It’s time to let Beidawushan rest and recover in peace. The scenic Beidawushan is a favorite among hikers, but after enduring multiple natural disasters, its geology has long been weakened. Last year, the Pingtung Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau invested over NT$8 million to renovate the trail using “ecological engineering,” but just six months after completion, recent heavy rains have washed away parts of it again, leaving hikers lamenting that it’s “not practical.”
After Typhoon Morakot, the soil and rocks on Beidawushan became loose, and the access road in front of the trailhead in the Indigenous Reservation Area collapsed severely. Although enthusiastic hikers found alternative routes to detour, they had to walk an extra two hours to reach the trailhead. Last year, the Pingtung Forest District Office spent over NT$8 million to renovate the trail, adding handrails along many sections to help hikers maintain stability while walking along the slopes.
The Pingtung Forest District Office’s hiking trail renovation project was praised by hikers. Two months ago, Deputy Magistrate Chung Chia-pin went to scout the area in advance for the Dawushan Coming-of-Age Ceremony and found the local road conditions had been well improved. Last year, due to poor road conditions, participants of the Dawushan Coming-of-Age Ceremony were unable to hike to the summit. They felt this year’s participants would be fortunate.
Unexpectedly, when Chung Chia-pin led a group up the mountain on July 31, he saw that the newly repaired trail couldn’t withstand the heavy rain, with more than half of it washed away. They had no choice but to turn back at the trailhead, leaving Chung Chia-pin stunned.
The Pingtung Forest District Office explained that last year’s main trail renovation project was carried out right after Typhoon Morakot. However, recent consecutive heavy rains have caused a landslide starting 500 meters from the trailhead, resulting in a 50-meter collapse. Repairs will be carried out through a tender process once the weather stabilizes.
Chung Chia-pin believes that different mountains require different approaches. For instance, compared to Qiding Mountain, which is treated like a backyard, and the more challenging Beidawushan, there should be different maintenance strategies. Vehicles are the biggest culprits in damaging mountainous areas, so it’s best to restrict vehicle access. The standards for maintaining hiking trails also need to be reassessed.