In response to World Hiking Day, Taipei joins the global movement for a clean hike

By Chi Bing-hui | Compiled and reported

 

Initiated by the International Sport for All Association Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA), the 2011 World Hiking Day will encourage people to engage with nature under the theme “Walk for Wellness,” while expanding the activity to include hiking and cleaning up trails. This year, the event is being held simultaneously in 130 countries around the world. Taipei City will also host a hiking and trail-cleaning event on the morning of September 25 in Neihu, lasting about three hours.

The Taipei City Department of Civil Engineering stated that the event will begin at 8:00 a.m. on September 25 at Exit 2 of Dahu Park Station on the Taipei Metro Wenhu Line. Participants will hike along the Dahu Park lakeside trail, pass by Lao Gong Temple, the Kang Le Shan hiking entrance, Kang Le Shan triangulation point, Kanghu Road, and the Public Television Service (Kangning Nursing School), as well as Minghu Elementary School — covering a total distance of approximately 5 kilometers. The route is suitable for the general public, families with children, and elderly hikers, with guides from local hiking clubs providing direction along the way. The Kang Le Shan trail is shaded by trees and cooled by breezes, making it a popular path for morning exercisers, and its highest point offers one of the best views of Dahu Park.

After the hike, a closing ceremony and lucky draw will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Minghu Elementary School (No. 105, Section 3, Kangning Road, Taipei City). The ceremony will feature traditional folk performances, auspicious lion dances, Yonghe drum music and mountain dances, dance performances by community colleges, as well as education on Leave No Trace (LNT) principles for mountain conservation. Prizes in the lucky draw include LCD TVs, digital cameras, and hiking gear — the public is welcome to join.