The Jiaminghu Footpath in Yushan National Park is to be closed for three months, from Jan. 5 to March 31 next year, setting a precedent that is to be repeated every year to allow the natural ecology and wildlife in the area to recover from the impact of tourists visiting the area, the Taitung Forest District Office said.
Jiaming Lake (嘉明湖) — located at an altitude of 3,310m on the southern section of the Central Mountains in Taitung County — has been dubbed “Angel’s Tears” by tourists.
It is a popular spot for hikers and mountain climbers, with 2013 and last year both seeing more than 20,000 visitors.
Photo provided by a hiker
The visitors have worn some paths flat, while the off-roading of other visitors has also made the terrain fragile, climbers said, adding that the shore of Jiaming Lake has been worn bare from the trampling feet of visitors wanting to take photographs.
Food left in mountain cabins is also drawing Formosan black bears to visit the buildings, climbers said, adding that bears were discovered in the cabins last month.
According to office director Liu Chung-lien (劉瓊蓮), the footpath is within the Guanshan habitat for wild creatures, including Formosan black bears, and their needs should be considered as well.
Closing the mountain for three months during the winter season takes into consideration that winter is not suited for mountain hiking and gives the office time to make necessary repairs and maintenance on the hiking trails, Liu said.
Liu said the office had conducted a trial close-down of the area from December last year to March. In addition, the office enacted measures in April limiting visitors to the Jiaminghu region by only allowing visitors who registered for cabins into the mountain areas.
The number of visitors applying to visit the region from April to early September has since dropped to 6,055, the office said.
During the time that the Guanshan Area is closed, passage on the Jiaminghu Footpath to the Yushan National Park’s ecological conservation area will require passes issued by the Yushan Park Administration Office and verification by the Taitung Forest District Office, Liu said.
However, these visitors cannot make camp or stay in the cabins along the path during this time, Liu said.
The footpath is to be patrolled by a police while it is closed and hikers are to receive advanced warning after they reach the Siangyang Control station on the footpath, Liu said.
The office has no measures in place to enforce the rules and can only ask hikers and climbers to abide by the rules on the understanding that giving nature some rest would benefit everyone in the long run, Liu said.
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