The caterpillar of a tussock moth we encountered the night before the hike.

The famous climbing section on the way to 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan) where you have to pull yourself up on roots and ropes for a few meters.

At the ridge close to 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan). We first turned left to the peak and later returned to continue our way to 羊頭山 (Yang tou shan).

The view here is great but you do want to watch your step ...

合歡北峰 (He huan north peak) to the south west.

The last few meters to 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan).

無明山 (Wu ming shan) to the north east with its prominent scree slope. Hiding in the clouds behind it would be 中央尖山 (Zhong yang jian shan).

The usual celebratory peak jumping ...

... at the top of 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan).

Birds aren't shy here and have become accustomed to sharing snacks with hikers.

鋸子連峰 (Ju zi lian feng or "sawtooth hill chain") between 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan) and 羊頭山 (Yang tou shan). While the ridge trail doesn't pass through every hilltop there is a fair bit of up and down, and this is the exhausting part of the hike.

The trail down a dry valley behind the first hill which would be way too steep to scale head on. After about 150 meters the valley trail leaves to the right but the signage is poor (looking at you, Taroko national park administration!), which caused three hikers to get lost a few months later, requiring a rescue operation.

View back up the dry valley.

The short climb to the top of 鋸山 (Ju shan), the only one peak in the hill chain with a name (translating to "saw mountain").

On top of 鋸山 (Ju shan).

The view towards 無明山 (Wu ming shan), now also enshrouded in clouds.

無明山 (Wu ming shan) once again, this time just below the cloud cover.

Finally at the other end of the ridge trail. Again, we would climb 羊頭山 (Yang tou shan) first before heading down to the other trail head.

Our arrival on 羊頭山 (Yang tou shan) concided with the weather suddenly improving and the cloud cover lifting to reveal not only 無明山 (Wu ming shan) on the left but also 中央尖山 (Zhong yang jian shan) in the far center.

A close-up of the majestic 中央尖山 (Zhong yang jian shan).

The view back to the ridge along we had hiked from 畢祿山 (Bi lu shan). The grassy mountain on the left side is 合歡北峰 (He huan north peak).

The view towards 武嶺 (Wu ling). If you look closely you can see part of the road leading from 武嶺 (Wu ling) to 大禹嶺 (Da yu ling) where we had started our hike in the morning. On the right-hand side is 合歡北峰 (He huan north peak) with its prominent microwave reflector half-way up.

奇萊北峰 (Qi lai north peak) just beneath the clouds.

Celebrating at the top of 羊頭山 (Yang tou shan).

The view of 能高山 (Neng gao shan) from 天池山莊 (Tian zhu mountain hut).

Green hills partway up to 天池 (Tian chi).

The campsite at 天池 (Tian chi) with 南華山 (Nan hua shan) in the right side of the background.

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.

Looking towards 南華山 (Nan hua shan), which isn't visible from this perspective.

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 small but harmless creek to cross on the way.

Looking back after crossing the creek.

A dark spot gentian along the way (黑斑龍膽, Gentiana scabrida)

Looking back towards 南華山 (Nan hua shan).

A steep climb ahead. There are two paths but most people seem to choose the one on the right.

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).

花蓮 (Hua lian) in the distance.

This is where the path starts to zigzag.

Another gentiana, this time presumably a Gentiana arisanensis 阿里山龍膽.

The last few hundred meters ...

Cairns near the top of 奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak).

Looking back down one last time.

能高山南峰 (Neng gao shan south peak) in the center and 能高山 (Neng gao shan) to its right.

埔里 (Puli) to the west.

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).

Looking north east we can see 奇萊主峰 (Qi lai main peak) and 奇萊北峰 (Qi lai north peak) to its left.

Great views all around at the top of ...

奇萊南峰 (Qi lai south peak).

Raising the usual flags ...

... before heading back down.

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." 👍

The trail fork near 天池 (Tian chi) with the trail we had just come back down from.

The trail towards 南華山 (Nan hua shan).

A little further up.

Looking back. 奇萊裡山 (Qi lai li shan) on the right.

The peak of 南華山 (Nan hua shan).

On top of 南華山 (Nan hua shan) with the top of 能高山 (Neng gao shan) just covered in clouds.

Looking down towards 光被八表 (Guang pi ba biao), which is part way between 天池山莊 (Tian chi mountain hut) and 能高山 (Neng gao shan). This would be the other, slightly longer, way of getting back to camp.