Hehaunshan’s North Peak, Taroko National Park

Blissed out with our heads in the clouds at 3422 meters [11,227 feet]

We decided to check out Hehuan North Peak, located on the west side of Taroko Gorge National Park. It happens to be #34 on Taiwan’s 100 peaks. We hiked it from Mt. Hehuan’s Service Station so I’m not sure if that counts as summiting #34, but we did make it to the top! Our plan was to camp at the top for one night, but that got thwarted.

Shān (山) = Mountain
Huhuanshan = Huhan Mountain

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It’s a 2 k hike to the top from here, which doesn’t sound like much, but at this elevation it kicked our butts.


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Phenomenal views. NO humidity. NO mosquitos (which love Sarah).


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We almost didn’t make it to the top. Scott got altitude sickness about 1/2 way up, enough that we needed to reconsider camping. We rested a bit and dropped our fully loaded packs on the trail about 3/4 of the way up and carried on for the view. Decided to nix the camping this time.


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It was meant to be that we decided not to camp, because the weather turned windy and rainy on the way down.


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No big deal! We’ll camp in the “family truckster”, as Scott calls it.


IMG_1407-001Minivans are hip people! Especially if you pimp them out like this.


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All cozied up for the night.


The Alps of Taiwan

On the way home we check out this quirky place called Cingling Farms.

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“Cowboys” wrangle and shear sheep in front of a captive audience. It’s VERY popular.


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In addition to the real sheep, there are fake sheep… or are they real?


 

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