This past
weekend we got our chance - through a permit and a ride into the misty mountains - to stand atop Taiwan and look down at the island we call home.
Freaking surprise - rain in Yilan. Who could have imagined such a state?
Leaving the sodden Yilan train station we and 9 other "standing almost on the top of Taiwan" hikers to be made
out way into the dark valley of the central mountains. Arriving at the
trailhead at a shade after 1am we re-organized, prepared and started the 1.5 hour hike up into the hills to the first cabin. Arriving at the cabin after 2:30am we did what all high mountain adventurers do...set out our bedding, arranged out wet gear to dry during the short night ahead and guzzled water to abate the approaching high-altitude desiccation that was approaching.
Perhaps.
What we really did was drink wine.....freaking good wine at that stage of the game.
The next day (in summary) was an uphill battle through intermittent sunny breaks and spells of drizzle to the next cabin. Stunning scenery....simply stunning. Taiwan high mountains fail, yet again, to disappoint. Sub-tropical alpine madness.
We made it to the cabin, warmed ourselves (a pointless endeavour in the high mountains) and ate. Then to bed, with the altitude welcoming us with headaches and nausea. We were there...almost....we could taste it. We could feel it. I wanted to drink liquid advil and vomit because of it....
Morning came early and the altitude did not let us get away with a simple morning, but we fought through. At 3am we awoke and prepared for our trek to the peak to see the sunrise. Choking down breakfast, wanting to vomit with each bite, time ticked on until we were in line and stepping up away from the cabin to the forest and alpine ahead.
By 6:30am we were watching the nuclear furnace that we all revolve around poke above the horizon. The cold, the pain, the tiredness.....everything melted away. Taiwan sunrises are simply stunning, especially when you have to work for it.
And here follows the visual repeat of the story you just read......
Taiwan's second highest peak has for some time been off limits to our vibram soles due to a whacked permit system. At more than 3800masl it towers above the rest (save for Yu-Shan) of Taiwan and is a hidden gem among the central mountains.
