| I Started at the Tataka Saddle around 8am. I arrived at Paiyun Hut around 11am. At the hut, the police and mountain officials verify the permits carefully. The police tried to dissuade me from climbing due to extremely dangerous conditions. I was told that there was over a foot of ice. I did have to sign a paper and even notarize it with a fingerprint before they would finally allow me to continue the climb. Apparently a local climber died on March 7 or March 8.
Above the hut, there was light snow cover. The trees and shrubs were coated with ice but it was quickly melting due to the comfortable temperatures. The visibility was very bad but the route was obviously marked, mainly with chains that made a wonderful hand railing. The small signs which ticked off the distance every 0.5 kilometer, starting at the road, continued all the way to the summit. I returned to the hut 2 hours after heading off, then hurriedly made it back down to the road. My partner and I were back in Taipei for dinner. |
