Have you ever seen a group of volunteers in red plaid shirts quietly working on mountain trails or in mountain huts? While people across the country celebrated the Double Tenth National Day, volunteers from Shei-Pa National Park used their own vacation days to work in the mountain huts and trails. They repaired facilities, maintained the environment, checked on hikers, and assisted with monitoring and admonishing for violations in the national park. Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters, hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters, also appealed to hikers to follow the Leave No Trace principles and cherish the valuable facilities in the mountains.

More Than Just Coffee! A Variety of Volunteer Services

Many hikers are likely familiar with Shei-Pa volunteer He Chien-Jung, who often shares coffee in the mountains. Weary hikers arriving at a hut are warmly welcomed by him, reminded to stay safe, and feel as if they’ve met a neighbourly elder. He also shares anecdotes on Facebook about life in the mountains. These stories range from hikers enthusiastically helping to carry trash down the mountain, to hikers facing higher risks due to inadequate preparation, giving everyone a deeper understanding of the mountains. Volunteer Li Yun-Fang, with a background in fire and rescue, not only provides emergency medical assistance but also checks that solar-power facilities and portable altitude chambers (PACs) in the huts are working correctly, reassuring hikers about their hiking safety.

An All-Round Team Making a Concerted Effort

Meanwhile, on the remote long-distance Xuejian Trail, a group of dedicated volunteers led by volunteer Hsu Chih-Mao crossed Taiwan’s second-highest peak, Xue Mountain, to reach the juniper-lined Cui Pond. They replaced a dim light at the entrance of the hut and brainstormed how to repair broken lights in the restrooms. On the way to Dajian Mountain, being notified of a potential landslide hazard by passing hikers, they scouted the trail and decided to create a detour, ensuring that future hikers could pass safely. At Yebulan Mountain Hut, they found that the water troughs were overgrown with moss and used local materials to clear them, allowing access to clean water for hikers. They also trimmed the Yushan Cane along the trail to prevent hikers from getting wet when relieving themselves. Finally, they collected six large bags of garbage around Yebulan Mountain Hut and carried it all down the mountain. Along the way, they also checked the hornet nest reported by hikers near the 0.5-km point of Sungmao Forest Trail trailhead to Dajian Mountain Trail, advising hikers to pass as quickly as possible. All members agreed the trip was rewarding.

Hanging Together to Protect the Beauty of the Mountains 

The Headquarters Director Lin Wen-He stated that the 127 volunteers come from all walks of life, all sharing a love for the mountains. It is greatly appreciated that all hiking lovers could join forces to protect the fragile mountain environment while enjoying the stunning views. Avoid leaving food in PAC storage barrels, take your trash with you, and cherish the facilities available in the mountains, making every mountain trip a shared memory between people and nature. 

 

Picture 1. Volunteers checking the PAC inside the mountain hut

Picture 2. Volunteers taking a group photo with the trash they collected at the Yebulan Mountain Hut campsite

Picture 3. Volunteer Lai Kuang-Liang (top) and Hsu Chih-Mao (bottom) checking solar-power facilities in the Cui Pond Mountain Hut restroom

Picture 4. Volunteer He Chien-Jung (right), Li Yun-Fang (middle), and a fellow hiker taking a group photo

Picture 5. Abandoned food left in Cui Pond Mountain Hut