Weekend hiking has become a popular leisure activity, but two hikers who planned to climb the 530-meter low-altitude Qiezilai Mountain underestimated safety precautions and got lost before reaching the summit. They called 119 for help, and firefighters used mobile phone positioning to conduct a nighttime rescue, eventually guiding the lost hikers down the mountain safely.
Recently, two hikers from Kaohsiung took advantage of a holiday to climb Qiezilai Mountain, located in Pingtung’s Mudan Township. It took them about two hours from the trailhead to reach the summit area. However, the pair had done little advance planning and chose to climb the mountain lightly equipped, carrying only water and some snacks. Although the trail was marked with ribbons left by other hikers, the route is usually quiet, overgrown with weeds and fallen trees, making the climb more difficult. Additionally, the path was intertwined with hunting and animal trails, further reducing visibility.
Although there were markings along the way, they were simply made with thin nylon ropes and spaced far apart, making them ineffective in case of an actual emergency. In the afternoon, near the summit area of Qiezilai Mountain, the two became disoriented and couldn’t identify the correct path. Fortunately, their phones still had a weak signal, so they immediately dialed 119 for help.
The Mudan Fire Station received the report and used mobile phone positioning to determine the hikers’ location. They confirmed that the two were in good health with no injuries and were staying put to await rescue. As it grew dark, two experienced rescuers and a local police officer entered the mountain. Thankfully, they successfully located the pair around 8 p.m.
Firefighters emphasized that proper planning is essential before any hiking or trekking activity. “Many mountain accidents happen on low-altitude peaks,” they explained, as many people assume short hikes are risk-free and neglect preparation, ultimately wasting social resources.
(China Times)