Okay, this isn’t 100% confirmed yet but our Taiwanese friend has said he will lead us on this hike on Sunday. I will post times and meeting places tomorrow.
The trail begins in Wulai town and after some up and down follows a flat mountain road for 10km I think. We did part of this trail with omni a few months back but started in Wawagu. This time we will end in Wawagu. Or maybe not. Omni is there any transportation from wawagu back to Wulai. If not then we must walk that part too.
This is going to be a long one either way I think. Omni can you estimate for us? It doesn’t look to be terribly challenging though as most of the route is flat dirt road. Highlights will be fresh air, some good views, a pleasant dirt road through a lovely forest and three gorgeous waterfalls.
Anyway, it’s a good walk to burn off all those holiday calories.
Okay great. I got this message from our Taiwanese friend:
[quote]I hike this trail several times with my hiking club. We hike in a relaxed pace, cooking and enjoying lunch at noon near a running water, about pm3:00 we arrived WaWaGu Waterfall. Taking photo and boiling water for coffee. Then hike back to Wulai by a small sealed road and end at about PM 6:00.
Anyway it’s winter now and it get dark early. If you prefer getting up earlier than walking in dark back to Wulai. We may start the hike earlier. Meeting at AM8:00 or 7:30 at MRT is also OK. for me.[/quote]
It’s best to plan it as a circular trip including the walk back to Wulai township – as our friendly local guide has described it.
However, for anyone feeling footsore or fagged out, there’s a fairly good chance of being able to hail a taxi along the last bit of the homeward stretch (to save a couple or few kilometres of wear on the feet).
There is a bus service between Wulai and Hsinhsien (the village nearest to Wawagu), but the bus only runs about three times a day (early morning, midday and late afternoon, I think), so there’s little chance of that being much use.
It’s a lengthy, pleasant and invigorating but not at all challenging hike, in my opinion. When I’ve done it from a different starting-point, I’ve estimated it at somewhere between 22 and 24 km. Including a good swim at Wawagu, it’s taken me about 5 or 6 six hours to do it at a fairly brisk pace. However, it should be only 20 km or even less from this Sunday’s starting-point, and just 14 or 15 if a taxi comes by at the right moment.
[quote=“Muzha Man”]Okay great. I got this message from our Taiwanese friend:
I’m a little bit worried by the sound of that “relaxed pace” – it wouldn’t be so great to do it at too much of a dawdle. Taking so long to get to the waterfalls seems really, really excessive to me. But if we find ourselves ambling along at too painfully slow a pace, I can lead a forward pack of the livelier hikers to stride on ahead to the waterfalls and while away the time there waiting for the others to arrive.
I agree that would be the best time to set off – it should be just early enough to avoid the worst of the Sunday crush on the bus.
I’ll be there, and may or may not be accompanied by the other half.
I’m in 100% but suggest we don’t hook up with a locally paced trip. I used to cycle with a group and we took 2 hours to do what I do in 1 hour 15 minutes now.
Pace was similar. We just stopped all the time to talk. 45 minutes of talking and 75 minutes of moving. I’d rather hike with short breaks and go to the hotel to talk over a few beers and a long satisfied break at the end.
We also did this insane system of racing up hills at a fast pace and dawdling on the flats. I hope Taiwanese hikes don’t follow the same format.
We need our Taiwanese friend to show us his shortcut onto the logging trail, because it seems from his description that there’s quite a maze of paths there and it would probably be quite hard for us to find the right way without guidance. However, once we’re up there, as I know all the rest like the back of my hand, I can take the lead and push the pace to make sure that we don’t lag too much. Or, if there are others who want to take it easy, we can split into two groups and meet up again at the waterfalls.
Those waterfalls are certainly a lovely place to linger while waiting for the second group’s arrival – though there are always hordes of people there on a Sunday.
[quote=“Omniloquacious”]We need our Taiwanese friend to show us his shortcut onto the logging trail, because it seems from his description that there’s quite a maze of paths there and it would probably be quite hard for us to find the right way without guidance. However, once we’re up there, as I know all the rest like the back of my hand, I can take the lead and push the pace to make sure that we don’t lag too much. Or, if there are others who want to take it easy, we can split into two groups and meet up again at the waterfalls.
Those waterfalls are certainly a lovely place to linger while waiting for the second group’s arrival – though there are always hordes of people there on a Sunday.[/quote]
I know a few people who would participate in a hike over say half the distance. I can’t bring my SO for instance on this hike as she is not trained enough. Is there anyway we could offer a split off point or is that getting complicated?
One way to shorten it would be to drive to Wulai and then take two cars to Wawagu. One car would remain while the other would drive back (with the driver of the first car) to Wulai.
As for the pace, our Taiwanese friend will be leading us alone. His other group members are going to Yingge on Sunday. Omni and I walked with him the other week and his pace is fine. I think his description was meant to show that the hike is long but enjoyable.
Anyway, omni’s suggestion to lead an advanced guard is fine, as once we get on the logging road he knows the way.
[quote=“Muzha Man”]One way to shorten it would be to drive to Wulai and then take two cars to Wawagu. One car would remain while the other would drive back (with the driver of the first car) to Wulai.
As for the pace, our Taiwanese friend will be leading us alone. His other group members are going to Yingge on Sunday. Omni and I walked with him the other week and his pace is fine. I think his description was meant to show that the hike is long but enjoyable.
Anyway, omni’s suggestion to lead an advanced guard is fine, as once we get on the logging road he knows the way.[/quote]
All sounds good.
My SO hiker is still thinking about coming along and splitting off to go to a hot spa while waiting out the remainder of the time.
Is this near rinshen (not sure of spelling) hotel at the top of the hill?.
Those able to manage only half a hike could leave the logging trail after a couple of kilometers to go down to the amusement park and take the cable-car back to the Wulai tourist area. But then they’d miss out on Wawagu, which is the best part of the whole excursion.
I toyed with that idea, but it would make things a lot more complicated and, in my opinion, would hardly be worth it. I’d say sticking to the bus and the current arrangements would be a lot better.
Of course, anyone bold enough to try would probably be able to bum a ride back to Wulai township from other visitors. The car park at the entrance to the Wawagu/Neidong Forest Recreation Area will be full of cars, and some of their owners are sure to be amenable to taking extra passengers if so requested (though I would never dream of asking any stranger for such a favour).
That’s right, I don’t think it’ll be a problem to usher him along at a reasonable pace if that’s how we or most of us want to do it.
Is the way down to the amusement park obvious? We don’t want any newbies getting lost. If the distance is short we could walk down with them to ensure their safety.
I was thinking much the same thing – that one of the faster walkers (alright, yes, I volunteer) could take them down there and then dash back to catch up with the others. Or we could all go down there together to catch an extra bit of amusement.
Actually, I don’t know the way down to the amusement park, but I guess our Taiwanese friend probably does, and if not, I assume it’s easy to find now that we know it’s there. And didn’t you mention before that it’s described in one of those hiking books?
I was thinking much the same thing – that [color=red]one of the faster walkers [/color](alright, yes, I volunteer) could take them down there and then dash back to catch up with the others. Or we could all go down there together to catch an extra bit of amusement.
Actually, I don’t know the way down to the amusement park, but I guess our Taiwanese friend probably does, and if not, I assume it’s easy to find now that we know it’s there. And didn’t you mention before that it’s described in one of those hiking books?[/quote]
Yes, my SO was talking about walking down by herself. I would worry about her safety and told her that was not an option.
Yes, Omni wins the fast award. Good idea, or all head down. I’m easy. Whatever works best.
Yes, that’s right. The route is mentioned in Taipei Day Trips, but I will have to confirm later that indeed it does mention how to get there from the logging road. In any case, as mentioned above, we will either all go down together with the ones who want to drop out, or one or two volunteers with escort them. Either way, people who cannot handle the entire hike are more than welcome to come along for half of it.
I’m in and i am bringing one of those poncho’s, but not sure about if ratlung is coming. I could stay with Ironman’s SO so she is not on her own. Is this rain or shine?