packing at Pristine
train station
dinner in
Lodong 羅東
1800m
0k and 1948m at 9:15
Starting at Siyuan pass 思源啞口, near Wuling Farms 武陵農場 off of highway 7 (台七), the first day is a mostly flat walk on unused Forest Road 710 (710林道) through Formosan temperate mountain forest climbing from an altitude of 1947m at Siyuan 思源, to a peak of 2792 at Tuochiatun 多加屯山 and then to Yunleng cabin 雲稜山莊 at 2602m. The 12km walk is split into three parts. We are off to a delayed start after packing up and getting breakfast at Wuling Farms 武陵農場. The first 6.7 km are flat along Forest Road 710 (710林道) to the trailhead 登山口 inside Taroko Park 太魯閣國家公園. The weather is drizzly and the level of the water in the stream Yusheng 有勝溪, a habitat of the endangered Formosan Landlocked Salmon, which the trail follows for the first kilomter is high, requiring negotiated crossings.
The sole of one of Russ's shoes has come off and he has decided to go back.
5k and 2248m at 9:15
6.7k and 2304m at 13:00
Russ loses the sole of one of his sneakers after a few kilometers, eventually prompting him to abandon the adventure. The sky opens up as we reach the trail head where we break for lunch. From hear the trail climbs sharply upward to the pine ridge 松風嶺.
Drizzle has let up and we start to see some blue sky for lunch at the main trail head.
6.7k + 1.75k and 2712m at 15:00
The day darkens early and rain has picked up again for the last hour approach to Yunleng Cabin 雲稜山莊. Philip and Eagle's lights fail.
6.7k + 5.45k and 2602m
