As winter approaches, snow may fall again at any time on the Yushan massif, and trails can become icy, slippery, and difficult to navigate. To ensure safety, the Yushan National Park Headquarters will not issue single-day trekking permits for the Yushan Main Peak route during the snow season. When snow accumulation at Paiyun Lodge reaches 5 cm or more, or when the snow line descends to the White Wood Forest, enhanced snow season safety measures will be implemented.
Lin Wen-he, deputy director of the Yushan National Park Headquarters, stated that in winter, low temperatures make trails prone to icing. On rocky or rugged terrain, once ice forms or snow covers the ground, the risk of falling off cliffs (leading to missing persons or casualties) becomes very high. Trekkers also face harsh weather conditions such as low temperatures, strong winds, dense fog, and even blizzards.
When climbing during the snow season, in addition to being physically fit and taking proper warmth measures, having adequate mountaineering gear, snow experience, and pre-trip snow training is even more crucial. Essential gear for snow season climbing includes ice axes, crampons, safety harnesses, helmets, and climbing ropes. Teams climbing in the snow season should choose leaders or instructors with extensive snow mountaineering experience, and team members should also have practical snow mountaineering experience or have participated in snow mountaineering technical training. If leaders or instructors notice any team member feeling unwell, they must take immediate responsibility to respond appropriately, and must not delay or ignore the member’s condition to avoid irreparable regret.
During the snow season, the Yushan National Park Headquarters will continuously update and announce the latest trail, weather, and snow conditions on its official website, and will not accept applications for single-day round trips on the Yushan Main Peak route. When snow accumulation at Paiyun Lodge reaches 5 cm or more, or when the snow line descends to the White Wood Forest, enhanced snow season safety measures will be implemented. The physical strength, technical ability, and equipment of all personnel must prioritize safety.
The Yushan National Park Headquarters reiterated that to implement the government’s “Open Mountains” policy, the previous February mountain closure has been canceled. Additionally, after certain amendments to the State Compensation Act, the state may not bear or may reduce liability for compensation, so the public must have the concept of managing risks independently.
(China Times)