Mountaineers could be fined or banned from entering national parks for up to three years if they enter parks without permission or cause mountaineering accidents due to inadequate snow and climbing equipment, the National Park Service said yesterday.
The agency issued the warning after mountaineering incidents on Hsuehshan (雪山) and Yushan (玉山) this month.
Two people were found dead and buried in snow on Saturday after falling off a 380m slope during an expedition to Yushan.
Photo courtesy of Central Weather Administration’s Yushan Weather Station
The two mountaineers were aiming to reach Yushan’s main, east and north peaks, Nantou County Fire Department said yesterday.
They slipped off a steep slope between the main and north peaks after stepping on a trail covered with thick ice, it said, adding that rescuers found broken trekking poles, hats and traces of blood near the bodies.
Another mountaineer, surnamed Peng (彭), who went on a different route to the peaks, contacted the emergency service at 11am on Saturday after having difficulties reaching them.
Due to the steepness of the slope and strong winds, a helicopter was not dispatched until yesterday morning, the department said.
The helicopter successfully transported the bodies to the parking lot of Tataka (塔塔加) Visitor Center, where they were handed to the police and family members at about 12:30pm yesterday.
Rescuers also encountered significant difficulties trying to retrieve the bodies, Yushan National Service headquarters said.
An iron shed along the route was coated in thick ice, and rescuers had to navigate ice-covered trails with caution, it said, adding that the steep slope leading to the bodies was also covered with hard ice, requiring rescuers to slide down a cable to reach the site safely.
The snow season in national parks began on Jan. 2 and finishes on Monday next week, the National Park Service said.
During the snow season, mountaineers are required to obtain permission to enter national parks and carry proper snow and climbing equipment in accordance with regulations, the agency said.
Those who fail to obtain permission in advance or cause mountaineering incidents might face fines or bans from entering national parks for up to three years as per the National Park Act (國家公園法), the agency said.
A recent spike in mountaineering incidents in Hsuehshan and Yushan was mainly caused by waves of strong cold air mass, leading to a significant temperature decline, the agency said.
“Snow in the mountains is only beginning to melt, and ice on the trails makes hiking extremely dangerous, even with crampons and ice axes. People should not be fooled by the sunny weather at the foot of the mountain and think that it would be an easy climb,” the agency said.
“Mountaineers who have not yet set out on their expeditions are advised to change the date of their trips, while those who are already on the journey should make sure to properly use helmets, crampons and ice axes to prevent falls,” the agency added.
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