The recent death of bikini-clad hiker G on a mountain has drawn widespread attention, prompting President Tsai Ing-wen to express concern over hikers’ safety. She asked Executive Yuan Policy Coordinator Chang Ching-sen to hold discussions with hikers to understand their needs. Female mountaineer “Three Fishes” Yenda Chan Chiao-yu shared on Facebook on the afternoon of the 27th, recounting Chang’s remarks. Chang believes that mountain autonomy regulations should be completely abolished, and what Taiwan’s hiking community needs is a unified system for registration and related matters.
“Three Fishes” Yenda Chan Chiao-yu, who has climbed the world’s fourth highest peak, Lhotse, said that following the incident of the bikini-clad hiker freezing to death, the Presidential Office instructed Chang Ching-sen to plan how the government can provide a better environment for the domestic hiking community.
Chan wrote that Policy Coordinator Chang Ching-sen showed understanding of the relevant issues during the meeting, as he himself is a hiking enthusiast. Chan and other hikers raised the point: “Open up national parks for us to engage in outdoor sports, especially Yangmingshan National Park.” She cannot accept that while hot spring pipelines can be laid and hot spring hotels built in the Yangmingshan area, the public is not allowed to soak in wild hot springs; while mountains can be excavated for housing, but rock climbing is prohibited; while stream water can be diverted for fish farming, but river tracing is not allowed; and while countless roads can be built, off-road races are banned. This, she said, is a national park that protects property rather than nature.
Chang gave two responses: First, national parks should not use “danger” as a reason to prevent people’s activities, because that is not the role of national parks. Second, mountain autonomy regulations should be completely abolished, and what is needed is a unified system for registration and related matters.