xie xie Hsuehshan!
After Kilimanjaro, the plan was to train in other high altitude mountains just in time for the now foiled plan of climbing Elbrus in August. One of our training climbs is Mt. Syue/ Snow Mountain/ Hsuehshan, the second highest mountain in Taiwan, and was dubbed to be the most beautiful mountain there.
The climb was organized by Gid, but because of work-related conflicts, just accompanied us to Taipei and did his own dayhikes with Agot Isidro. Joining me were Dr. Carnate (a colleague in Pathology), Coby (owner of Trail Adventours), Tita (someone I met in Kalawitan), Sir Gles (someone I met in Arayat), Marcus, Eka (UPM) and Pam (AMCI).
I had been anxious for months with this climb because it would be my first time to climb with a full pack without a porter to help me. :) I just love the climbing part and the sights that come with it and not the gritty details carrying your own pack or sleeping in tents.
The first day from the jump-off point to Cika hut was supposed to be easy, but with my own pack and light rains, my spirit was slightly dampened. Carrying a full load is definitely hard and it took everything I am to encourage myself to just climb steadily.
We were rewarded by a sumptuous feast for dinner, and I had positive vibes from everyone in our group. I had a difficult time sleeping that night though with all the noise other hikers made. More than 30 climbers were cramped into that hut and I couldn't discern if I was able to sleep that night.
We had an early start the next day. And it was more miserable than yesterday's climb. From Cika to 369 hut, the rains wouldn't stop pouring. I was drenched so horribly and was cold from the fierce winds. My left arm became edematous from my pack and I don't know what force propelled me to reach our destination.
When we arrived at 369 hut at around 9am, the sun finally came out and the rains finally stopped. We were advised to go for the additional 4kms to the summit as we had to take advantage of the weather. So after putting on a dry shirt and heavier outer layers, replenishing calories and shaking my edematous arms, I proceeded to continue up to the summit.
The Black Forest
The views were so amazing. The first part of the summit assault was about 2 kms of grassland and after that we entered the very mystical Black Forest which looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings.
The trail was not technical and scary compared to two of my recent climbs (Kalawitan and Tarak), but since it was pure ascent combined with the cold and the high altitude, it was just as hard.
It took every positive thought and words of encouragement in my internal dialogue to propel myself to proceed to the summit. With two others quitting from experiencing some symptoms of mountain sickness, it can be disheartening to move on, especially when you don't feel good yourself.
But I was there and the summit was beckoning me to reach it. I continued my slow but steady pace which Bart, a Taiwanese friend of Gid, commended on as good.
a view of the Holy Ridge, the toughest trail in Taiwan
Finally, after 10 hours of hiking in the biting cold and hard rain, I reached the top of Mt. Syue. It was a hard climb for me but unlike reaching the crater of Kilimanjaro which drove me to cry, reaching the summit of Syue just gave me a pleasant feeling of knowing what I can do and what I am capable of.
The descent was just as tiring but after what I went through that day, it was just a silent denouement after an explosive climax.
The next day we were finally rewarded with good weather and the most amazing views I have ever seen. What I didn't see during the first and second days due to the rain, I finally saw with clear skies, and clearer eyes.
There are no limits to whatever we set our mind on doing. During the whole climb, as with my other climbs, the strength to move on is not driven by my physical capacity to do so. It's in my will. It's in my single, driving purpose in every climb. Not to conquer the summit of a mountain, but to surrender my spirit to reach greater heights.
--
Mt. Syue
3886 MASL
April 29 to May 1, 2012
The climb was organized by Gid, but because of work-related conflicts, just accompanied us to Taipei and did his own dayhikes with Agot Isidro. Joining me were Dr. Carnate (a colleague in Pathology), Coby (owner of Trail Adventours), Tita (someone I met in Kalawitan), Sir Gles (someone I met in Arayat), Marcus, Eka (UPM) and Pam (AMCI).
I had been anxious for months with this climb because it would be my first time to climb with a full pack without a porter to help me. :) I just love the climbing part and the sights that come with it and not the gritty details carrying your own pack or sleeping in tents.
The first day from the jump-off point to Cika hut was supposed to be easy, but with my own pack and light rains, my spirit was slightly dampened. Carrying a full load is definitely hard and it took everything I am to encourage myself to just climb steadily.
We were rewarded by a sumptuous feast for dinner, and I had positive vibes from everyone in our group. I had a difficult time sleeping that night though with all the noise other hikers made. More than 30 climbers were cramped into that hut and I couldn't discern if I was able to sleep that night.
We had an early start the next day. And it was more miserable than yesterday's climb. From Cika to 369 hut, the rains wouldn't stop pouring. I was drenched so horribly and was cold from the fierce winds. My left arm became edematous from my pack and I don't know what force propelled me to reach our destination.
When we arrived at 369 hut at around 9am, the sun finally came out and the rains finally stopped. We were advised to go for the additional 4kms to the summit as we had to take advantage of the weather. So after putting on a dry shirt and heavier outer layers, replenishing calories and shaking my edematous arms, I proceeded to continue up to the summit.
The Black Forest
The views were so amazing. The first part of the summit assault was about 2 kms of grassland and after that we entered the very mystical Black Forest which looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings.
The trail was not technical and scary compared to two of my recent climbs (Kalawitan and Tarak), but since it was pure ascent combined with the cold and the high altitude, it was just as hard.
It took every positive thought and words of encouragement in my internal dialogue to propel myself to proceed to the summit. With two others quitting from experiencing some symptoms of mountain sickness, it can be disheartening to move on, especially when you don't feel good yourself.
But I was there and the summit was beckoning me to reach it. I continued my slow but steady pace which Bart, a Taiwanese friend of Gid, commended on as good.
a view of the Holy Ridge, the toughest trail in Taiwan
Finally, after 10 hours of hiking in the biting cold and hard rain, I reached the top of Mt. Syue. It was a hard climb for me but unlike reaching the crater of Kilimanjaro which drove me to cry, reaching the summit of Syue just gave me a pleasant feeling of knowing what I can do and what I am capable of.
The descent was just as tiring but after what I went through that day, it was just a silent denouement after an explosive climax.
The next day we were finally rewarded with good weather and the most amazing views I have ever seen. What I didn't see during the first and second days due to the rain, I finally saw with clear skies, and clearer eyes.
There are no limits to whatever we set our mind on doing. During the whole climb, as with my other climbs, the strength to move on is not driven by my physical capacity to do so. It's in my will. It's in my single, driving purpose in every climb. Not to conquer the summit of a mountain, but to surrender my spirit to reach greater heights.
--
Mt. Syue
3886 MASL
April 29 to May 1, 2012