXgwAPKVg2bzEDN5w4PK0s-UN6Lm7euQG6U4/s320/Sunset+Hehan+mountain.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 198px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b>Hehuan</b> (or sometimes ‘Hohuan’) is one of Taiwan’s best high mountain hiking areas. Being so accessible, sometimes we forget how high it is - how many good hikes are there - and how good the the views usually are.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Located in the center of Taiwan, with some luck you can have views of both Snow Mountain and Yushan by just turning your head 180 degrees.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Less than 2 hours drive, from the end of Freeway 6 at Puli, or from world-class Taroko Gorge.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The well-maintained road, makes this a great way to cross the island - slowly please!</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Various accommodation options not far away.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best hikes - from very easy to fairly tough.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shihmen Mountain.</span> By far the easiest of Taiwan’s ‘Top 100’ peaks. Everyone must stroll up this one.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hehuan Main Peak.</span> Even easier, can be great for sunsets.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hehuan Jian (Pointy)</span>. A fun climb, up and over.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hehuan East Peak.</span> More like a proper ‘Top 100’.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Xiao (Small) Cilai.</span> A different feel, some forest, some ‘Sound of Music’ spots.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hehuan North.</span> Really feel you are climbing a mountain.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hehuan West.</span> A full day (and night maybe) of great hiking and climbing.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bilu.</span> A perfect overnighter.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Also:</span> Cilai, Pingfong, and Yangtou nearby... </span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619910397766284162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeusEcoehisEfVn01RpX0-Rv6ZtBrJZXrcaFgVfAiHVik6EgfEXDNPhmFDWuJVwlsdXAn-1X1cJ3gCPRUPrnGKaDKv7_ZEGF2hSzwkQma9u2_IzWit3QbFE3MsK9p_iL2vCQZTZOy2r4/s320/Taiwan+peaks.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Bilu summit.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619910162414948434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR-syiElTPT1ZnmDD26DNT4vNm7CIPNVVsFRNj04ebE6LELPnp1FALnxPSHPJkxX1KRUsgYHeHpzYiWKhqcSCib5s-Dp53BEh97F_mScMQt_qs34GilDjkTQfFRV6Gg8c1IwMJzTmByw/s320/Sunrise+Huhuan+Taiwan.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Looking towards Taroko.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909992655495186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygPoW6CmE4nkiK2WMbcILG-41TQ7A5OxRacc-L-zo7yCLVb56SNJkEOFWhO5CTW-vq87BZDy7xRSGU_XHedAV8tK2KWDC3EPSANu9YA4SWDkSdlRMOTodQzqAE13FS3lRcGGtM3ZuGq8/s320/Small+Cilai.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Picnicing on Small Cilai<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909987718700482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3OcOeLJrvy_zQArzQwFCT1iuwPJFLIocPG27fraBj_BqIuFBs-g8hDraX7GRtlp4jewTkhag1YdlzYeVLbs91wqGe4goN7nqUKR9XU_vHVZkxIaVnff93WvY_gfCmIGoxTwZlwMosak/s320/Shrmen+Mountain+Taiwan.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Coming down Hehuan North<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSx2Elu1AAAF1gIb0sOVxvPUyZf_iW99JZACLvjVk4831Lz54fILfynvofp-W2Z2Gs5PvZC2b-xXvqYK_K0WbZYqm_nk7jozRu0B-jGh9xmAWowg2P4rgaJMWdHMIjhURM2Ao7NYcBGU/s1600/Hiking+Hohuan.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909980291101330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSx2Elu1AAAF1gIb0sOVxvPUyZf_iW99JZACLvjVk4831Lz54fILfynvofp-W2Z2Gs5PvZC2b-xXvqYK_K0WbZYqm_nk7jozRu0B-jGh9xmAWowg2P4rgaJMWdHMIjhURM2Ao7NYcBGU/s320/Hiking+Hohuan.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909996286071890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSdYCqpteczY5oUEaIDVusFrSEaJdaR9gHPO45ewEavzEg8JfhvLYnQ_jZ16k4VQ-OBAJ-pZU4Uh0EKiuH4WqWiv-y9zfFRt7IqzZtXrc3v4xfRw2WvNsxwkovfHp5MAFxZv-DsRefV0/s320/Songxue+Hehuan.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Songxue Lodge...well for a few weeks a year anyway, sometimes.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KG6KNO7tMpRYGzlMkA7-Q6iO9QHtt4sFZK0uAGbosgPUTPtf1WkEfXu2vgZQw9mVD5nlKvdxZCChYhcJmFC6fuIyWVYL0WjlKrzRdmFy11Z3qqgxX4ziwyKLgD7ep_OVb2tdL79LnII/s1600/Hehuan+snow.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909607322913506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KG6KNO7tMpRYGzlMkA7-Q6iO9QHtt4sFZK0uAGbosgPUTPtf1WkEfXu2vgZQw9mVD5nlKvdxZCChYhcJmFC6fuIyWVYL0WjlKrzRdmFy11Z3qqgxX4ziwyKLgD7ep_OVb2tdL79LnII/s320/Hehuan+snow.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLOqAQRsfIDf0zLf6NO6TOCgr0TpPLUXTQG_yPIADOFxlwe8qnNv6jVBY6AR4aaDOuSVXDkNLDHWZgGLmmtCESXMKnXIgUWLj-a2QO1uwjqFYc__evS0m3lisqIfQKrmQXIczAwYcOLA/s1600/Hehuan+flowers.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909603750884306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLOqAQRsfIDf0zLf6NO6TOCgr0TpPLUXTQG_yPIADOFxlwe8qnNv6jVBY6AR4aaDOuSVXDkNLDHWZgGLmmtCESXMKnXIgUWLj-a2QO1uwjqFYc__evS0m3lisqIfQKrmQXIczAwYcOLA/s320/Hehuan+flowers.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8EfBtSiqtCai5iYKNnkq_7NNbEBn_JcU3WhhWlgb48gOF8xbcd8KmL8G1DMK72z1Z6MZ7lYrbEafhD1y9D-4yYj2737BlTvtEA3T-L1ucdU_J6tPBhQvEV5KSd8uWIvmmGjEuyeHFOc/s1600/birding+hehuan+taiwan.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619909603350116194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz8EfBtSiqtCai5iYKNnkq_7NNbEBn_JcU3WhhWlgb48gOF8xbcd8KmL8G1DMK72z1Z6MZ7lYrbEafhD1y9D-4yYj2737BlTvtEA3T-L1ucdU_J6tPBhQvEV5KSd8uWIvmmGjEuyeHFOc/s320/birding+hehuan+taiwan.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">A couple other points:</span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Stick to established route, feel free to reprimand those that wander of - tramping the vegetation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The highest point that you can drive at Hehuan (and Taiwan) is ‘Wuling’ Pass. This has nothing to do with ‘Wuling’ Farm, the trailhead for Snow Mountain hours drive away!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> Enjoy some of Taiwan finest endemic birds and plants at close range. Feel free to contact me (Richard) if needing help in touring Hehuan etc. barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span></li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-729387169269126542011-06-13T07:30:00.000-07:002012-08-02T05:14:45.567-07:00Top Taroko Gorge Hikes<div style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My (current) 5 favorite Taroko Gorge Hikes:</span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Located on the east coast of Taiwan, Taroko Gorge has lots of great sights to enjoy. As well as the very easy stuff, there are several superb hikes starting from the main part of the gorge. </span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Vertigo (Jhuilu/Zhuilu) Trail. 3 to 8 hours. </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfz7VKw8vkNRNT4ZeZxR128-s29gz4VoxkaBcMjO-9jPn5ImgV9kvJosfRmUtiFCf9KqsSEs1hRcjboQSTZFr7bmoLCHNhfXT_ADfI_AzDnUXrtRN8A-tTJpYX4qs2hu7dGMe-mfgaIk/s1600/Taroko+Zhuilu+Trail.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617714132854611362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfz7VKw8vkNRNT4ZeZxR128-s29gz4VoxkaBcMjO-9jPn5ImgV9kvJosfRmUtiFCf9KqsSEs1hRcjboQSTZFr7bmoLCHNhfXT_ADfI_AzDnUXrtRN8A-tTJpYX4qs2hu7dGMe-mfgaIk/s320/Taroko+Zhuilu+Trail.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dali-Datong Villages. 8 hours to 3 days.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYW8qGioKa1yOUZGnnX9Fp4rCpUjY074Fje_CPx6XSvbTEt6R6xsPNJmWKlGe-qkU8IvFUiKNnJNG_IUljm_EpL5OTDVp8eg54fkSg8KIlXydLmvkXuo8kH29FXjpkY4C6m3UUtiKI7c/s1600/Dali+Datong.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617715472806305490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYW8qGioKa1yOUZGnnX9Fp4rCpUjY074Fje_CPx6XSvbTEt6R6xsPNJmWKlGe-qkU8IvFUiKNnJNG_IUljm_EpL5OTDVp8eg54fkSg8KIlXydLmvkXuo8kH29FXjpkY4C6m3UUtiKI7c/s320/Dali+Datong.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: transparent; font-size: small; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;">Jhucun-Meiyun Villages. 6 hours to 2 days.</span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyK29Y-64NypeIwYu2yJu0YcBEs9ecLfzzZv1X3A9Yzm0yjpq04yQcfMexldAJ-ZfSVkHa5hIEwYTS-se88BaWPpssCh63dLGO8pHzpHSDddV0Z0UahzjAUgJdTrgmAYhsKnoasR9mxKY/s1600/Jhucun+Meiyuan.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713041079517058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyK29Y-64NypeIwYu2yJu0YcBEs9ecLfzzZv1X3A9Yzm0yjpq04yQcfMexldAJ-ZfSVkHa5hIEwYTS-se88BaWPpssCh63dLGO8pHzpHSDddV0Z0UahzjAUgJdTrgmAYhsKnoasR9mxKY/s320/Jhucun+Meiyuan.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tienxiang to Baiyang Waterfall. 4 to 7 hours.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWeVS0LMx_atXP1Ru9u-L4qhLwiuyMIIIpcRYGtALaPUxyThp5pCSSpc66vf1tjabEXzcIPLingb_1DGcx1SDF_rM6QjAixMQEowmPjOb_QIKZ1wFvjqpxDx3F724SU2eO4OOJdW3h6w/s1600/Baiyang.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713030145924418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWeVS0LMx_atXP1Ru9u-L4qhLwiuyMIIIpcRYGtALaPUxyThp5pCSSpc66vf1tjabEXzcIPLingb_1DGcx1SDF_rM6QjAixMQEowmPjOb_QIKZ1wFvjqpxDx3F724SU2eO4OOJdW3h6w/s320/Baiyang.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 100%;">Wenshan to Lyushui. 5 hours to 2 days</span>.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgPOMVSs7HZJzTPHaZvqs5g4flQlLPnwC761bEOVzvRaDcGo6MH-yOoNBL6ZD9ZST3r9PKQwWJg4tggeiVLFfrmfzErRhFx84Ni-Let7EEEYWhQM-gNypHr2WDsUx9t7ywRwLu4wLtC8/s1600/Lyushui+Wenshan.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713635087441330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgPOMVSs7HZJzTPHaZvqs5g4flQlLPnwC761bEOVzvRaDcGo6MH-yOoNBL6ZD9ZST3r9PKQwWJg4tggeiVLFfrmfzErRhFx84Ni-Let7EEEYWhQM-gNypHr2WDsUx9t7ywRwLu4wLtC8/s320/Lyushui+Wenshan.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Top tip: Have a bicycle waiting - freewheel back to your guesthouse!</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_boQ78aTcOVmBYc1ttOIZmLJc-7vampkSYr60ziNhN51z_-jlI9Y4TQKJDTEl8x6oS2Xhg631uJcgR0apiWp05SqjHCShr-nZwhPWBuZwVCJSmWqNk5XbVKFBrYhqM1UCkseqzTBKhDg/s1600/Cycling+Taroko.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713629799285202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_boQ78aTcOVmBYc1ttOIZmLJc-7vampkSYr60ziNhN51z_-jlI9Y4TQKJDTEl8x6oS2Xhg631uJcgR0apiWp05SqjHCShr-nZwhPWBuZwVCJSmWqNk5XbVKFBrYhqM1UCkseqzTBKhDg/s320/Cycling+Taroko.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And 5 easy strolls:</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eternal Spring Shrine. Remember the nice 30 minute loop up and around.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6IxQekIYc3MNI9ZteIDG82MqrXW49onoOb_v3I5pl6hBwirH9Kn9lYkJg9DSA_4s2eZS7CCJeK5TMDqNk2-7hWHhg55Yq29_KVjMIOdmhxSSa8NBWHcW7nPTXYAvNu4RtAhLSu6H1fU/s1600/Taiwan+Eternal+Spring+shrine.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617714139151442978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6IxQekIYc3MNI9ZteIDG82MqrXW49onoOb_v3I5pl6hBwirH9Kn9lYkJg9DSA_4s2eZS7CCJeK5TMDqNk2-7hWHhg55Yq29_KVjMIOdmhxSSa8NBWHcW7nPTXYAvNu4RtAhLSu6H1fU/s320/Taiwan+Eternal+Spring+shrine.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lyushui-Heliou. 30 pleasant minutes on a trail with a bit of everything.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-GdZInputlHWUxZ18gqAui5J3v4Mw_vOlXB2JKvflzs6yY1CrNmd6rZaUID64z76-GdwHlDIz-jZ3Vjx5sGzy1dnUFXlszy-kEBjY9zv2o5CIWYw1M3Y_fhqpsL1IVSbFzkvWyqJoHc/s1600/Lyushui+Heliou.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713049072368658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-GdZInputlHWUxZ18gqAui5J3v4Mw_vOlXB2JKvflzs6yY1CrNmd6rZaUID64z76-GdwHlDIz-jZ3Vjx5sGzy1dnUFXlszy-kEBjY9zv2o5CIWYw1M3Y_fhqpsL1IVSbFzkvWyqJoHc/s320/Lyushui+Heliou.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Swallow’s Grotto, or Tunnel of Nine Turns. 20 minutes very easy strolling - if/when open.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXY8iJEBnZmAnERs2Xay2G8AkArmEWe9s-5T4J_8fM5K7Y8QpPp2xfBn899GVqBQqEXLinOnRmsUtFehNxeGySEPmX0UnkQeMsaj14lDrPdkW1rZ4minvqBgM_jnk5ldG0B8Di8wVNN4/s1600/Tunnel+of+nine+turns.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617716011694609586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXY8iJEBnZmAnERs2Xay2G8AkArmEWe9s-5T4J_8fM5K7Y8QpPp2xfBn899GVqBQqEXLinOnRmsUtFehNxeGySEPmX0UnkQeMsaj14lDrPdkW1rZ4minvqBgM_jnk5ldG0B8Di8wVNN4/s320/Tunnel+of+nine+turns.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tienxiang Temple. Various stunning views 10 minutes hike up.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAEMMKqegwX3t8KdSJiXoQ8QmgBlKnNL0JuvmYtDP5sIFafJm3qp-6lRQ6khx0maahzuWPvfwhD1U2dPqTnMUGZBaCAEWKNLrtMZxdl6koW6-XkqLQdjkutjYvhc3U_PwdgSjMaV6dEs/s1600/Tienxiang+Temple.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713847827237330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAEMMKqegwX3t8KdSJiXoQ8QmgBlKnNL0JuvmYtDP5sIFafJm3qp-6lRQ6khx0maahzuWPvfwhD1U2dPqTnMUGZBaCAEWKNLrtMZxdl6koW6-XkqLQdjkutjYvhc3U_PwdgSjMaV6dEs/s320/Tienxiang+Temple.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shakadang Trail. 20 minutes can become several hours next to this lovely river.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihALeg_bxMFHMppwMrxldMacREtDar6rcNx8AznejHOt7ko2QdMF7lc4NLXsVj3aQzXVo6C4XOL-IEY3QgDz2IIgKEYOp1ywoq-4F6MJtaAhg97FfQaQYKDyU8D_zzDY-5g4P60bqmgs/s1600/Shakadang+Hike.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617713640081492610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihALeg_bxMFHMppwMrxldMacREtDar6rcNx8AznejHOt7ko2QdMF7lc4NLXsVj3aQzXVo6C4XOL-IEY3QgDz2IIgKEYOp1ywoq-4F6MJtaAhg97FfQaQYKDyU8D_zzDY-5g4P60bqmgs/s320/Shakadang+Hike.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: transparent; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333;">My comprehensive guide book to Hiking in Taroko Gorge is coming out in Christmas 2012. Of course, in the meantime, I can set up the required logistics for all </span><span style="color: black;">these trails</span>. </span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Richard barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com
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<br />Now arranging Taiwan trail running packages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TarokoGorge#"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Click here for more photos: </span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>
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</span><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember, conditions in Taiwan’s mountains are always changing. Recently: Loose rocks above the Swallow’s Grotto. Final concrete bridge before Baiyang Waterfall badly damaged. Take care, have fun, be sensible!
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<br />...and sorry for this horrible blog formatting...is making me lose my hair!
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-83382297485425920922011-05-31T04:52:00.000-07:002011-05-31T05:13:20.135-07:00Taiwan Lepidoptera.<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" id="internal-source-marker_0.0000505656506646357" >Taiwan Lepidoptera. That is - Taiwan Butterflies and Moths.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Friends of mine will be aware I have fallen somewhat for butterflies and moths in the last few years. Heartfelt thanks to the individuals (you know who you are) responsible for sparking my interest.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k17i4flreMBZURBalv0s73AgzevZisk2RXH6HfNd04A0i6dlerjdt87yREYSzksyjlIcYaIQJ11cZu6XZiv8D5A2WMU7FSB0uNdd5HTK-0mNMe6_9l9F5HYIe8ouneoTTjnMgcdH3G4/s1600/Troides+magellanus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0k17i4flreMBZURBalv0s73AgzevZisk2RXH6HfNd04A0i6dlerjdt87yREYSzksyjlIcYaIQJ11cZu6XZiv8D5A2WMU7FSB0uNdd5HTK-0mNMe6_9l9F5HYIe8ouneoTTjnMgcdH3G4/s320/Troides+magellanus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612847523125506258" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Taiwan is a superb place for enjoying all sorts of insects. I have been slowly adding and organizing photos to this album <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TaiwanButterflies#">Taiwan Butterflies</a>, and here <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TaiwanMoths02#">Taiwan Moths</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Taiwan has:</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >115 species of Lycaenidae (灰蝶科, Gossamer-winged)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >67 species of Hesperiidae (弄蝶科 Skipper)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >36 species of Pieridae (粉蝶科 Whites and Sulphurs)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >137 species of Nymphalidae (蛺蝶科 Brush-footed)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >37 species of Papilionidae (鳳蝶科 Swallowtail)</span><table style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><colgroup></colgroup></table><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >An absolutely <span style="font-weight: bold;">excellent site</span> for images of Taiwanese butterflies (in various stages) following this classification is </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://vel.cc/"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Georgia;" >vel.cc</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" > The main text is in Chinese but still very usable by all. On the main page click on the butterfly icon or the characters 圖鑑 to bring you into the main family index. This link </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://vel.cc/t.asp?oattr=0"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Georgia;" >http://vel.cc/t.asp?oattr=0</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" > should lead to a superb main visual index page. The red link on the top left is to species that still need photos - not many!</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >I hope, one day, my <span style="font-weight: bold;">images</span> will be sorted like this </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettaman/collections/72157622429540627/"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Georgia;" >http://www.flickr.com/photos/bettaman/collections/72157622429540627/</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >An interesting effort by the [Taiwan] National Museum of Natural Science to help butterfly identification, </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://digimuse.nmns.edu.tw/butterfly/"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Georgia;" >http://digimuse.nmns.edu.tw/butterfly/</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >The Taiwan <span style="font-weight: bold;">butterfly checklist</span>. May 2011 pdf from the Butterfly Conservation Society of Taiwan.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >http://www.butterfly.org.tw/doc/ButterflyTaiwan20110515.pdf</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zuei8-qV0BJxGzns_dGp1RR3SZ89g4XNpz3g_klaW8x6IBomYIA6Pk463FomA8UaerOD7ETdzEca252NGMwUUS7H5fhzWwzShfSsacHDEE6LCMX4B5Ab14zt897fgWqRJD2393Bt-M4/s1600/Samia++cynthia.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zuei8-qV0BJxGzns_dGp1RR3SZ89g4XNpz3g_klaW8x6IBomYIA6Pk463FomA8UaerOD7ETdzEca252NGMwUUS7H5fhzWwzShfSsacHDEE6LCMX4B5Ab14zt897fgWqRJD2393Bt-M4/s320/Samia++cynthia.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612847715779546066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Georgia;" >Field Guides:</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Nothing great in English yet. These Chinese-language books have excellent photos and scientific names, and have proved very useful to non Chinese-reading clients.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >For insects in general, this set of two books are excellent.</span><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TaiwanMoths02#"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/other-insects-invertebrates/field-guide-to-taiwan-insects.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >A small pocket-sized guide to the top 133 butterfly species. <a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/common-taiwan-butterflies.html">http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/common-taiwan-butterflies.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >The most comprehensive Taiwan butterfly field guide. <a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/butterflies-of-taiwan.html">http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/butterflies-of-taiwan.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >If you have further advice (or need advice), email me, Richard, at </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:barkingdeerinf@gmail.com"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Georgia;" >barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" > Also, I delighted to get out my binoculars, camera, and mercury vapor lights for any feeble reason. Tours all round the Butterfly Kingdom!</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Images above:Troides magellanus from Vel.cc</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Ailanthus silkmoth (</span><span style="font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >Samia cynthia</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Georgia;" >) a saturniid moth. Wingspan of 120 mm.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-17280291908302490782011-03-29T22:40:00.000-07:002012-08-02T05:22:59.217-07:00Taroko (and Yushan) Spring 2011 updates.<span id="internal-source-marker_0.7772872697140936" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taroko (and Yus</span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.7772872697140936" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">han) Spring updates.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yushan</span> (Jade M</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ountain): The official line is that Paiyun Cabin wi</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ll be open from the end of July. Based on conversations with people who sho</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">uld know, I don’t believe this. I predict maybe </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">a reopening at the very end of this (2011) year. <span style="color: red;">Edit August 2011: best prediction will open spring 2012.</span> Note very tough single-da</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">y ascents are still available now...when the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">mountain opens in the next few days.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sometimes there is not always time to arrange l</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ast minute high-mountain hiking trips. Yo</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">u can’t go wrong with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Taroko Gorge</span> for a great range of sights, hikes an</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">d nature. <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TarokoGorge#">See here</a> for some recent photos.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taroko Trail conditions</span> at the start of Apr</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">il 2011, starting from the eastern ‘start’.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68RXT729yHhSomozfrnzXOKN1NgZTwUYm3R3lm46BngpRgHY5lYHcvuGJV7IrgKOz3s9REJEZBWQQ8lBpWbZq6sONEBcu0PRoh9wpiab4bL7FcFrhi9OzBqE1rTVI7irswZnMcCae0Nk/s1600/Taroko+Map.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590238331537065794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68RXT729yHhSomozfrnzXOKN1NgZTwUYm3R3lm46BngpRgHY5lYHcvuGJV7IrgKOz3s9REJEZBWQQ8lBpWbZq6sONEBcu0PRoh9wpiab4bL7FcFrhi9OzBqE1rTVI7irswZnMcCae0Nk/s320/Taroko+Map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 112px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Original <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EcdoeVroiDCkEb2RYFpvgZzFbQrr_ZNRdxK4F3GFNkg?feat=directlink">map here.</a>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Qingshui (Chingshui) Cliffs at Chungde (崇德</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">步道) 176.4km </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">mark, right after the first tunnel north along th</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">e coast. Open.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dekalun Trail (得卡倫步道). Up the hill behind </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the National Park headquarters. Open.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dali-Datong Tr</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ail (大禮大同步道) Long, scenic single-day, or co</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">uple days. Open.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shakadang (砂卡礑步道). A very pleasant must-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">do hike, starts after tunnel not far from Nation</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">al Park HQ. Open.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eternal Spring Shrine Trail (Changchun, 長</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">春祠步道). An absolute must-do sight. Do the 40</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">-minute loop hike up above the shrine exiting at </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">the nearby Changuang Temple. Few people get beyond the car park. Usually op</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">en.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Buluowan Trail (</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">布洛灣-燕子口步道). A good steep path to use down to the main highway </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- especially if staying at the Leader Hotel. O</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">pen.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Swallow’s Grott</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">o Trail (Yanzihkou, 布洛灣-燕子口步道). A ve</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ry easy stroll that should NOT on any account b</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">e missed. Usually open, occasionally closed due to loose falling rocks.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jhuilu (Vertigo) Trail (</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">錐麓古道)</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is now open its entire length. Unbeatable! <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/Jhuilu#">See pictures</a>. Needs both kinds of permits.</span></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tunnel of Nine</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Turns Trail(Jiuqudong, 九曲洞步道). A stunning, easy stroll. Currently close</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">d due to rockfalls, a very short section on the western end is sometimes open</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> but is often plagued with tourists from China nowadays.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lyushui-Heliou Trail (綠水步道). A very plea</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">sant 1-hour loop. The short tunnel is just about manageable without a flashli</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ght. Open - and don’t worry about the signs warning you about snakes a</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">nd hornets - not a significant worry.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lyushui - Wens</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">han Trail (綠水文山步道) A recently reopen</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ed trail. Moderatly tough - at start and end some scramblin</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">g, and requires/deserves 4 to 5 hours. Permit required but easy to obtain from the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> the NP police (warden) station at the park hea</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">dquarters or at Tienxiang (the station on the left going up the hill towards the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> protestant church...across the street from the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">regular police station!)</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baiyang Trail (</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">白楊步道). A very, very nice trail, CLOSED due to damage to mountainside a</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">t entrance next to highway. Tougher alternative route now available - see be</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">low.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tianxiang - Baiyang Trail (天祥─白楊步道). R</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ecently reopened access to the Baiyang Trail. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Toughish and potentially risky in places. Trail </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">starts from the protestant church in Tienxiang village. Please get a per</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">mit (easy) from the nearby police station. Easy walking once you get to the original trail that ends at the fun ‘Water Curtain tunnel’. If possible bring a flashlight for the tunnels. Allow 5-6 hours.</span> <span style="color: red;">Edit August 2011: may be closed close to waterfall due to missing bridge and reconstruction work.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wenshan Hot Springs (文山溫泉). Officially closed for the last few years, park officials suggest it will reopen this year.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Meiyuan Jhucun Trail (梅園竹村). Great 6-hour, fairly-flat path. Officially closed due to landslide damage after the turn of for Lianhua Pond.</span> Usually passable.
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lianhua Pond (Lotus, 蓮花池步道). A very nice 3-hour round hike starting and ending at Huitouwan (6km beyond Tienxiang Village. Don’t get too distracted by the views and walk of the edge. Open.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to these trails, I recommend the following:</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The ornamental entrance gate.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the mid section of the gorge look up and try to spot the Jhuilu Trail - best at eastern end of the Tunnel of Nine Turns.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Take in the splendid Feng-shui of the pavilion at Cimu bridge.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Walk over the suspension bridge next to the Yuefei Pavilion. (The trail on the other side is the end of the very tough 7-8 day Cilai East Ridge Trail that starts at Hehuan Mountain.)</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tienxiang Terrace hike across the bridge and up to the statue and Xiangde Temple.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember trail conditions are always changing. Recently delays just after (west of) Eternal Spring Shrine - traffic allowed through on the hour and at lunchtime/morning/evening. Currently no delays at the rockslide after Tienxiang.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rihang, the owner of Country Garden Hostel in Xincheng at the edge of the gorge <span style="background-color: white; color: red;">May 2012 update - new location, even better place. <a href="http://tarokolodge.blogspot.tw/" target="_blank">Click here.</a></span> has been impressing us with his eagerness to help. <strike>His clean hostel/homestay is conveniently located 10 minutes walk (can also pick you up) from Taroko (aka Sincheng/Hsincheng/Xincheng) Train Station. Overall good service - as well as accommodation, transport, and food - he has bicycles to rent. Consider his offer to drive you up to Tienxiang (Tiensiang) or Huitouwan by van and then letting you freewheel the whole way down again - a superb way to see the gorge at you own pace, solving the problem of a proper public bus service. Other fancier accommodation can be arranged. </strike></span><strike>
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<strike><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Accommodation NT$900 per/person private rooms. Includes breakfast.</span>
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<strike><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bicycle rental (hostel guests or day-visitors) NT$350/ day.</span>
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<strike><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bicycle rental + shuttle to Tienxiang NT$700</span> (very good value!)
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJt8Uv_-_ESQmgORnhlBM9hmTjQbIKHv-xUbsBBVt0LERsQsoh92OPvO2Pw2f3p_Na86hXEZrqxB2u8zYk6_T4xHwYFHYEd8sTLVcKzbJRyou9xfZSlfoHNMuEFY6GS0wqv-88OQX1lo/s1600/xincheng+map.JPG"><strike><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589746855068148690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJt8Uv_-_ESQmgORnhlBM9hmTjQbIKHv-xUbsBBVt0LERsQsoh92OPvO2Pw2f3p_Na86hXEZrqxB2u8zYk6_T4xHwYFHYEd8sTLVcKzbJRyou9xfZSlfoHNMuEFY6GS0wqv-88OQX1lo/s320/xincheng+map.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 192px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></strike></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><strike>Contact Rihang at 0922938743 rihangsu@gmail.com. Some English spoken, if having communication problems speak to me at 0938337710 or barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</strike></span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Note the 8:40 bus from Hualien to high-mountain Lishan (via the gorge, Tienxiang, Guanyuan, and Dayuling) stops briefly 9.30 at the nearby Sincheng (Xincheng) school. Also buses at 6:30, 10:50, 13:50 from Hualien City (orange building next to train station) take 1.5 hours to Tienxiang. Return leaves Tienxiang at 9:10, 14:00, 16:40, 18:30. Pathetic service considering this is such a top destination for visitors.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For most of the time the gorge is quiet and empty...except when the Chinese tourists arrive on mass. Almost all their tour buses seem to arrive at the main easy sights (Swallow’s Grotto, Eternal Spring Shrine) mid to late afternoon. Be aware.</span>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Recently Chinese (from China that is) tour groups have been booking up train spaces from Yilan to Hualien or Taroko (Sincheng/Xincheng/Hsincheng) to avoid the (un-)fun part of the Su-hua highway. It can be difficult to secure guaranteed train seats if coming from Taipei. Please note: just because there are “no seats available” that does not mean you can’t buy a ticket - and then with a bit of luck find a seat to use for most of the journey. It is possible to get on any train (except the 'Taroko express' and 'tourist' trains) without reserved seats. A trick locals use is to take the bus from Taipei (main bus station, Gamalan Bus Co) to Yilan (either Yilan City, Luodong or Dongshan) and then catch the next local train onwards. As well as saving money and time (bus is quicker...via the Hsueshan Tunnel), it means, at very worst, you may only have to stand a shorter time on the final Yilan to Hualien/Taroko section. No reason for not just going to Taroko again!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-29261108230886274732011-02-17T20:16:00.001-08:002011-02-21T01:40:31.337-08:00Taiwan Bird Race<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.7530699972736811" >Some information on the upcoming </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Anmas</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >han International Bird Race.</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" > See below - more details are available (in Chinese) at</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.bird.org.tw/index_img.php"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" > </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >http://www.bird.org.tw/</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >. It deserves wider support and recognition.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSgAC0TvGs8oKfRjjjI1-zl7ZzGyCCi-wBTYJN3qYivSvqHNoAK8Yb3dC4UucchNA0emGQhF6pjvlESVtVR_fH7tVXNtD_e58B8QhQZsL19p8oesydaMTFBKU7FzeQF6uyTjLnJ8CJAA/s1600/Tarsiger+johnstoniae.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSgAC0TvGs8oKfRjjjI1-zl7ZzGyCCi-wBTYJN3qYivSvqHNoAK8Yb3dC4UucchNA0emGQhF6pjvlESVtVR_fH7tVXNtD_e58B8QhQZsL19p8oesydaMTFBKU7FzeQF6uyTjLnJ8CJAA/s320/Tarsiger+johnstoniae.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574878978200400962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >I expect to lead a team of vaguely competent birders. Failing that, I may be willing to provide transport up there for other teams. A reminder - I am available anytime for bird guiding around the island. Most of the endemics can be seen in a few intensive days. Richard, barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Dasyueshan (better known to international birders as ‘Anmashan’) is one of the reasons Taiwan is a fantastic place for birding. This Forest Recreation Area is located in the rugged mountains east of Taichung City. The idea of a Bird Race is to spot and identify as many species of birds in a prescribed time period/area, modest prizes for ‘winners’ in various categories...the real prize of course is seeing the birds.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >For beginners to birds in Taiwan I can strongly recommend the book ‘<a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/100-common-birds-of-taiwan.html">100 Common Birds in Taiwan</a>’ $9.50 from Books from Taiwan. It’s pocket sized, yet has very clear images and packed with practical information on a good selection of the most common and endemic birds - IN ENGLISH.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >If Taipei-based, ‘<a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/birdwatcher-s-guide-to-the-taipei-region.html">Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Taipei Region</a>’ is a very pleasant English-language field guide to nature trails in Taipei.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Birds East Asia is the large and currently authoritative guide to the birds of the region. Available from Amazon.</span> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0713670401?ie=UTF8&tag=barkdeeradve-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0713670401">Birds of East Asia (Helm Field Guides)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=barkdeeradve-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0713670401" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1" /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >'<a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/birdwatching-in-taiwan.html">Birdwatching in Taiwan</a>' is a practical guide to the key birdwatching sites. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >See <a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/">BooksfromTaiwan.com</a> main site for a range of other Taiwan natural history books, and more general subjects ranging from cooking, architecture, history, children, writing, travel guides, maps, postcards, Taroko, calligraphy...and much more.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, International Bird Race 2011</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Dongshih, Taichung, Taiwan</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >29 - 30 April, 2011(11am-11am, 24 hours)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >For registration:</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.bird.org.tw/"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" > </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >www.bird.org.tw</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" > e-mail: edu@bird.org.tw, </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="mailto:mail@bird.org.tw"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >mail@bird.org.tw</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" > TEL : +886-2-86631252</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Before: 31 March, 2011</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Team: 3-4 persons, No registration fee required.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >International teams will be provided free accommodation and meals on 28-29.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Located in the Heping District of Taichung City, the recreational area covers altitudes from 2,000 to 2,996 meters with forest vegetation distributed across four forest belts: tropical, subtropical, temperate, and frigid, and has a total area of 3,962.93 hectares. Dasyueshan Forest Recreational Area has the best primeval forest bath in Taiwan and convenient transportation, that is, approx. 31 km from Dongshih when taking the Dasyueshan forest road. Special scenic sports include Mt. Shaolai observatory, Chuansingshan Nursery Garden, sky pond, sacred trees, bird watching, cloud viewing, and the sunrise and sunset. The forest exhibition hall displays forestry history through topics like forest protection, fire prevention, ban on illegal logging and cultivation, reforestation, hillside stabilization, flood prevention, and forest recreation.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Tourists can find both accommodation and meals at Syueshan Villa, Dasyueshan Guest House, Second Guest House and wood cabins.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-85159853278213257842011-01-12T22:56:00.000-08:002012-08-02T05:17:49.847-07:00Taroko.<span id="internal-source-marker_0.3521486319505561" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taroko's Trails</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Just in case you didn’t know -Taroko Gorge is Taiwan’s best place for very assessable stunning scenery and great hiking. A short flight, drive, or 2-3 hours by train from Taipei gets you there.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Many of you may be planning a trip there in the next weeks. Remember trail conditions are always changing, here is a summary of conditions at the moment (January 2011).</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trails in the gorge proper, starting from the eastern ‘start’.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8736574073766443" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Dekalun Trail (得卡倫步道). Up the hill behind the National Park headquarters. Open.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shakadang (砂卡礑步道). A very pleasant must-do hike, starts after tunnel not far from National Park HQ. Open.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eternal Spring Shrine Trail (Changchun, 長春祠步道). Another absolute must-do sight. Do the 1-hour loop hike up above the shrine exiting at the nearby Changuang Temple. Few people get beyond the car park. Usually open.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Buluowan Trail (布洛灣-燕子口步道). A good steep path to use - if staying at the Leader Hotel. Open.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Swallow’s Grotto Trail (Yanzihkou, 布洛灣-燕子口步道). A very easy stroll that should NOT on any account be missed. Usually open, occasionally closed due to loose rocks.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail(Jiuqudong, 九曲洞步道). A stunning, easy stroll. Currently closed due to rockfalls, a very short section on the western end is open but is often crowded with tourists form China nowadays.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lyushui-Heliou Trail (綠水步道). A very pleasant 1-hour loop. The short tunnel is just about manageable without a flashlight. Open - and don’t worry about the signs warning you about snakes and hornets - not a significant worry.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lyushui - Wenshan Trail (綠水文山步道) A recently reopened trail. Tough - at start and end some scrambling, and requires 3 to 5 hours. Permit required but easy to obtain from the the NP police (warden) station at the park headquarters or at Tienxiang (the station on the left going up the hill towards the protestant church...across the street from the regular police station!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Baiyang Trail (白楊步道). A very very nice trail, CLOSED due to damage to mountainside at entrance next to highway. Tougher alternative route now available - see below.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tianxiang - Baiyang Trail (天祥─白楊步道). Recently reopened access to the Baiyang Trail. Tough and potentially dangerous in places. Trail starts from the protestant church in Tienxiang village. Please get a permit (easy) from the nearby police station. Easy walking once you get to the original trail that ends at the fun ‘Water Curtain tunnel’. If possible bring a flashlight for the tunnels. Allow 5-6 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Meiyuan Jhucun Trail (梅園竹村). Closed due to severe landslide damage after the turn of for Lianhua Pond.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lianhua Pond (Lotus, 蓮花池步道). A very nice 3-hour hike starting and ending from Huitouwan (6km beyond Tienxiang Village. Don’t get too distracted by the views and walk of the edge. Open.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to these trails, I sometimes reccommend the following: </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Check out the views of the Qingshui (Chingshui) Cliffs along the coast from the Chongde Tunnel and the Heren Trail.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The ornamental entrance gate.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the mid section of the gorge look up and try to spot the Jhuilu Trail - best at eastern end of the Tunnel of Nine Turns. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Take in the splendid Feng-shui of the pavilion at Cimu bridge.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Walk over the suspension bridge next to the Yuefei Pavilion. (The trail on the other side is the end of the very tough 7-8 day Cilai East Ridge Trail that starts at Hehuan Mountain.) </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tienxiang Terrace hike across the bridge and up to the statue and Xiangde Temple.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NOT sitting in the car or bus looking at a book or gadget. PLEASE LOOK AT THE SCENERY!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Travel further west, from the gorge proper into the high mountains proper. Truly fantastic views.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Food: Convenience stores just outside the gorge. Pleasant snacks and meals at: the national park headquarters; near the parking lot for The Eternal Spring Shrine; Buluowan Service Station; Jinheng Park in the middle of the Swallow’s Grotto Trail; Lyushuei; the upmarket Bulowan Leader Hotel or Silks Place; but NEVER EVER at the disgusting ‘restaurants’ near the bus station in Tienxiang.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A new highlight of the gorge <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jhuilu Trail</span> (aka The Vertigo Trail, Zhuilu, 錐麓古道) Requires a National Park permit as well as Police permit (email me </span><a href="mailto:barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com" style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0000e0; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for latest advice...getting much easier). Currently can not be done as a loop (still include the best parts), entrance/exit (with chap checking permits) only from the eastern end of Swallow’s Grotto Trail. Best day-hike around. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/Jhuilu#">Photos.</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">See some of our pictures of the gorge <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/TarokoGorge#">here</a>. Watch out for the English-language map produced by the National Park.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A good English-language book with lots of detail on the trails of Taroko is available at <a href="http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/">Books from Taiwan</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I can assist in arranging accommodation, tours, and permits. One cost-efficient option is by staying at a hostel near Xincheng train station, being driven with your rental bicycle to Tiensiang and riding, via all the sites and hikes, back down to the hostel. Cost: NT$ 4800 per person. Includes: pickup from Xincheng (aka Taroko, Sincheng) train station, or Hualien train station/airport; two nights accommodation; 2 breakfasts; 2 evening meals; bicycle rental and van transport to the ‘top’ of the gorge either at Tienxiang or Huitouwan.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0000e0; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;">Richard. barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-66146541932064305532011-01-08T05:19:00.000-08:002011-01-12T22:56:21.905-08:00Cold Fronts and Hehuan.<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.6030196675062087" >This winter has already seen several cold fronts sw</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.6030196675062087" >eep the Taiwan. Visitors to the high mountains sh</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.6030196675062087" >ould be ready for winter conditions. The <a href="http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/index.htm">Central Weather Bureau</a> has the best </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.6030196675062087" >forecasts by the way.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACpbVkmqrk5cObGWWv7lnnMEs7XeWTARAyWtexRkBv1DaaPuRReN9F_0mMDUedReYPuwbZcyuNB0e_AcelcfCyoCsd37qp5O3E_20mV95bopy3Ka_WxRfDHU_FW-AvM58nRZo60bn6Wk/s1600/DSC_1236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACpbVkmqrk5cObGWWv7lnnMEs7XeWTARAyWtexRkBv1DaaPuRReN9F_0mMDUedReYPuwbZcyuNB0e_AcelcfCyoCsd37qp5O3E_20mV95bopy3Ka_WxRfDHU_FW-AvM58nRZo60bn6Wk/s320/DSC_1236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559805871278689938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Last week saw the pass at Hehuan (the highest place you can drive here) close for a day to all traffic - including 4-wheel drive vehicles fitted with snow chains, as the road was cleared of snow and stranded vehicles. Of course this being Taiwan I’m sure there will be days in the next couple months when shorts and t-shirts will be fine for the easy peaks around there. Be prepared for restrictions on traffic between Dayuling on the north side, and Kunyang not far from Chingjing, and heavy weekend snow-viewing traffic. Also note, it can be more difficult (steeper uphill) coming southwards at the highest elevations. Feel free to ignore the guys selling/renting snow chains at Dayuling, if you continue on without and then start slipping there is sure to be someone nearby to sort you out - for a small price. The daily bus from Taichung to Lishan has been getting across most days.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Verdana;" id="internal-source-marker_0.3521486319505561" >For current conditions, have a Chinese-speaker call the highway department - Puli (埔里工務段) 049-2982066 and Luoshao (洛韶工務段) 03-8691311、03-8691119. </span></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >On the subject of Hehuan - please note the hostel next to the road has been closed for the last couple years and the nearby replacements “5-star” Songsyue Hotel and Ski Lodge (hostel) run by the Forestry Bureau can be a pain to deal with. Great location but very can be restrictive and bureaucratic. Often better to stay at the CYC hostel at Guanyun a further away in the direction of Taroko Gorge.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >The main route up Yushan (Jade Mountain) via Tataka will close in February, and in view of the recent weather close probably earlier. See previous posts for more info on this subject.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Being further north, the various mountains and ridge walks in Shei-pa (Snow) National Park are now very icy. Hikers should be appropriately prepared.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >If planning a hiking trip over the upcoming Chinese New Year, try to schedule (especially if you have no family obligations) getting on the trails, a day or two before everyone else.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >May I join the those deploring the adoption of the English-language name ‘New Taipei City’ for the municipality formally known as ‘Taipei County’. There was no good reason not to use the romanization of it’s new Chinese-language name - ‘Xinbei City’. This new name will cause much confusion in the years to come. Taiwan is a great place I’m very proud of, decisions like this are embarrassing.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Some updates on Taroko in the next post.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-39435655450683072962010-12-30T01:26:00.000-08:002011-05-31T05:10:20.374-07:00Paiyun and other notes.<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8924586826634272" >Some end of yea</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8924586826634272" >r notes on hiking in Taiwan.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Paiyun Lodge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >There is progress being made in the rebuilding/ren</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >ovating of Paiyun Lodge. Most people still predict it will be completed and re</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >opened by May or June 2011.This I don’t believe, my best guess is Sep</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >tember or October 2011. </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">[Update June 2011: my best guess now is maybe the end of the year]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >The inside has b</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >een gutted and building materials are being</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" > helicoptered up from Tataka. The contractors estimate 50 days-worth of airlift</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >ing will be required. Can only do about 20 trips each day in the mornings before w</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >arm air currents make flight tricky. Each load is between 250 and 350kg. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ejZFIqEs9E2TyaHaSa-TQFlj93sq2f5SEMQb8RQzP1OGrHVglcf9AgANiXrW1NpUVfQX07LlVc9iOxfeVx-ss3Hk5ifkKZX6PyJ2w-yS4tFYAWDf0AW9M5fCBB4AcIFrCKxS195F2IE/s1600/Paiyun+lodge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ejZFIqEs9E2TyaHaSa-TQFlj93sq2f5SEMQb8RQzP1OGrHVglcf9AgANiXrW1NpUVfQX07LlVc9iOxfeVx-ss3Hk5ifkKZX6PyJ2w-yS4tFYAWDf0AW9M5fCBB4AcIFrCKxS195F2IE/s320/Paiyun+lodge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556406345147971474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Sensors and cameras are being installed at various locations along the main Tataka-Paiyu route to more easily monitor the location of (lost) hikers. More info when I know more. </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Yushan Single Day Ascent.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >I can assist qualified people in arranging permits and other logistics for single-day ascents of Yushan’s Main Peak. This tough option is only suitable for those with more than average experience and hiking fitness. You will need to convince me of experience on some of the top international most prominent summits, or relevant trails in Taiwan. Repeat: only suitable for the fit and experienced hiker.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;">The National Park needs photographic proof.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Note also, Yushan will be closed to all hikers for the month of February plus (depending on actual weather conditions) some of January and March probably. There are icy patches near the summit, the National Park is enforcing the requirement for hikers to carry crampons and ice axes.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >North Dawu Mountain.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >The Forestry Bureau have completed repairs to the trail and Kuaigu Cabin. The campsites have been rebuilt and the lighting upgraded. </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >What has NOT improved is access to the original trailhead. The 7.5 km ‘public’ road from upper Taiwu Village is still very bad condition and then ends abruptly near the ‘new’ trailhead. This adds at least an extra 1.5 hours rough hiking to the normal ascent. The land in this area belongs to the local community, they do not have the resources or interest in doing large-scale reconstruction and would prefer to let the mountain ‘rest’ for some years.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Wuling Farm.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Wuling Cabin (武陵山莊) - the accommodation at the north end of Wuling Farm has been renovated, and now managed by the Hoya Hotel...which means it is not the cheap option it was in the past!</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Nengao Trail.</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >The Western Section of the Nengao Trail to the central ridge and the summits of Cilai South and Nanhua are a top recommendation for people wanting an excellent 2-3-day hike - but without the time to arrange permits for peaks in the national parks. I can arrange accommodation and transport from Puli/Wushe to the trailhead for those wanting to do this trip. Note the Tienchr Cabin has already been demolished, the new structure should be completed in the next few months. Porter-supplied food and tents can be arranged.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" >Island-wide Tours.</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Get in touch if looking for escorted tours anywhere in Taiwan - we do some very tame hikes too! Richard at barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Happy New Year!</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-65614303818437701012010-12-30T01:23:00.000-08:002010-12-30T01:26:05.857-08:00Southern Cross Conditions.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8924586826634272">Made a reconnaissance trip up the Southern Cross Highway (Highway 20) from Tainan December 15th 2010. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some conclusions I previously posted on Forumosa.com </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Passable now by car to just past the Yakao tunnel.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> This only applies if you are very confident driving difficult roads and for the next few months of dry weather (remember the south generally has dry winters). When the next significant rain arrives the road is sure to close in several section.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Impassable by any means (km mark 148 I think), between the tunnel and the Yakao hostel. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are suggestions (that I don’t really believe) that this large landslide section will be passable by Chinese New Year. We did the last, highest, section on bicycles and then on foot. There was no way we could have crossed the final landslide. Based on previous experience and most reports the highway should usually be fine from Xianyang eastwards.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Even if open in practice, the road between Meishan and Xiangyang may remain officially (legally) closed. If planning a cycle trip over the new year, get up to date road condition reports, be prepared for the road to be closed beyond Meishan, and consider only riding the section from Meishan (for reasons of pleasantness).</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The highway is ‘scruffy’ all the way from Jiasian (Jiaxian) to Meishan, stunning scenery after Meishan. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting in Jiasien (or even Yujing/Liogui) the road is less than pretty in many places. There are numerous places where the road has been/is being patched up - and vulnerable to further damage/closure. The villages (Jiaxian, Baolai, Taoyuan, Meishan etc) have a down-and-out feel to them. After Taoyuan a several kilometer section of road is unsurfaced and is in the riverbed - unsuitable for many cars or drivers. After Meishan the views are as wonderful as ever, and the road is fine for 99% of its length. The problem lies in the remaining 1% obviously, most bad spots have been patched up and only OK for confident drivers.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lots of people have lots of contradictory and inaccurate opinions on the current state of the road and what is likely to happen both in the short and long term. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This includes those that should know: Forestry Department, National Park, Highway Bureau, police, hunters, road workers, surveyors, etc etc. Also note some people’s, otherwise reasonably informed, knowledge ends when it goes out of their jurisdiction - Kaohsiung County people are badly informed about conditions 500 meters further along in Taidong County. Any 'information' should be interpreted cautiously.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My conclusions in January - after a recce trip when I was able to drive all the way over, still make sense: The 921 earthquake and Typhoon Morakot have fundamentally changed the state of things. There will be various targets and a lot of money spent on keeping the road open for the next couple years. Much of the work will unfortunately cause damage that will influence the stability of hillsides for later periods - ie work to temporally open it for the next weeks/month will cause damage that will make medium-term repairs in 6 months time more difficult, in turn those repairs will make the long term reconstruction more difficult.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> I will not be surprised if after 3 or 4 years of typhoons/earthquakes/deaths/money spent the government will announce the closure of the highway for 10/20/30 years. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a decent chance of it being kept passable as far as Meishan (still some resilient residents there) on the west side, and to Xiangyang (road conditions OK) on the east side. There are no magic solutions, anything done is at the end of a vulnerable supply chain - the road itself.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Further </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">photos</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> of the recce here</span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/SouthCrossRecceDec10#."><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://picasaweb.google.com/barkingdeerinfo/SouthCrossRecceDec10#.</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Includes a lot of photos of rolling rocks from road building around the section of highway beyond Taoyuan. Over 15 excavators were dumping debris over a cliff. It was an incredible show, watching a non-stop stream of rocks, some as big as regular cars, bouncing down into the river.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A note on conditions and background. We drove a a high-wheelbase 2-wheel drive van, in dry conditions. My friend and I are both confident and well experienced dealing with rough roads and crossing landslides. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We do not recommend this trip to everyone </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- no offense that may include you.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-66603055924687692442010-12-01T02:56:00.000-08:002010-12-01T03:05:05.561-08:00Start of winter notes.<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8019938682686861" >An update on Yushan, Snow Mountain and a friend’s treks.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >First, a reminder: Most of Taiwan (south of Taipei and Yilan) has great weather in winter. Get out of grey Taipei!</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shei-pa Permits.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Shei-pa (Snow) National Park have announced some changes to the process of applying for national park permits see <a href="https://apply.spnp.gov.tw/news.php?uid=180">announcement</a></span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" > (in Chinese). Starting today there will be a ‘waiting list’ function for over-subscribed cabins.</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Starting January 2011 there will be no need to apply for the Police Permit in addition to the National Park permit. Applies to Shei-pa only but I hope this sensible policy will be adopted elsewhere.</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >I will watch how both of these new policies are put into practice - the devil is always in the tiny details...and update things here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Yushan</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Yushan is, as mentioned before, effectively closed due to the rebuilding of Paiyun Lodge. The only options open are a single-day ascent or staying at the higher and remoter Yuanfong Cabin. THESE OPTIONS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. If you have the fitness and experience I may be able to help you out with logistics. Expect (not announced yet) Yushan to close as usual for Chinese New Year for the month of February.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Disappointed? Do not forget Yushan is usually very visible from around its Tataka (Tatajia) trailhead. Permits are not required for the excellent day-hikes in the Tataka area. </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >The roads to Tataka from Chaiyi/Alishan (Highway 18), and from Sun Moon Lake/Dongpu (Highway 21) are reliably open and should remain passable until the next rainy season (summertime) or earthquake.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Some<span style="font-weight: bold;"> longer treks</span> being led by a Tsao aborigine friend of ours, Xiao Yang (Small Goat) in the new year:</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >January 6 - 11 Nengao-Antongjun 能高安東軍 </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >February 24 - March 2 Southern Second Section 南二段 (assuming it’s open by then)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >March 11 - 20 Southern Third Section 南三段 (hope to join him on this one)</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >March 31 - April 5 Cilai East Ridge 奇萊東稜</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Dates listed are only for the core hiking dates and do not include travel or extra days. If interested in joining in please email or call Xiao Yang's wife, Sarah Tsai, hikingfun.tour@gmail.com 0972218185 (speaks excellent English) to register, or see their website</span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.hikingfuntour.com/website/"><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-size:11;" > </span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-size:11;" >http://www.hikingfuntour.com/website/</span></a><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" > (in Chinese). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >As of December 1st 2010</span><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">:</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >All Shei-pa (Snow Mountain) National Park hiking/trekking trails open.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >All Taroko hiking/trekking trails open.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Most of Yushan National Park trails closed (including the Southern Second Section, Batongguan etc). Some special exemptions may be possible for trails starting around Jiaming Lake. If you read Chinese have a look at <a href="http://www.ysnp.gov.tw/upload/documents/20101123_113427.62157.pdf">this document</a> on the state of the Batongguan Trail...not cheery. A couple interesting observations about the increase in sanbar deer and the emerging eastward erosion of the Chen-you-lan River/Kinmen Tong landslide. </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Jiaming Lake, Nengao, Bei Dawu open.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >Southern Cross-island Highway closed from Meishan to Xiangyang. Some rumors of possible opening.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" >And remember, many of Taiwan’s trails can be very tough going, only attempt what you really are ready for! </span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-79611434131113270562010-09-19T23:16:00.000-07:002010-09-19T23:18:40.372-07:00Fanapi and trail conditions.The rains from Typhoon Fanapi are still falling, and clearup work is just just starting, but I know some of you are wondering what condition mountain trails will be in. This is my best guess, will update this post with details as I get them.<br /><br />All high-mountain peaks and trails in Taiwan are closed right now. As the weather clears up the national parks will send in teams to check trail conditions. Some shorter and more stable trails will probably reopen in the next few days, longer/remoter trails may take a week or two to be inspected - and (only) then possibly reopened. I fear the planned reopening of various Yushan (Jade Mountain) NP routes this month (following last year's Morakot damage) will be put back many weeks or months. Shorter Taroko NP, and Shei-pa NP trails starting from Wuling Farm are probably in reasonable shape and may be open by the weekend.<br /><br />Expect the roads in the areas of Alishan, southern Nantou, north/east/south of Jiaxian to be either closed or in a bad state. The Southern Cross-Island Highway is closed.<br /><br />Stay safe!<br />Richard (on holiday for the next week)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-36248499921554639692010-09-14T00:27:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:30:29.706-07:00Cilai East Ridge<div>A Tsao aborigine friend of ours Xiao Yang (Small Goat) is leading a trek October 12-18th along Cilai East Ridge. I expect to join him on this very rigorous hike. If interested in joining us please email or call Xiao Yang's wife Sarah Tsai <a href="mailto:hikingfun.tour@gmail.com">hikingfun.tour@gmail.com</a> 0972218185 (speaks excellent English) to register, or see their website <a href="http://www.hikingfuntour.com/website/">http://www.hikingfuntour.com/website/</a> (in Chinese). <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518844609715414194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSP_MESRtzpP0nToDMcXHElfdljZK5Q2R8jC7E3oyW2BuLpgrr8Pdq0tuX7PlodRm3FGXZAxLWqrqgQE9yTTvWgV9mJeWE1zt0goa4TgXzMsUQ1UI2kE8Ylt9VltdZtI7YWMOiazstig/s320/Cilai+East.jpg" />This 6-day trek from Hohuan Mountain to the heart of Taroko Gorge is tough and only suitable for the experienced and fit. The cost for guiding and food will be about NT$ 8,000. This trip is likely to be porter assisted, if so the additional optinal NT$8,500 cost is excellent value. Some of their photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hiking_fun/sets/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/hiking_fun/sets/</a> 'Small Goat' is the big guy! </div><div> </div><div>This blog (another group) gives you an idea what each day will involve. <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37071004">Day 1</a>, <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37090552">Day 2</a>,<a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37138006"> Day 3</a>, <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37149255">Day 4</a>, <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37170398">Day 5</a>, <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37206157">Day 6</a>, <a href="http://blog.xuite.net/tinyiliu/ant/37212161">Day 7</a>. Also try googling 奇萊東稜 for images.<br /><br />You may also be interested in their November 11-16 Nenggao-Antongjun (we hope to join him on this one), and December 08-15 Southern Second Section treks.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-69841858739014394782010-08-31T01:23:00.000-07:002010-08-31T01:34:56.512-07:00Ending the summer.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8129793588447864">Time for an update - we’ve passed the first anniversary of Morakot, are most of the way through Ghost Month, and have yet to have a single typhoon hit us...hang on, what are these 3 fluffy, white things approaching? </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest on Yushan:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Several of the </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">longer trekking routes</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (Batongguan, Southern Second Section, Badashow, Yushan Main Peak via Batonguan) are scheduled to reopen September 20th. The deciding factor is safe access from Dungpu via the Batongguan Trail - especially in the Guangao area - just North of the Batongguan Meadow. There has been a lot of repair work done on it in the last few months, but it is in a poor condition and prone to bad weather damage. The Mapo cross-island, Xinkang, and Walami to Dashueiku sections are not yet being opened. The Southern Stars (Kuhanuoshin, Guan, Guan Ling/Da etc) are also supposed to be reopened next month - the lack of a road (Highway 20) to the trailhead has not been addressed - I’ve no idea what is supposed to happen. Likewise some confusion around Yushan N.P. announcing the opening of the Southern Second without firm plans from the Forestry Bureau to reopen Jiaming Lake - the most southern bit of the Southern Section. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Climbing Yushan.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Access to the main summit via Tataka (Tatajia) is much reduced due to the closure of Paiyun Lodge - rebuilding is to start next month, and last ‘8 months’. The latest news on the design is that the new lodge will not be that much larger. National Park laws and sensible consideration of the foundation’s stability mean the new building will not be the colossus that some had hoped for. For a taste of the ongoing debate, see these minutes (in Chinese) http://mountain.ysnp.gov.tw/upload/RelFile/News/179/634184206479553865.pdf </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are two options for those wanting to knock off the Main Summit - both are more strenuous and only suitable for the very fit. Single-day ascent, and camping at Yuan-fong Cabin.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Single-day ascent:</span> This nasty option is available again (having been canceled a couple years ago), the daily permit limit increased from 20 to 40, with possible special allowances for foreigners. Hikers must prove experience of hiking above 3000meters (usually in the form of photos on summits). No access past Tataka before 5am, and hikers arriving at Paiyun after 10am (some say 12am) will not be allowed to proceed further uphill. I suggest hikers have porter-carried food prepared at Paiyun.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Camping at Yuan-fong:</span> 15 spaces in the cabin, 21 camping nearby. Again this is only an option for the fitter and experienced. Yuanfong is further away, higher, and colder than Paiyun Lodge.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m not 100% sure of some of the practical issues that will come up with applying for these permits, expect surprises.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taiwan’s national parks are marking this year (year 99 in the official ROC calender) with an activity called : <span style="font-weight: bold;">Taiwan 99 (台灣99)</span> encouraging hikers to climb Taiwan’s other National Park’s highest peaks: Nanren Mountain (南仁山) in Kenting (墾丁) N.P.; Cising (七星山) Mouountain in Yangminshan (陽明山) N.P; Nanhu (南湖大山), (and also Cilai North 奇萊北峰 and Hehuan East 合歡東峰) in Taroko( 太魯閣) N.P.; Snow (Xue, Shei, 雪山主峰) Mountain (and Daba 大霸尖山) in Shei-pa (雪霸) N.P.; Taiwu( 太武山) Mountain in Kinmen (金門).</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Note: Shei-pa N.P. announced this month that that they are fining anyone found to have climbed to the top of the Daba's actual peak. For 99.9% of people getting to the foot of the summit (99.9% of the way) is more than satisfactory. The very final climb (yes - real climbing) has been treacherous since the various ropes and via ferratta were removed.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We are busy/on holiday until mid-October. Hope to able to arrange permits (think about Snow Mountain, Jhuilu, Daba, Hehuan) remotely in this time...and then soon after have a new schedule of open hikes/tours available! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-50625383339909214832010-07-26T02:28:00.000-07:002011-10-03T07:50:28.278-07:00Jhuilu Trail Tour.<span id="internal-source-marker_0.14938861284867666" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taiwan’s Vertigo Trail - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jhuilu Old Road, Taroko</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jhuilu</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (錐鹿古道</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">) Trail in </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Taroko Gorge</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> probably one of the mo</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">st stunning day-h</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ikes in</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Taiwan. All of the tra</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">il is super</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">b - the midd</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">le sec</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">tion is truly </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">breathtaking</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- walking </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">on a narrow l</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ed</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ge over 500 meters above the gorge. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9Fl_y4kaNzOpQcOUit07q2lYqbpFSX0HmOMpZmghOoHeBo5xkc0D9yQHn4rHYCWUIiA-Btc6UlvhBnPCDOGHpMqJhRARJfE-HzDI23FygaLMQ1cU4-BmIKVgpcUXDYFIV_VgdNk9kww/s1600/Jhuilu.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498147375538832370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9Fl_y4kaNzOpQcOUit07q2lYqbpFSX0HmOMpZmghOoHeBo5xkc0D9yQHn4rHYCWUIiA-Btc6UlvhBnPCDOGHpMqJhRARJfE-HzDI23FygaLMQ1cU4-BmIKVgpcUXDYFIV_VgdNk9kww/s320/Jhuilu.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We now offer a </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">packag</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">e tour for this (we've nicknamed it the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vertigo Trail</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> hik</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">e. This trail </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">is</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for hikers in average to above-average fitness who enjoy </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">big views. This </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">hike is </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">for anyone very out of</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> shape or suffering from acrophobia - a fear</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> of h</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">eights!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT1WbO-NdlIfr5VcdosuwShJIvUdPtdGtPUaFBAgMXNvIeix-5h_rCHlpmubfd6ZVrKcuq53zqfjm5xBZ7P13eS-ZQKJCcgzer4XEntjGRtZc20XDOBZ-DxJuO5bTPqWoXurrok_mL7g/s1600/Jhuilu+Trail.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498147394803656290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOT1WbO-NdlIfr5VcdosuwShJIvUdPtdGtPUaFBAgMXNvIeix-5h_rCHlpmubfd6ZVrKcuq53zqfjm5xBZ7P13eS-ZQKJCcgzer4XEntjGRtZc20XDOBZ-DxJuO5bTPqWoXurrok_mL7g/s320/Jhuilu+Trail.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Jhuilu Old Trai</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">l is part of the long </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Japanese-era Hehuan Trail that once linked Taroko w</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ith garrisons on the west side of the central mountains. This section, damaged and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">closed for many years, is only now open to hikers. Most of it is a gorgeous hikin</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">g trail winding through beautiful forest, with an initial ascent/final descent of around 600 </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">meters (2000 feet). What makes this truly spe</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ctacular are the middle sections that pass along sheer cliffs, where the cars and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">buses in the gorge half a kilometer below are...small, and a wrong move means...<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6Ojp2cSrk7Qc0Bl4xhLPF2HmfghZ65e1PEH8ityLx08yGA1f_on71bvfZKmJng_rDopqcooowowasnlKPB3qCKYErqN2mgq6bYfH7Q2_gzxVmC_LSB78c7IN7IIifipb35MDBJYvtSM/s1600/Jhuilu+Taroko.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498147384188722914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6Ojp2cSrk7Qc0Bl4xhLPF2HmfghZ65e1PEH8ityLx08yGA1f_on71bvfZKmJng_rDopqcooowowasnlKPB3qCKYErqN2mgq6bYfH7Q2_gzxVmC_LSB78c7IN7IIifipb35MDBJYvtSM/s320/Jhuilu+Taroko.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The 10.3 km route takes up to 7 hours, so setting of at 7 or 8am makes sense. Hikers must carry plenty of water and snacks for this tough workout. Taroko National Park strictly enforces rules regarding the required permits (I've seen them fining people).The trail starts from Zimu (Cimu) Bridge and ends at the suspension bridge at the Swallow's Grotto (Yanzikou). This is usually the best direction of travel - and sometimes required. On most of the most exciting parts (path less than 70cm wide) of the trail there is a fixed safety line to hold onto; in a couple places there is a simple rail between you and a long, long fall. Start and end sections of the trail are more conventional - yet beautiful, passing through lush forest and remains of colonial-era stations and memorials.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Our package:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Permits</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - both ‘park’ and ‘mountain’. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maps</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Return </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Train tickets</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">from Taipei to Xincheng (Taroko, Sincheng) Station, where you will be met by our agent and driven to <span style="font-weight: bold;">good </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">accommodation</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> near the gorge.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the morning he will </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">transport </span>you to the trailhead,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and be waiting when you descend in the afternoon for </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">transport back to Xincheng</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Station.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a limit to the number of permits issued for each day - weekends may be difficult to obtain. We usually need at least a week to obtain the permits and make the other arrangements - but last minute can work too.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Not included: accident insurance, personal gear.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is perfect for people who have previously been to the gorge before, have walked all the standard trails, and now want something a bit different. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Itinerary <span style="font-weight: bold;">fully customizable</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- discuss your requirements with us.</span><br />
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Can advise on itinerary planning.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 130%; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/barkingdeerinfo/Jhuilu#">Additional photos here.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Contact Richard at barkingdeerinfo@gmail.com</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-75488541518580232472010-07-16T08:12:00.000-07:002010-07-16T08:21:10.102-07:00Bye-bye old Paiyun<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.7781365114199493">The latest on Yushan.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The much rumored has now been officially announced: The main peak of Yushan (Jade Mountain) will be closed from the start of September 2010 to allow for reconstruction of Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊). One surprise was the announcement that the mountain will be closed for </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8 months </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- and not the 1 month that many people had be predicting, especially as much of the new Paiyun building will be pre-fabricated off the mountain and transported by helicopter for installation. The design is still being argued over earnestly by the great and the good. Will update this post as I know more (shocking how little is really known by anyone).</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For ordinary hikers the mountain will be closed. For those with exceptional (I mean really, really exceptional) circumstances I suspect there may be very special allowances made. In the meantime I predict there may be as many as 50 people applying for each single permit for the last few days of August.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember good permit-free views of Yushan are still possible, not far from Alishan, in the Tataka (Tatajia) area (we can help you with transport around here). The hundreds of other superb 3,000+ meter ( around 10,000 feet) peaks elsewhere in Taiwan are looking for your hiking boots’ attention - think of Snow, Dabajian, etc. I am hopeful, if the next couple months are not too typhoon-rich, that there will be good news to report on access to the epic Batongguan Trail (a longer, harder way to Yushan’s summit): beyond Walami: and Xinkang (Sinkang) Mountain. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Or take it easy - learn more about Taiwan’s incredible biodiversity - buy a book (or video/map/poster/postcard) from <a href="http://booksfromtaiwan.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Books from Taiwan</span></a> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://booksfromtaiwan.com/<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-52752876818243523222010-07-11T23:08:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:37:49.238-07:00Yushan and arms.<span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8664597853141542" >A week of extremes. Last week started well - standing</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8664597853141542" > o</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" id="internal-source-marker_0.8664597853141542" >n Yushan’s summit, and ended badly - sprawled over a city street.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr8Y4ZWz3hoca4kOsgSUoUAdhsq5XcbUE7lAZTMX9f64Aq6ER1kWsHvaIxuUSWIB5GWWJDztgeI78YWW28K3nR6hFVQYxY3xH91nLOdUDy4ER4AxYIyK7sCvH7g-UVzObwh0MrXtYi4o/s1600/DSC_1047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492900650828787506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr8Y4ZWz3hoca4kOsgSUoUAdhsq5XcbUE7lAZTMX9f64Aq6ER1kWsHvaIxuUSWIB5GWWJDztgeI78YWW28K3nR6hFVQYxY3xH91nLOdUDy4ER4AxYIyK7sCvH7g-UVzObwh0MrXtYi4o/s320/DSC_1047.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >I was delighted to accompany Kim Myung Joon an</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >d his wife to the summit of Yushan on a particularly bea</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >utiful morning. <a href="http://7summits.com/statistics/Kim">Mr Kim</a> was in 2006 the oldest person to complete the seve</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >n summits. Yushan is his 28th of the 50 most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topographic_prominence">prom</a></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topographic_prominence">inent</a> summits. Note ‘prominence’ her</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >e is </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >topographical prominence</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > - a technical term - not ‘famous’ as most Taiwan m</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >edia like to translate it. More Yushan pictures <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/barkingdeerinfo/KimSOnYushan#">here.</a><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIReoGnAm_ado1B85G5rPjWmLXKcSp9AYLT3KassifCq0299gSr1gBAdjpWfFhGAvWytq4nyzbVKfhi831-mKgmir8R0RGgSNsxlFW7zgqglABKAw163SnPYMM2CWSAtZMfyuG-UVumJE/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+201079+%E4%B8%8B%E5%8D%88+031714.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492901092179549026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIReoGnAm_ado1B85G5rPjWmLXKcSp9AYLT3KassifCq0299gSr1gBAdjpWfFhGAvWytq4nyzbVKfhi831-mKgmir8R0RGgSNsxlFW7zgqglABKAw163SnPYMM2CWSAtZMfyuG-UVumJE/s320/Fullscreen+capture+201079+%E4%B8%8B%E5%8D%88+031714.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >At the end of the week i was nursing a scooter-related broken arm.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >The details - should you be interested: The accident happened in East Tainan when I was on my scooter/motorcycle out purchasing books and lunch. I was crossing one of those intersections where I had a flashing yellow (pass with care) - and the lady that hit me (coming from my left) should have noticed a flashing red (stop/give way) light. Was a full-on crash into each other. Bystanders helpful, police and ambulance on scene quickly. Firsts for me: plaster cast; breathalyser test; Sinlao hospital; as patient in ambulance.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >As well as scrapes and bruises on my chest, elbow, hand, knee, and foot I have broken my forearm (ulna near the wrist). Will take a few weeks in a cast to heal. Additionally scooter and clothes a bit mangled. The lady (50’s) has very similar injuries. Have settled amicably. </span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >See further snaps at<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/barkingdeerinfo/ScooterPlusScooter#"> here. </a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,224); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Sadly this will interfere with some (but not all) of Barking Deer’s activities in the next few weeks. Sorry! Grumble grumble...<br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,224); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Edit September: arm fine now, hair still 'thin'.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,224); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><br />Richard<br /><br /></span></span></span><span style="FONT-STYLE: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,224); VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; TEXT-DECORATION: nonefont-family:Arial;font-size:11;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7517026751271639341.post-59493827433202979402010-06-20T23:23:00.000-07:002010-07-11T23:08:35.142-07:00Alishan Railway partially reopens.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" id="internal-source-marker_0.11274419119803059" ></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" >Two short, but important, sections of the historic Alishan Mountain Railway have reopened. The 6.2 km-long Jhushan/Zhushan Sunrise-Watching Line (祝山觀日線) as well as the Divine Tree (Shen-mu, 神木線) Line are operating again. Both operate </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" >within</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" > the Forest Recreation Area at almost 2,500 meters elevation, and thus will not be of any use in terms of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" >getting to</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" > Alishan from Chaiyi.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11;color:#0000e0;" >Management of the rail line is now back in the hand of the Forestry Bureau after the private company running it for a couple years declared themselves unable to repair the damaged line (fair enough - the reconstruction costs will be enormous). The government's pronouncements to have the entire rail line from Chaiyi to Alishan fixed by the end of 2011 is rightfully being treated with great scepticism by those familiar with the extensive damage caused by last year’s Typhoon Morakot. I hope the cynics are wrong</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com