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Shei-Pa National Park Hiking Trip May 10 thru 13 2004 It’s been a year since our last major climb of one of our local peaks. Last year was a huge success with the climb of Jade Mountain. Jade Mountain is the highest peak in Taiwan, at 4000 meters in altitude. This year we picked Shei Mountain in the Shei-Pa National Park as the object of our conquest. The Shei-Pa National Park ; Shei-Pa National Park covers an area of 76850 hectares on the central Taiwan range, this area is slightly to the north of central Taiwan. This is an area of magnificent mountains: within the park are 51 peaks over 3000 meters high. It is an area of mostly wild and undeveloped country with a range of wildlife that’s includes many rare and endemic species. The tropic of Cancer crosses Taiwan almost 10 km south of Shei-Pa National Park, which therefore lies entirely in the subtropics. The temperatures however vary a great deal according to the altitude. The range of altitude in the park is from 760 meters above sea level in the Taan River valley to 3886 meters at the top of Mt. Shei; the average temperature at 1000 meters in January is 9 deg. C., in July 22 deg. C. at the 2000 meters area the temperatures range in January is 5 deg. C., in July 16 deg. C. To prepare for this challenging climb of three days, we had spent the last month in preparation for this event. The members developed their climbing skills by practicing on the local smaller mountains surrounding Taipei, also we invited local expert climbers to help with the basics of mountain climbing and teach some much needed additional exercise to help loosen and warm the muscles. On Monday May 10 at 7:00 am, we all gathered at the Chunghsiao Hsinsheng subway station as the central meeting place to start our three day mountain climbing adventure. As we quickly received our group/bus location we were boarding one of the five chartered busses that would in about five hours time drop us at the Shei-Pa National Park base camp. In the group we numbered over one hundred people. It consisted of about twelve people from the local climbing club “R.O.C. Alpine Climbing Association” these wonderful people have help us prepare for this journey, helped organize and act as a watchful eye over the five climbing groups that we had assembled into. One of the local newspaper/television stations that have helped to promote our organization in the past sent one of their news reporter and a cameraman to help document the trip. Seventy members of Love-NewLife Center participated, and as we have in the past there was representation of all walks of life and age groups, from teenagers to ninety years old climbers. The remaining people were friends, family, and volunteers from the center as they rounded out the group, all anticipation a wonderful adventure. We arrived at 2:00 pm, at the Wuling Recreation Park base camp in the Shei-Pa National Park. After watching a short video about the area that we would be calling home for the next three days, it was outside for 20 minutes of some exercises to warm up our muscles in preparation of our climb. With one more group photo shoot we were finally able to don our gear, make that whatever final adjustments that were needed, and then we were off into our individual group as we were lead away by our expert climbing guides. The distance from the base camp to the Chika Shelter, that we were to spend the first night was a two kilometer hike and a rise in elevation of 1700 meters. The path was laid out with a combination of steps and clear walking path. The travel time for our group varied from one to two and one half hours. After all had arrived safe and sound, a wonderful evening dinner was prepared and severed by the porters for our group. We were able to eat outside as darkness fell on the camp, and we were greeted by a wonderful cosmic display of our night time sky. As with most people in our group, we are city dwellers and a clear cool spring night time sky was a most welcome site. After supper was clean away we broke into a group participation of Chi-Gong (Spinal Curling) to help massage our organs and align our body and spirit. At around 8:30 the group puts out the sleeping bags in preparations to sleep, an in anticipation for the next day early morning start up the mountain at 3:00 am. The wake-up call came at 2:00 am on a cool clear morning, today we start the second leg of our journey at 3:00 am. As we hurried to break camp, grab something to eat and drink, we still had time to take in the cool crisp early morning air. After doing the morning exercises and a loud group shout of “ I Have Come ” , we turned on our head lamps to light our way up the darken sloop and proceeded slowly upward to a new day adventure. Just like a well ran army we were off on the second leg of the journey, a 5 kilometer hike further up into the mountains to the next camp at 3050 meters of elevation. The sun started to rise on the mountain top as we were just clearing the tree tops as Mother Nature welcomed us to a new day of her morning splendor. As we continued upward the climb became very natural, less steps, the path narrows to just the space for one person and at time the path just disappears from site. The view is breath taking, there wasn’t any man-made items to be found, no planes in the sky, no homes or huge apartment buildings, no roads of any kind, and the best of all no cell phone signal, so we weren’t bothered by the consent ringing of peoples phones. The best way to sum up the experience was that we were truly back to nature. Late morning found our group climbing Mt. Shei East Peak; this is one of three peaks that help form Mt. Shei proper. Mt Shei East is at an elevation of 3150 meter. From this vantage point we are able to see the objective for the morning, our second camp, 369 Shelter only 100 meters below us and about a 45 minute hike. The Black forest and Mt Shei the final leg of our journey await us. As we gather at the 369 shelter to regroup, the base of the final leg starts just on the north side of the shelter. The path is steep and rocky to walk as we face the challenge of this prominent peak in front of us. All is uphill in this final section, the degree of difficulty is the highest we have in counted to date, in addition to that, some of the group are complaining of high altitude sickness, as it can come on suddenly. Yonghe, the head of ROC Alpine Climbing Association voice concern over the health conditions of the oldest member of the group. Zhao Hsiaofei, a ninety years young, former lung cancer patient. Hsiaofei was the last to arrive at 369 shelters, primarily because of his slow stride, his foot security on the path, and minor problem with his health/breathing. We asked him to take a temporary rest break to regain the strength needed to continue. As he rested the group was divided into two groups for the final attach. As we left the 369 shelter and headed upward, the grassy sloop raised very quickly as we headed in the direction of the Black forest, as you turned around to view where you had just been, it was amazing how you had the feeling of wanting to lean back into the hill for stability. Entering the Black Forest was a beautiful site, these tall fir trees towering over head, blocking your site of the sky thru them, it was truly spectacular. The fragrance in the air was of multi-essences and gives a cool crisp feeling as you breathe it in. Just think, this is what Nature and life was meant to be like. As you walk thru the area you have the tendency to forget all of you past problem and just enjoy the moment that this is life at the fullest. The path starts to change as we continue our trek upward, from small rocks the size of a small hand, to now include the larger senior size. At around the 9 kilometer marker the landscape change again to a more open terrain, the trees start to show the effects of many years of cold and windy conditions. As we leave the tree line behind us we enter into a small valley of low lying brush and stone. The travel looks to be easier, but the truth is the strain of the hike and altitude is beginning to affect all. As we crested the next ridge it just one more downhill slope before the final accent to our goal, Mt. Shei. When we had all gathered at the top, 3886 meters of elevation, we took some wonderful photo to mark the event. And then was time to return back to 369 shelters. As the last climber return to the camp, they were welcomed by a cheer from the group. As the last group entered with Zhao Hsiaofei safe and sound and the count of the climber was complete we settled down for supper at the camp. The porters had out done themselves with yet another delicious meal, as that the fact is they must backpack all items needed for cooking and all was cooked on small portable stoves the size of a large coffee cup. Quite a few in the group were feeling the high altitude effect on their bodies, many passed on supper to sleep instead, or just eat lite and then went straight to bed. Wednesday morning found almost everyone in good condition, outside of some ache and pain from climbing. We were welcome to another beautiful sun rise as we prepared breakfast and assembled our gear for the return back. We started at 6:00 am from 369 shelter and the first stop was at Mt. Shei East for a group photo shot. After about an hour we proceeded down at our own pace to meet at Chika Shelter, where we were greeted to a lite snack of hot soup, now remember, the porters that prepared all of the meals, must break camp, move all of their equipment, and reset it before we arrive. These men almost fly down the mountain when they move. From Chika Shelter it a quick 2 kilometer hike down to the base camp, where as we all returned were greeted by cheers and cold watermelon. As with all great adventures, it’s over before you know it, all of the problems that happened on the trip up just seem to vanish, as you are now beginning to think about the next great adventure that is still needing to be planned.
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