1 May 2023
Me vs the volcano ver. 3.0a
Yangmingshan Qixing peak
If you suffer from chronic flatulence, then today's hike is for you.
It was my third time doing this hike, and the first time when the peak was not completely covered in fog. The fantastic aroma of volcanic sulphur accompanies you basically the whole way.
Getting here can be a challenge, today is a half national holiday, private sector workers get the day off to protest for worker rights, but schools and government departments do not get a holiday.
I dutifully got up early, and caught the subway to the bus stop, to get on the red 5 bus, I was early, but the line was long.
Much to my surprise, near the start of the hike, the bus made a detour up a one way street in the wrong direction and stopped at an enormous looking university on the side of the mountain, and nearly everyone except me and a few old folks got off the bus. Strange place to go to University, battling the hiking crowds on the bus every day must be annoying.
The hike was still quite busy, but not as busy as I was expecting. Ordinarily I would never go to a popular place on a holiday, but when I woke up and saw that not only was the sky almost pollution free, but also it was blowing a gale, sure to keep much of the pollution away, or bring fresh pollution in, I have no idea! I decided once I stepped outside and could see Yangmingshan clearly, that I would go up it today and battle the crowds.
Lots of pics, my shit camera struggles with high contrast scenes with a lot of highlights, oh well.
The line for the bus. As explained above, most of them were university students.
Today's path is very developed, steps like this, but also moss covered slippery rounded steps. Be careful! I managed to not slip over, I did on previous visits.
The visitor centre looked closed? I thought government offices had to work. Lets protest! I have been in there before and they had a video playing of what looked like a 20 metre long boa constrictor slithering through a tunnel, do they have those in Taiwan or is this another cobra situation where someone imported one and let it go in the park?
The Miaopu trailhead has a small auditorium, for a Taiwanese welcome to country.
Now for 3 photos of steps, no moss.
A bit of moss.
A lot of moss!
The way up via the Miaopu trail is nearly all in shade. I knew the way down was bright sun, so I was not cursing my decision to apply copious amounts of sunscreen. This is about the only spot for a view until you are about 90% of the way to the top.
After the view spot, the forest and moss changes to bamboo. So this is the first of 3 bamboo shots.
Bamboo 2.
Bamboo 3. As is often the case, old folks were deep in the bamboo trying to dig up bamboo shoots for their lunch.
That is the east peak, slightly lower than the peak I was almost at the top of. I have been up that one before, it is only a 5 minute detour, but it looked a bit crowded so I pushed on.
Wider view of the east peak, lots of people on it.
Annnd another view of the east peak, with a rocky foreground.
After about 700 metres elevation change and only a bit over an hour of hiking, here is the view of Taipei from Qixing peak, which literally means, 7 star peak. Personally I have seen better, probably 4 stars from me.
There are quite a few people up here as you shall see.
The view away from Taipei. I think that is Keelung down there, where I will be staying for 3 nights next week.
I am sweaty, but not as sweaty as a couple of days ago. It was very windy and cooler than my hike on Saturday.
That is a line to have your photo taken with the peak marker. Last time I was here old folks tried to make me eat little tomatoes to help with altitude sickness, at an altitude of 1,100 metres.
Some more view of Taipei.
I used my zoom. Down there is Tamsui where I was yesterday, I mentioned that smaller mountain across the river. My next stop is those people you can see at the lookout on the bottom right.
Random photo. This side is all bamboo, the forest is only on the city side.
A view of from where I had come. It is not as far as it perhaps looks.
A view with a zoom from the lookout I mentioned above.
Now to start the volcanic part of the journey down to the bus.
Getting very sulphury.
PUSH HER IN!
It is a steep path down. The bus stop is down there in that car park.
Tiny volcanic vent. I guess it could spew molten lava into my face at any time.
The tree free view is very nice.
And now here is the view from the bottom. Complete with a small dog.
Same view minus dog, and people.
Same view up close.
Same view with my big head.
And for the final pic, same view from the toilets. Note to people that read this only for toilet info: very high quality toilets.
Even though it is a short hike I have done at least twice before, it is well worth it for the scenery and volcanic sulphur experience. The shortness means maybe tomorrow will also be a hiking day? There are a lot more peaks in Yangmingshan national park I have not climbed.