Classic Itineraries
Taichung drafts ordinance to charge for typhoon-day mountain rescue
The Taichung City Government today passed a draft ordinance on managing mountaineering activities, which will be submitted to the city council for review. In the future, the public will be prohibited from forcibly entering mountains during typhoons. Otherwise, in the event of a mountaineering accident, the public will be charged for search and rescue costs beyond insurance compensation. The Taichung City Fire Department stated that according to this ordinance, Taichung will designate areas as either "general control" or "special control mountain zones." When engaging in mountaineering activities in these two types of areas, individuals must carry positioning devices such as GPS units or GPS-enabled smartphones, as well as communication equipment for emergencies, such as satellite phones, mobile phones, or radios. If the mountaineering activity involves special control mountain zones, it must be led by a team leader who should possess basic emergency medical response capabilities and hold relevant certifications such as Basic Life Support certification or Emergency Medical Technician credentials. They must also have comprehensive mountain insurance coverage. Violations may result in fines ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$50,000.
Taichung City Adopts Autonomous Ordinance Requiring Search and Rescue Fees for Illegal Mountain Climbers
The Taichung City Government today (the 6th) passed the nation’s first “Taichung City Mountain Activities Management Autonomous Ordinance”! The ordinance stipulates that when the Central Weather Bureau issues a sea typhoon warning, the city government may announce controlled areas. Members of the public who forcibly enter mountainous areas or delay evacuation may be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000. In the event of an accident requiring search and rescue operations by the city government, the rescued individuals may be charged for necessary expenses exceeding insurance compensation, including dispatch, deployment, and rental of rescue equipment and vehicles. The “Taichung City Mountain Activities Management Autonomous Ordinance” was approved at today’s municipal government meeting and still needs to be submitted to the city council for review. Mayor Lin Chia-lung stated that this is a pioneering move that balances safety and the rights of citizens to engage in mountain activities. The regulation that search and rescue costs are borne by the rescued reflects the user-pays principle, which he believes will receive strong public support. Taichung City will be divided into
Area Scan – Male Hiker Goes Missing, Police and Rescue Teams Launch Full-Scale Search
New Taipei: On the morning of the 4th, two deaf-mute men from New Taipei City arranged to go hiking in Ruifang. One of them, Mr. Lin, lost contact with his friend, Mr. Shen, due to exhaustion and decided to descend the mountain on his own to wait by their car for his friend. However, when Mr. Shen still failed to appear by evening, Mr. Lin hurriedly reported the incident to the police. Police and firefighters dispatched search and rescue personnel into the mountains. The search was temporarily suspended due to heavy rain. Considering safety concerns for mountain rescues, it was decided to resume the operation after daybreak.
Taichung: Search and rescue fees to be charged for mountain accidents during typhoons
The Taichung City Government today passed the Taichung City Mountain Activities Management Self-Governance Ordinance during a city council meeting. In the future, it will prohibit forced entry into mountains during typhoons. Otherwise, in the event of a mountain accident, the city government will charge search and rescue fees beyond insurance compensation. The Taichung City Mountain Activities Management Self-Governance Ordinance was passed in the city council meeting and will be submitted to the Taichung City Council for review. Mayor Lin Chia-lung stated that this self-governance ordinance balances safety and the rights of citizens to engage in mountain activities, which is commendable, and also asked the Fire Bureau to ensure proper management. The city government stated that in the future, when the public enters specially regulated mountain areas, they should be led by a guide with emergency rescue capabilities and be insured with comprehensive mountain insurance. It also prohibits forced entry into mountains during typhoons. Otherwise, in the event of a mountain accident, the city government may charge the public search and rescue fees beyond insurance compensation. According to this self-governance ordinance, in the future, Taichung City will be divided
Hiker missing for 3 days found dead; Ruifang Fire Department recovers body
A man surnamed Shen went missing three days ago while hiking the Xiaozhui’lu Ancient Trail in Ruifang and was found today by rescue teams near Little Ghost Waterfall—but unfortunately, he had already passed away. Shen and his friend, surnamed Lin, hiked the Xiaozhui’lu Ancient Trail in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, on the 4th to climb the Banping Mountain cliffs. Along the way, Lin, exhausted, decided to descend first. But after waiting for a long time and getting no sign of Shen, Lin called police for help around 7 p.m. that evening. The Ruifang Fire Department promptly assembled a search team upon receiving the report and continuously combed the mountain area for the missing hiker. The Sixth Disaster Relief and Ambulance Brigade of the Fire Bureau stated that at around 11 a.m. today, search personnel discovered Shen’s body near Little Ghost Waterfall in the Banping Mountain area. They are transporting the remains down the mountain and will arrange for an autopsy. 1050606
Hikers lost during a mountain climbing and stream tracing trip in Pinglin rescued; firefighters locate 3 people safe and sound
In a separate stream tracing incident during an accident in Pinglin, New Taipei City, three hikers who had gone missing were found this morning by firefighters and safely brought down the mountain. They were conscious and did not require hospitalization. This group of four had gone to the Pinglin mountain area for leisure yesterday but encountered heavy rain. Mr. Zeng, who managed to get out yesterday, had already returned home. The other three—Mr. Chen, Mr. Liao, and Mr. Hu—who had gone missing, were located this morning. The fire department stated that according to the accounts of the three individuals, they arrived at the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. yesterday to begin their stream tracing activity. Around 1 p.m., it started to rain, so they decided to head back. The group saw a flash flood occur and immediately moved toward the shore. Due to poor signal in the mountainous area, they were only able to get a signal around 6 p.m. yesterday, at which point they called 112 to report the situation. This morning, the firefighters
Sudden mountain rainstorm — 16 hikers safely rescued
A group of hikers were climbing the Songluo Lake Trail in Datong Township, Yilan County today when 16 of them were temporarily delayed in descending due to heavy rain, slippery paths, and exhaustion in the evening. After being guided down the mountain by rescue personnel, all were safely evacuated by nightfall. Yilan County Government Fire Bureau received a report in the evening that 23 people had set out together to hike the Songluo Lake Trail, but it was later reported that 16 of them were unable to descend before dark due to heavy rain in the mountains, slippery trails, difficult terrain, and physical fatigue. Local police and firefighters immediately sent personnel into the mountains to assist in guiding them down. The fire bureau stated that the 16 individuals were unharmed and were transported away by tour bus. 1050605
Slippery roads due to rain delay the descent of 17 Yilan hikers
The Yilan County Fire Bureau said today that around 5 p.m., they received a report that a group of 24 people were hiking on the Songluo Lake Trail in Datong Township. By the time of the report, 7 had already descended, but 17 were still on the mountain. The fire bureau dispatched rescue personnel and vehicles from the Datong branch to assist in guiding them down.
Trees turn into real-life Ents in the forest — hikers stunned by what they saw
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, hiking enthusiast Deyan Kossev recently discovered a giant tree deep in the forests of Bulgaria’s Balkan Mountains that closely resembles the Ents from The Lord of the Rings.
Everest Mummy Remains Unspoiled for Decades, Becomes Key Landmark for Climbers
Mount Everest (also known as Qomolangma or Holy Mother Peak), located on the border between China and Nepal, is the world’s highest peak at 8,848 meters. It is a challenging destination beloved by many mountaineers. However, over the years, numerous climbers from around the world have lost their lives on this beloved mountain. Due to the harsh local climate, bodies are extremely difficult to retrieve, so for over a decade they have remained where they fell. This has led to a grim phenomenon where later climbers use corpses as landmarks. Those who have seen the movie *Everest* will know that during the climb, one must contend with extremely thin oxygen, brutal weather, and the constant risk of brain hypoxia. When the body “shuts down,” climbers can collapse on the mountain and become one of the many mummified bodies along the route. Therefore, saying that every ascent is like playing Russian roulette is no exaggeration. Mount Everest was closed for two years due to natural disasters,
A second-grade female student went missing while hiking on Qixing Mountain and has been found by police and firefighters!
(Updated at 21:43) The Taipei City Fire Department received a report around 4 p.m. today that a member of the public had gone missing while hiking on the main peak of Qixing Mountain. They immediately mobilized a large number of personnel and search dogs to conduct a search on the mountain. Finally, at 9:21 p.m., the missing female student was found.
Brothers climbing mountains together may not have a smooth journey.
ASE and SPIL announced yesterday that they will form an industry holding company under mutually agreed conditions. ASE Chairman Terry Gou and SPIL Chairman C.Y. Lin appeared together on stage, staging a grand reconciliation, but the outside world remains somewhat puzzled. Terry Gou and C.Y. Lin smiled as they announced their collaboration yesterday and also expressed mutual hopes to continue striving together for Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. However, legal circles and industry insiders still have many concerns. After all, ASE and SPIL aim to maximize corporate profits and shareholder interests, but in the future, they will be in a situation where brothers climb mountains separately and strive on their own—it is not easy to maintain healthy competition in practice. Since ASE proposed in August last year to make a public tender offer for SPIL, the management teams of both sides have refused to back down. They not only engaged in media and advertising battles but SPIL executives also emphasized that the merger would not bring synergies. However,
Location Scan – Hiker Injured in Fall, Rescued via Aerial Lift
Nantou: An 18-member hiking team from Taipei City recently climbed Gan Zhuo Wan Mountain in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County. On the 21st during their return journey, a 65-year-old man surnamed Tsai accidentally fell and suffered a closed fracture of his right ankle, leaving him unable to descend. On the morning of the 26th, the Nantou County Fire Bureau requested a helicopter, which successfully performed an aerial lift and landed at Ren’ai Junior High School, completing the rescue.
Remember this female hiker who went missing three years ago? Now...
Geraldine Largay, a 66-year-old American hiker, went missing while hiking in Maine, USA, in the summer of 2013. Her remains were not recovered until last year. On Wednesday, the Maine government released up to 1,500 pages of investigation files, revealing that after she was confirmed missing, she survived for at least 26 days. She even wrote in her diary that if her body was found, her husband and daughter must be notified. The investigation files show that on July 24, 2013, Geraldine’s husband, George Largay, reported to authorities that his wife, who was hiking the Appalachian Trail, had gone missing. The Maine government immediately launched a large-scale search. It wasn’t until October 2015 that someone discovered Geraldine’s remains about 914 meters off the trail, in an area used by the U.S. Navy for survival skills training. A coroner determined that Geraldine died from exposure and starvation.
One-day hike to Yushan Main Peak West Peak: Quota relaxed starting June
The one-day round-trip route to Yushan Main and West Peaks is popular among hikers, with the number of applicants increasing yearly. After evaluation, the quota will be increased starting June 1, from a maximum of 20 people per day to 60. The Yushan National Park Headquarters announced today that the one-day round-trip route from Tatachia to Yushan Main and West Peaks, which is highly favored by climbers, will have its acceptance quota raised to 60 people starting June 1. For general applications from groups of five or fewer, the daily quota is 10 people; for groups of five or more or institutional teams, the daily quota is 50 people, and comprehensive mountain insurance must be purchased. The Yushan Headquarters stated that from May 1 to December 31 last year, a trial was conducted to encourage mountain teams to purchase comprehensive mountain insurance. During the trial period, all 167 institutional or group teams of five or more people applying to enter the mountain completed the insurance process. Subsequent inquiries with the applying teams showed willingness to continue compliance, so the measure will be continued this year.
Climbing Mount Everest: 4 Dead and 2 Missing Within a Week
The world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (Qomolangma), which reopened for summit attempts after being closed for two seasons, has seen four experienced climbers dead and two others missing within just one week of the climbing season beginning — with little hope of finding the missing. At 29,035 feet above sea level, Mount Everest (also known as Qomolangma) attracts a large number of climbing enthusiasts every year who hope to fulfill their dream of reaching the summit. However, due to the harsh natural environment, even seasoned and skilled mountaineers often lose their lives on the way to the top. Last year and the year before, 19 and 16 climbers and guides respectively lost their lives, making it one of the most dangerous outdoor activities in the world. According to a report by Mail Today, two Indian climbers, Paresh Nath and Goutam Ghosh, recently embarked on their ambitious journey to climb Mount Everest, but they lost contact with their team when they were near the 8,848-meter mark.
Area Scan – Hiking Accident in Ren’ai Township: Injured Climber Rescued
Nantou: In Ren’ai Township’s Kanjouwan Mountain, it was reported the previous evening that a hiker surnamed Tsai had fallen and was suspected to have suffered a fracture, leaving him unable to descend. On the morning of the 22nd, Nantou County Fire Bureau requested helicopter rescue, but due to low cloud cover and poor visibility, the helicopter was unable to assist. Personnel from the Ren’ai Fire Station and the Forestry Bureau then entered the mountain to conduct the search and rescue operation. It is estimated that it will take one to two days to reach the injured hiker.
Kolumb held the Tibet Discovery 2014 Spring/Summer New Product Launch and Ordering Event
On July 8, 2013, Kolumb (Kolonpo) unveiled its 2014 Spring/Summer new product collection and hosted its ordering event in Shanghai as scheduled. As a key milestone on Kolumb’s journey of brand innovation and evolution, this launch themed “Tibet Discovery” took “change” to the extreme. With vibrant colors and bold designs, it received widespread acclaim. Are you ready for the visual feast Kolumb (Kolonpo) has prepared for the 2014 Spring/Summer season?
The path was only 1 meter wide — a hiker gave way and fell to his death off a cliff
A father and son surnamed Lee from Taipei were hiking along the Zhuilu Old Trail on the 16th. The 66-year-old father, trying to make way for an oncoming hiker, accidentally lost his footing and fell 300 meters down the cliff. His son, who witnessed the tragic fall, was devastated and told police that there was no time to save him — he could only hear his father’s screams echoing through the valley. Rescue workers found the father’s body the afternoon before yesterday, and on the morning of the 17th, an air force helicopter was deployed to recover the remains.
Man found dead in car, suspected suicide by charcoal burning due to illness
A man in his 60s was found dead inside a car at the Jiangziliao parking lot in Keelung today. Charcoal and a charcoal burner were found in the vehicle, raising suspicions of suicide.