The snow season restrictions in Shei-Pa National Park will end on the 31st. However, a strong continental cold front is expected to hit during the Qingming holiday in April. Currently, parts of the trail to the main peak of Snow Mountain are still covered with snow that has not melted, forming slippery ice surfaces. Hikers still need to use snow climbing gear to pass safely.
The Shei-Pa National Park Administration and the Fifth Battalion of the Pingtung Forest District Office urge hikers planning to enter this ecological protection area to carry sufficient snow climbing equipment, heed the on-site assessments and advice from mountain lodge staff and conservation volunteers, and carefully evaluate snow conditions as well as the snow climbing abilities of all team members to manage risks properly. Those with insufficient snow climbing experience are advised to assess the situation cautiously and avoid acting rashly to prevent accidents.
The Fifth Brigade of the Conservation Police Corps stated that due to the cold front that moved south over the weekend, the deepest snow accumulation in the Snow Mountain cirque reached 25 cm. Although the sun has been out recently, temperatures on the mountain remain low day and night, hovering between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. The surface layer of the snow melts during the day, but forms slippery ice, so it is essential to correctly use crampons, ice axes (or trekking poles) and other winter gear to pass safely.
Especially on the section of the main peak trail above 10.4 km, the snow is wetter and slipperier. This is in light of two incidents in January 2015 and February 2016, where two female Malaysian hikers accidentally slipped and fell off cliffs at the 10.7 km and 10.5 km marks respectively, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.
The Fifth Brigade of the Conservation Police Corps pointed out that the day before yesterday, a hiking group from Hong Kong was informed in advance by conservation volunteers about the snowy conditions on the cirque trail and was advised to carefully assess their team’s snow climbing capabilities and not to push for the summit. When the group reached the 10.4 km mark and found the trail icy and slippery, although they were just 500 meters away from the summit, the team leader made the decisive decision to turn back and safely led all members down the mountain.
The Shei-Pa National Park Administration and the brigade also jointly urge that during the four-day Qingming holiday, a total of 401 groups comprising 1,447 people have applied to enter the ecological protection area of Shei-Pa National Park. Hikers are urged to stay alert to weather changes, carry adequate winter gear, cooperate with on-site assessments and advice from conservation volunteers, and never overestimate their own hiking abilities to avoid accidents.
(China Times)