Taiwan’s high mountain scenery is stunning, and once you’ve climbed once, you’ll be hooked—but to stay safe, you need to learn these 7 things before heading up.
1. Properly acclimatize to altitude
At altitudes above 2,500 meters, the thin air and lower atmospheric pressure reduce the amount of oxygen available to the body, causing discomfort—this is altitude sickness.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is the most common condition encountered when climbing high mountains, occurring in up to 36% of people. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and weakness, and difficulty sleeping. Additionally, 0.5–1% of people may develop high-altitude cerebral edema (characterized by unsteady walking, altered consciousness, or changes in mental state) or high-altitude pulmonary edema (with symptoms such as pale lips and nose, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing up blood, and increased heart and breathing rates), both of which can be fatal.
To prevent altitude sickness, there are only two methods: taking preventive medication or carefully planning your climbing itinerary to ensure proper acclimatization.
“Rapid ascent, high destination altitudes (especially sleeping altitudes at night), and a history of altitude sickness all increase the risk of developing it,” says Dr. Wang Shih-hao, an emergency medicine specialist who has climbed 70 of Taiwan’s “hundred peaks” and is currently a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s High Altitude Research Center. For those who have previously experienced high-altitude pulmonary edema, the chance of recurrence is as high as 60% if they don’t take preventive medication like Nifedipine OROS or Acetazolamide before the climb. Catching a cold or upper respiratory infection before the climb also increases the risk of high-altitude pulmonary edema.
If you prefer not to take medication and have more time for the climb, you can slow your ascent, spend nights at mid-altitude areas first—for example, staying overnight in Tatachia before climbing Yushan, lodging at Wuling Farm or Qika Lodge when climbing Xueshan, or staying at Qingjing Farm or Songxue Lodge before tackling Qilai or Hehuanshan. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and allow your body to gradually adapt to the altitude.
He Zhong-da, chairman of the Chinese Taipei Mountain Association, says that it’s best to limit daily elevation gain to 600–800 meters while climbing. With proper acclimatization, the risk of altitude sickness can be significantly reduced.
2. Carry a raincoat and warm clothing
Many people know that severe altitude sickness can be fatal, but they overlook the dangers of “hypothermia.”
“Wearing the wrong clothes on the mountain is dangerous,” says mountain guide Nick. When climbing, wear moisture-wicking, breathable technical clothing. If your base layer is cotton and your outer layer is just a regular windproof jacket, moisture won’t escape, and you’ll get soaked from sweat, making hypothermia likely. He reminds climbers that wet clothes must be changed for dry ones as soon as possible—continuing to wear damp clothing will only make you colder.
How dangerous is hypothermia? According to the “Swiss Hypothermia Scale,” when body temperature drops to 35°C, severe shivering occurs, but consciousness remains clear. Once it falls to 32°C, confusion sets in, shivering stops, and death becomes imminent.
To avoid hypothermia, even for a lightweight summit push, your backpack should include the following: a windproof and waterproof jacket, backup warm clothing (wrapped in double plastic bags to keep it dry), a headlamp or flashlight, food, and water. Some may find carrying a raincoat and extra clothes too heavy, but these are essential tools for preventing hypothermia. “You might not need them on nine out of ten climbs, but the one time you do, they could save your life,” says Dr. Wang Shih-hao.
3. Chronic disease patients should consult a doctor and adjust medications before climbing
With a doctor’s approval and proper preparation, chronic disease patients can still climb. For example, those with mild hypertension that has been well-controlled in recent months or stable, mild heart failure patients can climb (though there’s still a risk of sudden severe arrhythmia). Moderate to severe or unstable cases should avoid it.
Dr. Wang Shih-hao once encountered a climber at Yushan’s Paiyun Lodge who had six cardiac stents implanted. “The risk is extremely high—it’s like gambling!” he says. Hypoxia, cold, and physical exertion increase the likelihood of angina. People who regularly use nitroglycerin at sea level are advised not to climb high mountains, as the thin air increases the heart’s workload, worsening angina and cardiac hypoxia, and even leading to sudden death.
The reason chronic disease patients need to consult a doctor before climbing is that medication dosages may need adjustment. Dr. Wang once accompanied an 84-year-old COPD patient climbing Yushan, who frequently used bronchodilators and had their steroid dosage doubled during the climb.
He reminds climbers that chronic disease patients must carry their medications when climbing. Getting medical help on the mountain is very difficult, so if you feel unwell, address the symptoms early with medication while they’re still mild to prevent escalation.
4. Take small steps and walk slowly; don’t drink too much water while moving
Cramps aren’t always due to lack of warm-up—taking overly large steps or drinking too much water can also cause them. “Taking small, steady steps is more important than taking big, fast strides,” says He Zhong-da. Inexperienced climbers often rely on their initial energy reserves, taking large steps and moving quickly uphill, which leads to fatigue and cramps. He usually walks slowly but can keep going for over 10 hours.
During the hike, take advantage of short breaks to eat energy snacks and replenish calories. Waiting until you’re hungry means your energy won’t recover in time. But be mindful of water intake—don’t drink too much while moving, as excessive sweating followed by heavy hydration can disrupt electrolyte balance and lead to cramps.
“Drinking plenty of water helps prevent altitude sickness, but overhydrating while moving can cause cramps. So time your water intake wisely,” says Dr. Wang Shih-hao. On a typical climb, you’ll need about 2–3 liters of water per day. Before setting off in the morning, drink 700–800cc, then drink less while moving. Wait until longer breaks or reaching camp to gradually drink the rest.
5. Practice squats, jogging, and hiking suburban hills to build stamina before climbing
Start building stamina one to two months before a high-altitude climb. Nick recommends focusing on muscle groups used in climbing, especially the thighs and calves. Practice squats to strengthen your thigh muscles, which helps protect your knees on descents. Also, train your lung capacity with jogging—at least enough to comfortably run 3 kilometers.
If you have knee issues, wearing knee braces and using two trekking poles can reduce knee strain and help prevent cramps.
Even if you’re already a runner or otherwise active, you might not have an advantage when climbing high mountains, as mountain climbing requires greater muscular endurance than running on flat ground. So besides squats and jogging, stair climbing (taking the elevator down) and hiking suburban hills are also great ways to build endurance.
“Build up your stamina gradually, and you won’t feel as tired or breathless while climbing. You’ll also have the energy to enjoy the scenery along the way,” says He Zhong-da. Good physical preparation lets you fully enjoy the beauty of the mountains and leaves you eager to climb the next peak.
6. Climb with teammates, don’t go solo
"Climbing alone significantly increases the risk of accidents," Nick pointed out, noting that 70–80% of mountaineering incidents occur during solo climbs. Therefore, it’s important to climb with companions.
During mountain hikes, if the group spreads out too much, people can easily get lost—especially on the descent when weather conditions are poor or visibility is low due to thick fog, making it easy to stray onto wrong paths. He Zhongda said that last year, several marathon runners went hiking in the Snow Mountain area, and one of them took a wrong turn while descending from the main peak alone, heading toward Zhijaiyang Mountain. He was eventually rescued using the GPS on his watch.
7. Use airplane mode to save phone battery, but dial 112 if there’s no signal when calling for help
Phone reception in high mountains is not as good as at lower altitudes, and sometimes fog can also cause unstable signals. In case of emergencies where your phone has no signal, you can try calling the emergency number 112. However, the safest option is to carry your own radio (check the communication channels used by the checkpoint at the mountain entrance and local police stations in advance) and a satellite phone.
He Zhongda mentioned that if the signal comes and goes intermittently, sending a text message is better than making a call, because once the phone catches a signal, it can send the message right away.
Temperatures are low in high mountains, and batteries drain quickly. In such cases, switching your phone to airplane mode or turning it off can help preserve power for longer. According to Nick’s experience, a phone in airplane mode can last up to three days, whereas in normal mode, the battery dies within a day. He also recommends checking with national parks beforehand to find out where there are signal spots, and only turning your phone on when you reach those areas.
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High Mountain Grading Table
Mountains below 3,000 meters in elevation are classified as mid-level mountains, while those above 3,000 meters are considered high-altitude "Hundred Peaks" mountains.
The Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters is currently working on dividing high mountains into six grades.
The goal is to encourage the public to assess their physical fitness and mountaineering experience before heading up the mountains.
Regular Season
Grade A: 2–3 days. No climbing techniques required, with clear trails. Examples include popular routes like Yushan, Snow Mountain, and Jiayi Lake.
Grade B: 4–5 days, one or two days longer than Grade A mountains. Trails are less defined. Examples include Nanhu Mountain and Qilai Mountain.
Grade C: Trekking routes over 5 days. Examples include the Dajian and Xiaojian Mountains.
Grade C+: Trekking routes that require climbing and rappelling techniques. Examples include the Snow Mountain Sacred Ridge Line and Central Peak.
Winter Season
Grade D: Conditionally open routes.
Grade E: Temporarily closed routes.
Source: Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters, mountain guide Nick
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