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2021-01-15 | 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak) and 南華山 (Nan hua shan)
I'm starting 2021 by catching up with last year's hikes that I hadn't posted yet because of the sad demise of GPSies where I had been hosting my tracks. I've finally found time to switch to Leaflet, so here we go: A hike from June 2020 to 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak) and 南華山 (Nan hua shan).
This marked my third visit to the apparently cursed – for me anyway – 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut). After having little luck the first two times round (due to insomnia and weather) the third time turned out to be the proverbial charm. The weather was great and so was the hike.
The trail was quite busy on that weekend, presumably due to the pandemic that sent people outdoors instead of abroad. Also notable were a number of young kids (early elementary school I'd guess) who walked an impressive distance for such a young age.
The two-day/one-night trip took us to 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut) on the first day. The second day we climbed the two peaks nearby and then made our way back down to the trail head.
Another trip report is coming up soon but for now please enjoy!
Overview
(Click the image for a larger version.)
Day 1: 屯原登山口 (Tun yuan trail head) – 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut)
0925: Departure from 屯原登山口 (Tun yuan trail head), 1926 m
1050: 雲海保線所 (Yun hai power line maintenance hut), 2360 m
1210: Continue
1430: Arrival at 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut), 2860 m
Total: 13.6 km, 5h05min (incl. 1h20min break)
Extra:
1500: Departure from 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut), 2860 m
1530: 天池 (Tian chi), 3097 m
1535: Departure
1555: Back at 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut)
Day 2: 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut) – 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak) – 南華山 (Nan hua shan) – 屯原登山口 (Tun yuan trail head)
0710: Departure from 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut), 2860 m
0755: 天池 (Tian chi), 3097 m
0825: Trail fork to 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak) and 奇萊裡山 (Qi lai li shan), 3126 m
0930: 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak), 3358 m
1015: Departure
1045: Trail fork
1055: 天池 (Tian chi)
1030: 南華山 (Nan hua shan), 3184 m
1050: Departure
1240: Back at 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut)
Leg total: 8.7 km, 5h30min (incl. 1h05min breaks)
1315: Departure from 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut), 2860 m
1500: 雲海保線所 (Yun hai power line maintenance hut), 2360 m
1505: Continue
1555: Arrival at 屯原登山口 (Tun yuan trail head), 1926 m
Leg total: 13.5 km, 2h40min (incl. 5 min break)
Day total: 22.2 km, 8h45min (incl. 1h45min breaks)
Peakfinder
奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak)
南華山 (Nan hua shan)
Photos
Most people who had to carry their backpacks up here the night before because they couldn't get a space at 天池山莊 (Tian zhu mountain hut) didn't look too happy. No wonder because it's about an extra kilometer of steep stairs.
The trail towards 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak) which is towards the left out of frame. On the far right is 奇萊裡山 (Qi lai li shan) which is on the way to 奇萊主峰 (Qi lai main peak).
Another look back with 南華山 (Nan hua shan) on the left and 能高山 (Neng gao shan) on the right in the far back.
A dark spot gentian along the way (黑斑龍膽, Gentiana scabrida)
The trail fork in the background is where we came from. A right turn takes you back to 天池 (Tian chi), a left turn to 奇萊裡山 (Qi lai li shan).
Another gentiana, this time presumably a Gentiana arisanensis 阿里山龍膽.
Looking north there's also a great view of the road to 武嶺 (Wuling). The peak on the left with the visible road is 合歡主峰 (He huan main peak), on the right is 合歡東峰 (He huan east peak). On the far right in the background the microwave reflector half-way up to 合歡北峰 (He huan north peak). The tall peak in the left background is 雪山 (Xue shan).
The only thing the bureaucrats at the Taroko National Park office are good at: coming up with rules and having them printed on oversized signs that some poor sod then has to carry up the mountain.
My favorite: "Forbidden are ... other things that are forbidden in the National Park." 👍