Classic Itineraries
Mt. Fuji Climbing Season: Free Portable Toilets to Be Distributed
The Yamanashi Prefectural Government has decided to distribute portable toilets to climbers during this year’s Mt. Fuji climbing season when mountain hut toilets are unavailable. This measure aims to protect the hiking trail environment following Mt. Fuji’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Mt. Fuji Conservation Office of Yamanashi Prefecture, due to the management of mountain huts being synchronized with the opening of the Shizuoka side trails, the summit toilets will be out of service during the periods when only the Yamanashi side Yoshida Trail is open—specifically from July 1 to 9 and September 11 to 14.
Climber injured in fall rescued by helicopter after unauthorized hike
A female hiker surnamed Zhuo was injured in a fall on the exploration trail from Heping South River to Nanhushan Mountain in Taroko National Park. Earlier today, the Hualien County Fire Bureau rescued her by helicopter and transported her to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for treatment. The Hualien County Fire Bureau stated that around 1 p.m. on June 3, they received a report that the female hiker surnamed Zhuo had fallen and suffered fractures to her right forearm and right leg while hiking at an altitude of 2,600 meters on the Heping South River Trail in Xiulin Township, requiring rescue. The Hualien County Fire Bureau applied to the National Search and Rescue Center for helicopter assistance for two consecutive days but was unsuccessful due to poor weather conditions in the mountainous area. Ground rescue teams also entered the mountains yesterday. This morning, with improved weather, the helicopter rescue was successful, and both the injured hiker and her companion were transported to Hualien Airport and then to Tzu Chi Hospital. The Taroko National Park Administration Office stated that the female hiker
Female hiker falls into stream bed, rescued by air force hoist
The Ministry of National Defense dispatched a helicopter to Hualien County today, successfully hoisting and rescuing a female hiker who had accidentally fallen into a stream bed, and transferring her to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for treatment. The Ministry of National Defense issued a press release this afternoon stating that it received a notification from the National Search and Rescue Center: a female hiker had accidentally fallen into a stream bed near the Heping South River valley in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, resulting in fractures to her limbs that left her immobile and awaiting rescue. She requested the military to dispatch a helicopter to support an aerial rescue mission. After receiving the report, the Ministry of National Defense ordered an S-70C helicopter from the Air Force’s Songshan Base to carry out the rescue mission. The helicopter took off at 6:18 a.m., located the target at 7:50 a.m., performed the hoist operation, completed the hoist and exited the target area at 8:10 a.m., and landed at Hualien Base at 8:23 a.m. The injured hiker was then transported by ambulance from the base to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital for treatment, successfully completing the patient evacuation mission. 1030605
Rescue Location Markers Help Find Lost Hikers
Taiwan’s sports culture is booming, with jogging and hiking being among the most popular activities. However, incidents of hikers getting lost are frequent. According to statistics from the New Taipei City Fire Department, from January last year to March this year, there were 33 cases involving 73 lost hikers, averaging about 2 cases and 5 people per month—a relatively high frequency, mostly concentrated in mountainous areas such as Pingxi, Shuangxi, Gongliao, and Shiding. The Council of Agriculture’s Soil and Water Conservation Bureau reports that New Taipei City covers a total land area of approximately 205,257 hectares, of which about 110,131 hectares are mountainous, accounting for roughly 54% of the city’s total land area, making it the region with the most extensive mountain terrain in northern Taiwan. New Taipei City Fire Department Disaster Rescue and Ambulance Command Center Director Luo Kaiwen stated that due to the city’s mountainous landscape, cases of hikers getting lost occur frequently, and most incidents happen in remote mountains without clear landmarks or features. Even when hikers manage to call for help on their mobile phones, rescuers often spend 4 to 6 hours locating them due to the challenging terrain.
Area Scan — Female Hiker Faints but Rescued with No Serious Injuries
Taitung: A female hiker surnamed Chen was climbing Lake Jiaming when she fainted due to exhaustion and altitude sickness. She collapsed at the Jiaming Lake refuge hut at an altitude of over 3,000 meters the evening before last. Three local youth volunteers, one Italian hiker, firefighters, and Zhang Nengwei, chief of the Xiangyang Police Precinct, worked in relay to carry her down the mountain overnight. She has since been sent to hospital and is in stable condition with no serious injuries.
Man who failed to return from mountain climb due to illness rescued and brought down
A 50-year-old man surnamed Luo, who lives in Taipei City, went hiking with friends in the Erge Mountain area of Shiding District, New Taipei City, on the morning of the 1st. On the way down the mountain, he said he felt a bit unwell and asked his friends to go ahead while he took his time walking down since he knew the way. However, he had still not returned home by 8 p.m., prompting his family to report the situation to the fire department out of concern. Rescue personnel managed to bring him down the mountain at 10:30 p.m. He was not seriously injured.
Hiker Rescued from Altitude Sickness Near Jioming Lake
A 42-year-old female hiker suffered from altitude sickness last night at the Jioming Lake shelter, which sits over 3,000 meters above sea level. Three mountain rescuers carried her manually down to the Xiangyang Shelter. At 7:50 p.m., firefighters and police officers from Xiangyang Police Precinct met them there, then carried the woman further down to the trailhead. Xiangyang Precinct Chief Chang Nengwei strapped her to his body and transported her by motorcycle to Xiangyang Recreation Area around 9 p.m., after which she was handed over to an ambulance and taken to Guanshan Tzu Chi Hospital. The hiker was conscious but physically weak, with normal blood pressure and heart rate, and stable vital signs.
Hiker injured in Nantou, rescued by police and firefighters
A pair of hikers were trekking along the Batongguan Trail in the Yushan National Park when a man surnamed Huang reportedly slipped and sustained injuries this afternoon, possibly due to rain. Police and firefighters have been deployed for the rescue and are currently escorting him down the mountain.
Nepal questions Chinese female mountaineer's helicopter-assisted Everest climb
Nepalese authorities are investigating whether Chinese female mountaineer Wang Jing, who climbed Mount Everest, used a helicopter to reach high-altitude camps. Chinese media reported that 40-year-old Wang Jing successfully reached the summit via the southern route of Everest at 6:20 p.m. on the 23rd, becoming the first person to summit the world’s highest peak from the southern route this year. However, reports suggest that Wang Jing took a helicopter, flying over sections damaged by an earlier avalanche, to reach Camp 2 at an altitude of 6,400 meters. Officials from Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism said they are inquiring with the relevant helicopter company. Helicopters are generally used in Nepal for rescue operations and transporting climbing equipment and supplies. It is considered a serious violation of tradition and unethical for climbers to use helicopters to ascend Everest. Wang Jing has denied using a helicopter to help her reach the summit.
Hiker falls down slope, suffers minor injuries and is rescued
A man went hiking in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County this afternoon and accidentally fell down a slope near Liding Mountain before being rescued. Fire department personnel will assist him in descending the mountain and seeking medical treatment. The Hsinchu County Government Fire Bureau said that they received a report this afternoon about a 52-year-old man who had been walking along the Bawu Mountain Ancient Trail toward Liding Mountain when he slipped and fell down the slope. Fire department personnel were dispatched to the scene for the rescue. Search and rescue workers have located the man, who was found to have a laceration on his knee. They will help him descend the mountain and get medical care. 1030524
Hiker falls down slope in Hsinchu County, rescued by relay
A man went hiking in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County this afternoon and accidentally fell down a slope. The Hsinchu County Government Fire Bureau said that by evening, they had used rescue equipment to relay the man down the mountain. The Fire Bureau said that they received a report this afternoon about a 52-year-old man who was hiking along the Bawushan Ancient Trail from Meiyuan Tribe in Jianshi Township toward Lidong Mountain when he slipped and fell down the slope. The bureau’s Second Brigade, as well as the Jianshi and Tianpu squads, dispatched personnel and vehicles for the rescue. The Fire Bureau stated that the injured man later managed to climb back onto the trail on his own. He suffered a laceration on his knee and was conscious. He was helped down the mountain by his companions and waited at a designated spot to meet with firefighters. The Jianshi squad successfully reached the patient at 5:40 p.m. and used rescue equipment to relay him down the mountain. 1030524
Climbers fall into valley while ascending Guangu Seven Peaks
The Taichung City Fire Bureau received a report at 2:28 p.m. today (18th). Five hikers were ascending Wogewei Mountain, one of the Guangu Seven Peaks, when one of them, surnamed Lin, accidentally slipped and fell into a valley. Rescue teams are now rushing to the scene.
Hiker falls into valley, found without vital signs
The Taichung City Fire Bureau received a report this afternoon that a hiker from Tainan had fallen into a valley on Wogewei Mountain in Heping District. The hiker was rescued to the ground in the evening but was found without vital signs. The Taichung City Fire Bureau stated that at around 2 p.m., they received a call from the public reporting that 35 members of the Tainan Zaokue Mountaineering Association were hiking on the Wogewei Mountain Trail near Guguan in Heping District when a 47-year-old male hiker surnamed Xu fell into a valley about 1.4 kilometers along the trail, prompting the rescue request. The Second Disaster Relief and Ambulance Brigade of the Taichung City Fire Bureau immediately dispatched two teams from Dongshi and Heping, totaling three vehicles and six personnel, to assist. They also coordinated support from the military’s Liyang Camp, the Heping Community Rescue Team, and the Liyang Work Station of the Forestry Bureau. The fire bureau said rescuers reached the injured person at 4:19 p.m. and confirmed that the individual had no vital signs.
Hiking on the Nanao Trail: 7 people fell from a 5-meter-high wooden ladder
160 members of the Taoyuan Hiking Club were hiking on the Nanao Chaoyang National Hiking Trail this morning (15th) when seven of them, who had climbed up to a wooden boardwalk about 200 meters high, suddenly experienced over 10 wooden planks collapsing beneath them. The seven hikers failed to react in time and fell from a height of nearly 5 meters. They sustained injuries to their feet, waists, and other parts of their bodies. After receiving the report, police and firefighters sent the seven individuals to the Nanao Health Center for initial treatment, before transferring them to the Luyou Boroh, St. Mary’s, and Su’ao Veterans General Hospitals for further medical care.
2 Hikers Slip on Mountain Cliff, Rescued by Police, Firefighters & Helicopter
At around 2 p.m. today (the 13th), the Ruifang Fire Department in New Taipei City received a report from two hikers stating that they had accidentally slipped down a mountain cliff. Police and volunteer firefighters have been dispatched for the rescue, and a helicopter has been requested from the Air Rescue Headquarters for support. However, according to personnel on the scene, the mountain cliff where the two hikers are trapped is very steep, and the helicopter may not be able to assist. A rescue by rope descent may be required.
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Hiker Bitten by Snake While Mountain Climbing, International Student Sent to Hospital with No Serious Injuries
Six members of National Cheng Kung University's Mountaineering Club were climbing the Batongguan Historic Trail in Yushan National Park on June 28. On July 1, when they reached the Talomu Stream northwest of Yuli Mountain, one of them—23-year-old Malaysian national Cheng Ming-yi—was accidentally bitten by a hundred-pacer snake. The group quickly reported the incident and called for help, but due to poor weather conditions in the mountainous area, the rescue team was not able to hoist him to safety until the early morning of July 2. Dr. Cao Jianxiong, an emergency room physician from Taipei Veterans General Hospital’s Yuli Branch who was part of the rescue team, said that upon examining Cheng’s wound, there were no signs of redness, swelling, or inflammation, and that he remained fully conscious without showing typical reactions to a venomous snakebite. It was concluded that he was not seriously injured—an unfortunate event with a fortunate outcome. Cheng Ming-yi, still shaken, said he was bitten by the hundred-pacer snake at the site of an old tribal settlement in the mountains. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, and the snake’s pattern resembled that of dead leaves, causing him to accidentally step on it and get bitten.
Hiker Bitten by Hundred-Pacer Snake Rescued Without Injury
Six members of National Cheng Kung University’s Mountaineering Club climbed the Batongguan Historic Trail in Yushan National Park on the 28th of last month, starting from Zhongzheng Tribe in Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County. Unexpectedly, on the 1st of this month, while ascending to Talomu Creek northwest of Yuli Mountain, one of the hikers—23-year-old Malaysian national Cheng Ming-yi—was bitten by a hundred-pacer snake. The team quickly called for help, but due to poor weather conditions in the mountains, the rescue team was only able to hoist him to safety early on the 2nd. Dr. Ling Ching-hsien from the emergency room at Yu-Li Branch of Taipei Veterans General Hospital stated that there were no signs of redness or swelling around the wound, and the victim remained conscious. Though he was not in serious condition, he would still be sent to the hospital for further examination. Yu-Xi Fire Brigade noted that if there were no signs of redness or swelling around the wound, it might have been a “dry bite,” where no venom was injected, likely serving as a warning from the snake.
Group Advantage Family Day: Hiking Fun Together
The Group Advantage Financial Group Family Day hiking event recently kicked off in lively fashion at Taipei’s Tiger Mountain. Around 600 senior executives, employees, and their families took part in this “Group Hike, Full of Happiness” activity. Amid their busy work schedules, employees seized the opportunity to enjoy quality time with their loved ones and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Group Advantage Goldtop Securities Chairman Wang ?zhi stated that the United Nations’ “Family Plan” emphasizes that “a happy family is a basic human right for everyone,” and countries around the world hold various events each year to show support for families. In response to the UN’s initiative, Group Advantage organized the Tiger Mountain hike for this year’s Family Day, aiming to encourage employees to set aside time to gather with their families more often, even with hectic workloads, and to create more opportunities for bonding.
Malaysian hiker bitten by snake during mountain climb; fire department dispatches rescue team
At around 4 p.m. today, the Hualien County Fire Department received a report that one member of a six-person hiking group — a 23-year-old Malaysian named Zheng Mingyi — was bitten by a hundred-pace viper in the Talomu Stream area northwest of Mt. Yuli. The fire department has dispatched personnel for rescue and requested helicopter assistance.