Great article and great writing. Very inspirational and touching.
I wonder if this is connected with the current Sports Illustrated bikini magazine issue out on the shelves now. Saw it a couple days ago on shelf at Library.
Such a beautiful way of telling her tragic story.
Like like that was shot down
Great write up
RIP to an adventurer but it is correct that some basic mountaineering advice should be followed one being not hiking alone in high mountains where exactly this kind of thing can happen
Rescue often comes too late
Thatās a very touching and intimate re-telling of this story. Great to see this, it kind of seems to make this ānews pieceā a lot more personal. Not sure what she would have thought about it, but I guess she would approve of people getting a better chance to understand her motivation and her plight at the end.
RIP.
So this is kinda my shtick (not the bikini part). And Iāve had some close calls. To date my good luck had gotten me far, except for the cracked tailbone Iām currently suffering (or maybe itās just bruised, but it hurts like a muther). I like the peace of being alone and not accommodating anyone elseās skill or needs/ wants (Iām slow) . BUT it may be time I not be so damn foolish. My judgement is questionable.
So the thought of doing it differently really breaks my heart. I looked at some FB groups and really the last thing I want is to socialize while hiking, or hear someone say, āyou canāt sleep there.ā but it would be nice to have someone around in case I needed help.
And you canāt skinny dip in a group. Seriously. I donāt know how people do it. Iām so torn. Iām not looking for advice, Iām just ranting publicly.
As I write this my best friend is waiting for a rescue crew to bring him down from a mountain in the Fuxing area.
Heās hiked many many places, sometimes alone, but today he got lost while descending and couldnāt find the trail again. Thankfully he used his head and hiked back to the top, hoping to get a signal for his phone. It was the right move and he was able to contact Taoyuan and Yilan rescue (heās right on the border), and give him his exact coordinates, where heās waiting for them. Their message: The Taoyuan City Fire Department has passed on the climbing port at 16:57. It is expected to be 4-5 hours to come into contact you. Please wait patiently for firefighters to rescue!
We talked a bit but I didnāt want to waste his phone battery. I can be only imagine how heās feeling, especially now that itās dark.
So shit can happen to anyone, and from now on Iām taking a partner unless itās a simple hike (eg. Elephant Mountain stairs).
EDIT: This post was for @Bree because I totally know how you feel when hiking alone. I myself have done it, and in fact I almost got into trouble just yesterday while hiking alone on Lanyu. But I turned around after two demanding hours just 230 meters from my goal because I feared getting lost. I love hiking alone but Iām gradually changing my ways
Hope heās in good spirits and the rescue goes smoothly. Yeah, better not hike alone, even if you love the solitude.
He said a Line group was formed with rescuers and other hikers who were talking with him to keep his spirits up. I donāt know how long his phone battery has lasted, but he said that group was keeping him from panicking.
Holy crap. Thereās nothing that doesnāt suck about that situation.
Also better bring a power pack for your phone and a jacket and a flash/head light and a lighter, food, waterā¦ well you canāt plan for everything. Plan wisely.
He told me he was low on water but had food and warm clothes, thankfully.
Lifestraws are fantastic. They carry the whole line at metro Oasis.
The heaviest thing I carry is my battery backup and solar charger. I always download an offline topo map of the area too. Iāve been totally lost plenty of times, but if I can string up my jungle hammock, sleep off the stress and start fresh the next day with gps, I usually get out of the woods. What I need is a machete.
I have panicked a few times, some of them in not super remote areas, just in trails that are difficult to follow. I have aborted a few lone hikes because of combinations of several of these factors: slow pace terrain, tricky terrain, maybe just enough time for making it and coming back if everything goes alright but not enough if thereās a problem, too solitary trail without absolutely anybody around, hard to impossible to follow trail. I donāt regret having aborted any of these āexpeditionsā. Itās just too easy to fuck up and not even the GPS in your phone is going to help you when the vegetation and mountains around block the signals.
Where was your friend hiking?
And I do enjoy my solo hikes. I donāt need to wait for slower people (basically any of the people who I know) nor hear their complaints (they do complain haha). But I also enjoy group hikes. I guess I need to find the right people to do it together.
Near where Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Yilan counties meet, åē©å±± area.
Thanks. Iām guessing it was a trail to the top of that mountain?
I think so but I donāt know the details. I know he was looking for geocaches in that area.
UPDATE: I got a message that they finally reached him at 12:40AM. 8 people are accompanying him down. Iām so relieved!
Survival blankets are NTD75. You should always carry one. Not just for yourself but in case you come upon someone who canāt move and has to overnight it.