A pair of elementary school brothers in Taichung City—Chen Xuantong and Chen Xinxing—went hiking with their parents on Hehuan East Peak five years ago and have been hooked on mountaineering ever since. They regularly ask their parents to take them hiking, always choosing mountains over 3,000 meters high. To date, they’ve completed 26 of Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks, earning the title of the youngest peak-conquering duo, even impressing seasoned hikers.
Five years ago, first-grader Chen Xuantong from Weige Elementary School and his kindergarten senior brother, Chen Xinxing, climbed Hehuan East Peak with their parents. After about four hours, they reached the summit. Xuantong was captivated by the vast mountain scenery and fell in love with hiking. His sporty brother Xinxing tagged along with him, and the two became the best of partners.
Their father is a busy doctor, so the brothers usually hike with their mother, Chen Shurong, who laughs and says, “I’m dragging my old bones up the mountains with them.” Chen Shurong says the boys don’t play online games or watch TV in their spare time. Instead of studying, they either read or go hiking. They set their own goals, research online, and then decide which mountain to climb next—all while focusing on peaks over 3,000 meters.
Xuantong says that two years ago, when they attempted Xiangyang Mountain at an altitude of 3,360 meters, they encountered a severe storm near Jiaming Lake. He suffered from hypothermia and had to give up reaching the summit, descending the mountain overnight. The brothers were so frustrated that they cried all the way home, vowing to return.
Xinxing says that this winter vacation, it took them five days to climb Nanhu Mountain. They encountered snow for the first time in their lives and wore ice crampons for the first time. With seemingly bottomless abysses beneath their feet, they were almost completely exhausted when they returned to the mountain hut. Though tired, they found the experience thrilling.
Chen Shurong says that sometimes, watching them carry heavy gear and trudge forward with their little feet turned white, she feels heartbroken. But then she thinks that when these kids face setbacks in life, they’ll surely overcome them one by one. Her voice is filled with anticipation and pride.