We all arrived from separate destinations around 3PM at Wuling Farms 武陵農場, camping area D. James and Philip take a train from Taipei and rent a car in Luodong 羅東. The primative camp sites at Wuling Farms 武陵農場 provide raised wooden decks for tents, electric outlets, picnic tables, hot showers and bathrooms.
The weather looks good and we are on the trail at about 5:15 AM before dawn after a hearty breakfast.
At 3,325 metres (10,909 ft), Taoshan 桃山, just north of Wuling Farms 武陵農場 in the Snow Mountains range 雪山山脈 is ranked the 44th highest peak on the island.
Dabajian mountain 大霸尖山 in Shei-Pa National Park 雪霸國家公園. Dabajian mtn - "Papag-wa-a" is the ancestral homeland of the Atayal and featured on the back of the 500NT note. The park area was originally inhabited by the Atayal (泰雅) and Saisiat(賽夏), the Atayal settling into areas up to 2000 meters. Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) includes 51 peaks reaching over 3,000 meters. Mt. Syue, 1t 3,886 meters is Taiwan's second highest peak. The fractured south face inspired the Atayal to name the mountain Sekoan, meaning "broken cliffs" (岩壁的裂溝). Han Chinese settlers transliterated the sound to 雪翁山 and then simply 雪山.
We are too late to Taoshan 桃山 to attempt Kelaya 喀拉業山, as that round trip requires an additional 4 hours, which would have us back to our camp in Wuling Farms 武陵農場 after dark. Sunset is at 5 PM now.
Andy had left behind his pack on the way up, but missed it on the way down, so we carry it down for him.
At camp, a group of monkeys approaches our camp. As we engage them, we were not alert to notice that a second group has made off with our dinner rice from our cooking table as we were distracted.
