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2018-11-04 | A frog goes hiking: 桃山 (Tao shan) and 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan)
After weeks of trying we were finally lucky enough to be able to reserve sleeping space in the 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) right near the top of 桃山 (Tao shan). I had previously been to 桃山 (Tao shan) but this meant a two-day hiking trip with the chance for a quick visit to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan), which was the only peak of the 武陵四秀 (Wu ling's four great mountains) I hadn't been yet.
桃山 (Tao shan) is impressive because it has a 360° view and you can see so many famous mountains of the 雪山山脈 (Xue shan mountain range). The fact that the mountain hut is only five minutes from the top also means that there's no better place to take night pictures with less effort.
The first day pretty much consisted of lugging the heavy overnight pack to the top and then enjoying the view until it got dark. On the second day we got up before sunrise to try and catch the sunrise at the peak (it was covered by the sea of clouds) and then separated. Two of us headed to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) with daypacks while the rest started their descent. After returning from 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) we grabbed our overnight packs and headed down as well.
The weather was great almost the whole time and without a single drop of rain. There was a short period where fog and clouds were pulling up but they got blown away by wind and by the time we got to the peak there was a beautiful sea of clouds left, making for amazing views.
Overview
The red track is day 1 from the trail head to 桃山 (Tao shan). The green track is the first half of day 2 from 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) and back.
(Click the image for a larger version.)
(Click the image for a larger version.)
Elevation chart
Day 1: 武陵農場 (Wuling villa) to 桃山 (Tao shan):
Day 2 (first half): 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan):
GPS track
Day 1: 武陵農場 (Wuling villa) to 桃山 (Tao shan):
Day 2 (first half): 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan):
Hiking log
As always, the altitudes are approximate.
Day 1: 武陵農場 (Wuling villa) to 桃山 (Tao shan):
0850: Departure from 武陵農場 (Wuling villa), 1840 m
0910: 桃山 (Tao shan) trail head, 1945 m
1135: 黑水塘 (Hei shui tang), 2690 m
1200: Lunch break, 2870 m
1230: Continue
1345: 桃山山頂 (Tao shan peak), 3325 m
Day 2 (first half): 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) and back:
0555: Departure from 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut), 3280 m
0600: 桃山山頂 (Tao shan peak), 3325 m
0605: Departure
0705: 詩崙山 (Shi lun shan), 3149 m
0755: 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan), 3133 m
0815: Departure
0900: 詩崙山 (Shi lun shan), 3149 m
1015: 桃山山頂 (Tao shan peak), 3325 m
1020: 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut), 3280 m
Day 2 (second half): 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) to 武陵農場 (Wuling villa):
1055: Departure from 桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut)
1105: 桃山山頂 (Tao shan peak), 3325 m
1205: Short lunch break, 2685 m
1225: Continue
1325: 桃山 (Tao shan) trail head
1355: Back at 武陵農場 (Wuling villa)
Photos
Day 1
武陵橋 (Wu ling bridge), the entrance to 桃山瀑布 (Taoshan waterfall) and 武陵四秀, the four great mountains of Wu ling.
The crossroad to the various trail heads. We went straight because it's the fastest, though not the only, way to 桃山 (Tao shan).
At 2.2 km the forest clearing makes for a nice hike but sadly the blue sky ahead was already turning gray.
The peak has a number of stones and panels. Ironically the tall triangulation stone on the left is mobile and doubles as a make-shift tripod at night. :-)
桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) is towards the left, just a few minutes down the mountain. Towards the right is the trail to ...
喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) where we would head the next morning. Note the Brocken spectre (觀音圈) on the lower right, the halo-like appearance surrounding my shadow. This phenomenon can sometimes be observed if the sun is directly behind one's back shining at the fog.
The view towards 雪山 (Xue shan), Taiwan's second tallest peak, on the far left. The remarkable peak on the right is 品田山 (Pin tian shan), which is also one of Wu ling's great four mountains.
Because we were staying at the mountain hut there was plenty of time to pass on the peak as the sky opened up and revealed the sun.
桃山山屋 (Tao shan mountain hut) at last with 小霸尖山 (Xiao ba jian shan) and 大霸尖山 (Da ba jian shan) in the background peeking out of the clouds.
After dinner we headed back to the peak to take some night shots like this one towards Taiwan's east coast.
Night view of 南湖大山 (Nan hu da shan) slightly left of center and 中央尖山 (Zhong yang jian shan). At 3742 and 3705 meters above sea level they are both among Taiwan's ten tallest peaks.
Starry sky above 雪山 (Xue shan) and 北稜角 (Bei leng jiao), the twin peaks on the left, 雪山北峰 (Xue shan north peak), slightly right of center, and 品田山 (Pin tian shan) further on the right.
Night view towards 大霸尖山 (Da ba jian shan). On the left you can still recognize the trail leading past the weather station down to the mountain hut.
Day 2
The first rays of sunlight illuminating 小霸尖山 (Xiao ba jian shan) and 大霸尖山 (Da ba jian shan), shortly before we headed down towards 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan).
Parts of the trail lead through thick bamboo, so waterproof clothing is a must unless you want to get soaked by the morning dew.
詩崙山 (Shi lun shan) is a small peak a little less than half-way to 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan). It doesn't have a special status, though, probably because its lack of a clear view makes it unsuitable for triangulation.
The view back towards 桃山 (Tao shan) and 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) which looks much further away than the 2.3 km of distance would make it seem.
At the top of 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) there's no view, so there isn't much to do but taking a quick photo, eating something, and heading back.
品田山 (Pin tian shan), my favorite mountain in the area. If you look closely you can see the trail leading up to it through the grassy patch in the center.
... with the occasional obstacle to climb over. 喀拉業山 (Kelaye shan) isn't a very popular mountain, so trail maintenance is rudimentary.