After the wet and cold weather during the 228 holiday, another strong continental cold air mass has arrived, turning many areas within Shei-Pa National Park into a silver world. The Snow Mountain cirque now has 10 cm of snow accumulation. The Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps 7th Command urges hikers to pay extra attention to safety when climbing in the coming days.
The Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps 7th Command stated today that during the four-day 228 holiday period, affected by the wet and cold weather, the main peak of Snow Mountain—the second highest peak in Taiwan at 3,886 meters—was covered with a layer of pristine white snow. In addition, areas above the Sanchiuhu Lodge in the main peak region experienced snowfall, and Pintian Mountain, one of the Four Beauties of Wuling, also saw snow above the Xinda Mountain Hut. The Snow Mountain cirque accumulated approximately 10 cm of snow.
The Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps 7th Command pointed out that with the arrival of a new wave of strong continental cold air, the surface layer of the snow is prone to melting and refreezing, making trails unusually slippery and increasing the risks of hiking.
The Fifth Brigade said that currently, daytime temperatures in the mountainous areas are around 3°C, while nighttime temperatures can plunge to as low as -5°C. Due to the relatively dry cold, there is no further snowfall. However, areas such as the Snow Mountain Black Forest water source area, which do not receive direct sunlight during the day, and certain trails are prone to icing. Hikers are urged to use crampons and ice axes properly, and more importantly, to assess their own mountaineering abilities. They should avoid taking risks by traversing dangerous areas to prevent accidents.
According to the regulations on entry permit applications for the ecological protection zone of Shei-Pa National Park during the snow season, the snow season control period will last until the end of March 2017, with the Shueli Ridge route suspended during the snow season. The Shei-Pa National Park Administration reminds hikers planning to visit the park in the coming days to apply according to the relevant regulations and prepare proper snow climbing gear. Officers from the park administration and the Fifth Brigade of the Traffic Police Corps 7th Command will continue to conduct snow season gear inspections at the Snow Mountain trailheads. 1060302
(CNA)