Hiking Snow Mountain: Wuling Farm to Summit

Day 02: April 29, 2012

Travel by bus from Taipei Main Station to Wuling Farm. Trek from Snow Mountain trail head to "Cika Hut"

On the second day, we left the Hostel ten minutes after the hour of eight. The coaster and our two guides were waiting for us near the Main Station. Gideon and Agot stayed at the Hostel. There were ten of us including our two guides.

Team Photo at Holo Family Hostel

At nine, we traveled from Taipei to the jump-off point. We passed through scenic places - rice plantations, wide vegetable yards and tunnels.

Green Fields

Although we were only eight, I can feel much excitement from everyone. The energy was up and beating. I was so excited as well.

Inside the Coaster

At eleven, we had a rendezvous at a restaurant along the way - for last minute shopping of supplies and for a short break.

We were surprised to meet a Filipina working at the restaurant. She is from Iloilo. I enjoyed the food - very similar to Pinoy dishes.

We were at the Wuling Farm (jump-off point) past one in the afternoon. After registration, we had a short briefing about the climb and there was a short film showing about Snow Mountain.

Briefing at Wuling Farm

Jump-off Point

We started hiking at two o'clock in the afternoon. The trail is well established and it reminded me of the trails at Gunung Kinabalu. Our guides said that we will be spending the night at a camp called "Cika Hut".

Trekking to Cika Hut

Trail Class

We had so much fun walking along the trail. It was drizzling at that time so we had to wear our rain coats. I felt closer to nature. 

Walking along the trail of Snow Mountain felt like walking at the middle of a forest of Pine Trees. The sky was dark and we didn't see the sun shining.

Wooden Bridge

Rest Area

We reached the Cika Hut thirty minutes past the hour of three in the afternoon. At first, I thought we were alone but other hikers started to arrive before the night falls.

Cika Hut

We were served with a hot soup, which I forgot the name, but it was an energizer. We had fun telling our stories and sharing our hiking experiences with each other at the camp kitchen. Cika Hut is actually a Cabin. As it gets late, the wind gets colder.

Kitchen

Cabin

We had to leave early morning the following day for another camp and then summit assault so lights out at seven in the evening.

--o0o--

Day 03: April 30, 2012

Trek from "Cika Hut" to "369 Hut" to Snow Mountain Summit

On the third day, there was a downpour early in the morning. It was cold. We were up by five and prepared for hike. 

Wet Trail

Our guides said that we had to wait for a while for the rain to subside. It was so dark. This was the most challenging part of the climb.

Muddy Trail

Finally, we started our ascent to the next camp called "369 Hut" at six in the morning. It was getting brighter, drizzling and the trail gets more steep. Though gloomy, the scenery along the trail started to reveal itself as we ascended and indeed it is scenic. I loved the landscape.

Rain Clouds

Much that I would like to make more photos along the trail, I had to keep my camera inside my bag to keep it dry. I was struggling a little bit to take shots as I passed by another beautiful landscape along the wet trail.

Scenic View

We had a first sight of the 369 Hut from the trail at eight in the morning, two hours after we left Cika Hut, and few minutes after passing by the East Peak of Snow Mountain.

369 Hut

Rain clouds were everywhere. The sky was dark and feels like raining at anytime. We met several fellow hikers along the trail on their way back to Cika Hut.

We reached the 369 Hut thirty minutes after the hour of eight. We had to repack our things and dry our jackets outside. 

Drying Wet Jackets

The Hut was almost full of hikers at that time and we had to squeeze ourselves into any available space inside.

Our guides told us to leave our things and prepare for summit assault. It was almost nine in the morning. I thought that we should be staying at Hut for the day and do the summit assault the following day.

Trek to the Summit

Winding Trail

We started our summit assault ten minutes after the hour of nine. I was carrying few trail foods, a liter of water and my camera. 

Approaching the Black Forest

Again, the trail leading to the summit from 369 Hut is well established. From the 369 Hut, we took a winding steep trail going up. The trail is exposed.

Entrance to the Black Forest

At ten in the morning, we were at the entrance to the Black Forest. Until this time, I'm still puzzled why is the forest called Black Forest.

Inside the Black Forest

While trekking inside the Black Forest, I felt I was trekking inside "Fangorn Forest" in the movie "The Lord Of The Rings". 

Thick Density of Trees

The thick density of old pine trees of different species provided the ambiance of Fangorn. It is the most beautiful forest I have ever seen.

Resting on a Log

The sky cleared for a while so I had a chance to make photos. We had a quick break and a few minutes rest while sited on a big tree log.

At eleven in the morning, we reached the rocky portion of the trail. There is an area with "Cogon" grass and we decided to have a quick rest. 

The Rockies

We had so much fun taking pictures at the place with the "Cogon" grass and inside a big dried tree. At this point, two members of our team felt the symptoms of Altitude Sickness and they had to go back to 369 Hut with Coby.

Having Fun at the Resting Area

The Cogon Grass

After thirty minutes of rest, we resumed our trek. There were now only seven of us (five from our team with two guides).

Trail to Summit

At twelve in the afternoon, we were out of the Black Forest and an exposed trail revealed - leading to the summit.

View of the Mountain Outside the Black Forest

The trail is steep and we had to slow down our pace. There are loose rocks all over the trail and extra care had to be taken. We had to stop several times for a breather and to enjoy the scenery. 

Summit Trail

Because of the bad weather, our guides suggested to cancel our summit assault and get back to the 369 Hut, but since we were just an hour away to the summit, we all decided to continue the trek.

Summit at 3886 MASL

Thirty minutes past one in the afternoon, we were at the summit!

We had a short chance to see the surroundings and make photos as it started to rain. We were so happy and grateful to be at the summit of Snow Mountain. We stayed there for thirty minutes.

View of Neighboring Peaks

We started our descent to the 369 Hut two o'clock in the afternoon. We were all back at the 369 Hut four in the afternoon and enjoyed again the hot soup. It was colder at night at 369 Hut than at Cika Hut. Lights out at seven in the evening.

--o0o--

Day 04: May 1, 2012

Descent to Wuling Farm, then return to Taipei by bus. Free time in Taipei

On the fourth day, I woke up fifteen minutes after the hour of five. It was still cold and finally there was a sunshine. I had a chance to take a shot of the rising sun from 369 Hut.

Sunrise at 369 Hut

After having a quick breakfast, we started packing our things ready to leave.

Our Cabin

We started our descent to Cika Hut eight in the morning. The sky was clear and the sun was smiling upon us. 

369 Hut Group Photo

The trail was clean and turned to be even more scenic. There is an open field along the trail which we never recognized during our ascent. 

Helicopter Landing Area

Our guides said that it is a helicopter landing area. We had so much fun and enjoyed the trails so well. The entire trail from the 369 Hut down to the Wuling Farm revealed its full scenery under a clear blue sky.

East Peak of Snow Mountain

View of the 369 Hut

We were all back at the jump-off point forty minutes past the hour of eleven in the morning. The coaster was there waiting for us.

Back at Wuling Farm KM 0

Water Melon Break

We left Wuling Farm at one in the afternoon and headed back to Taipei. Along the way, we decided to take a look at the vegetable farm and take few souvenir shots. 

Vegetable Farm

Having Fun Along the Bridge

It was so funny. At seven in the evening, we were back at the Holo Hostel. Our flight to Manila was at the middle of the night so we decided to have a walk around nearby places in the city.

Taipei 101

Two of us decided to take a look at Taipei 101. Others went to the night market for last minute souvenir shopping.

Taipei City at Night

I loved the ambiance of Taipei City at night particularly looking at the tall Taipei 101. I left Taipei with a happy heart and looking forward to see this place once again in future.

谢谢你，台北！

Xièxiè nǐ, táiběi!

Thank you, Taipei!

--o0o--

Hiking Snow Mountain: Moving Around Taipei