Hello hooomans… it’s me, none other than Jerry from Jerry’s Worlds.
To all the hiking freaks out there, I know many of you have been waiting a long time to climb the famous Yushan Mountain in Taiwan, and now you’re finally taking your first steps towards the summit. I know it’s a hassle to get a permit for the climb, and the whole process can be a bit confusing. I’ll be writing about all those details in another post. This blog is solely about my experience climbing to the peak of Yushan.
For everyone who managed to get a permit and is eagerly waiting to experience the sweetness of reaching the summit, sit back, relax, and enjoy the read.
Preparation
No summit is completed without proper preparation, and to be honest, I was a bit lazy when it came to preparing for this one. But that doesn’t mean I sat around doing nothing. Even though I didn’t train as hard as I did for my Everest Base Camp trek, I kept myself active by walking 20,000 steps every day and doing core workouts at home for the month leading up to the climb.
I also did a few challenging hikes after reaching Taiwan. A few days before my Yushan hike, I explored one of the most beautiful coastal hiking trails in Taiwan — Wuyuan Cape. It had a bit of everything: hiking, trekking, and climbing. If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting it before taking on Yushan.
What I Carried
Packing light is something every hiker loves. I don’t need to remind you about that. But packing for the Yushan hike can get a little tricky. Let me explain why.
It all depends on the season you’re visiting. Most of the year, you can pack just like you would for any other hike. But if you’re hiking during winter… that’s when the extra weight starts adding up.
The Taiwan government is very strict when it comes to the safety of climbers. That’s one of the reasons they limit the number of hikers allowed on the mountain each day. During winter, the risks are much higher, so the required safety gear increases as well.
The regulations require you to carry additional equipment such as crampons, an ice axe, and a helmet during winter, which adds quite a bit of weight to your backpack. So when you’re packing, make sure you carry only the essentials.
And for those planning to hike during winter, here’s one piece of advice that might save you a lot of trouble…
Rent all your gear in Taipei.
I did my hike during the winter season, and finding rental equipment around the Yushan area was a real hassle. I ended up making an entire trip back to Taipei just to rent the gear before returning to Yushan.
Please don’t end up in the same pickle as me…
Rent everything in advance, guys.
Dongpu Lodge
The night before the hike.
If you’re wondering where you should stay the night before the climb, Dongpu Lodge is the best place to be. It’s filled with climbers preparing for the summit, and the atmosphere itself gets you excited for the adventure ahead. And if you’re lucky enough to get a clear night… you’ll be rewarded with an absolutely stunning sky filled with countless stars.
Reserve your bed through email and pay directly at the lodge.
The biggest advantage? It’s only a short walk from the trailhead, allowing you to start your hike as early as possible.
You can also choose to stay at nearby accommodations, but make sure you cross the road before 5 PM. The road closes after 5 PM and doesn’t reopen until 7 AM, meaning you’ll have a much later start. It won’t affect you much if you’re doing a multi-day hike, but if you’re planning to summit and return on the same day, you’ll lose a few valuable hours.
The lodge is clean, and there’s a shared kitchen where you can cook and boil water. Most climbers prepare their meals for the next day here. Alternatively, you can order meals from Paiyun Lodge (just make sure you select that option while registering).
The lights go off around 10 PM at Dongpu Lodge, and there are charging points available for your phones and other electronics.
One thing I would definitely recommend is spending a few minutes outside the lodge before going to bed. The sky, filled with countless stars, is such a relaxing sight to soothe your mind.
The Hike
Ring… ring…
It’s 6 in the morning.
If you think that’s early…
You’re wrong.
We were actually among the last people to leave Dongpu Lodge. Most hikers start around 5 AM.
It’s not absolutely necessary, but an early start is always a good idea. The chances of fog rolling in around Paiyun Lodge later in the day are quite high, and that’s one of the main reasons everyone starts so early.
The hike to Paiyun Lodge usually takes around 5 to 7 hours. If you’re a fast hiker, there’s really no need to worry about starting a little later.
As I mentioned earlier, if you’re not staying at Dongpu Lodge, starting this early won’t be possible because of the road closure until 7 AM. By the time you reach Paiyun, the fog may have already settled in, making the hike a little more challenging.
There are shuttle services to the trailhead, but before hopping on the shuttle, make sure you drop your trekking permit into the collection box at Tatajia Police Station.
So…
The hike officially begins at Tataka Trailhead, sitting at around 2,600 meters above sea level.
I’m excited.
I’ve been waiting for this hike for a long time.
“I got this… this is going to be easy.”
That’s what my mind kept telling me.
But excitement doesn’t give you strength, does it?
The beginning was easy enough, but before long, my legs started reminding me that we were climbing almost 1,000 meters in elevation today.
AWESOME!!!
The trail itself is incredibly well maintained—wooden steps, rocky paths, and occasional flat sections where you can catch your breath (and question all your life choices… WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO YOURSELF? 😂).
And the views?
Absolutely stunning.
Moss-covered trees, thick bamboo groves, and every now and then, glimpses of the surrounding peaks.
It honestly felt like walking through a magical forest.
At last, we reached Paiyun Lodge.
And as always…
I was the last one to arrive.
(I seriously need to do something about that.)
Reaching Paiyun feels like a small victory. ✌️
The lodge itself is pretty basic, but it has everything you need, and it’s surprisingly cozy. There are stacked bunk beds lined up like dominoes, and you’ll be given a sleeping bag.
A small tip: Try to pick a good sleeping bag if you can. Some of them are quite worn out, with feathers sticking out everywhere. One of my friends even found a needle inside his sleeping bag. If yours isn’t in good condition, don’t hesitate to ask for another one.
I absolutely devoured the food there like it was a five-star meal and spent the rest of the evening doing absolutely nothing…
Just resting.
But my friend had a different plan.
He decided to hike up to West Peak.
It’s a popular side trip that many hikers do after reaching Paiyun Lodge. The best time to visit is during sunset, but keep in mind that visibility can be extremely poor if the fog is thick.
The round trip usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, so you’ll most likely return after dark. If you’re planning to do it, make sure you’re properly prepared.
According to my friend, it was a good hike with plenty of ups and downs. Unfortunately, the fog covered most of the views.
So…
Choose wisely.
Don’t tire yourself out for no reason.
And oh… one more pro tip.
Drink plenty of water to help prevent altitude sickness.
I drank water like a fish, and it definitely helped.
If you’re worried about altitude sickness, you can also carry altitude medication.
And don’t forget earplugs…
People snore.
LOUD.
A Sleepless Night and a 2 AM Wake-Up Call
Did I sleep well?
Nope.
Altitude, excitement, and a full orchestra of snoring made sure I stayed awake for most of the night.
There was another reason too.
I really wanted to capture a star-lapse video.
Unfortunately, the sky was completely covered with clouds.
So every hour until midnight, I kept waking up to check whether the sky had cleared.
It never did.
Sad, isn’t it?
By 2 AM, everyone was awake, putting on layers, strapping on headlamps, and getting ready.
It was summit day, baby!
Stepping out of Paiyun Lodge into the freezing darkness was a shock.
The wind slapped my face like…
“Wake up, Jerry!”
“But as I looked up and saw a sky full of stars, I knew it was going to be worth it.”
YOU WISH. 😏
Still a cloudy sky.
Zero stars.
What a banger!
BUT… SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.
My footsteps sounded different.
The ground felt different.
I looked down…
…and couldn’t believe my eyes.
IT’S SNOW, BABY!
Yes!
There was snow everywhere.
Was it snowing now?
No.
Was it snowing when I checked at midnight?
Nope.
Somehow, within those two hours…
Yushan had transformed into a winter wonderland.
No stars in the sky?
Doesn’t matter.
Nature had prepared something even more beautiful for me that night.
The Final Push
This was it.
The final 2.4 km to the summit.
Sounds short, right?
But let me tell you… these were some of the longest kilometres I’ve ever walked.
Before I talk about the trail, let me tell you why I was that excited about the SNOW.
As I mentioned earlier, hiking during the winter season requires you to carry a lot of extra gear. We even spent an entire day travelling back and forth to Taipei just to rent all the equipment.
And did we even carry it on the trail?
NOOO.
Why?
Because there was no snow.
For the previous few weeks, it hadn’t snowed at Yushan. We even spoke to a few climbers who were coming down from the summit, and they told us there was nothing up there. Every single rock on the mountain was visible.
The whole reason we decided to climb during winter wasn’t just because of the cooler weather.
We wanted that extreme experience of hiking through a snow-covered world.
And honestly…
We thought it wasn’t going to happen.
Then we saw the snow.
Everything changed.
Our mood completely shifted.
It felt like the mountain had rewarded us for taking the risk.
And here’s a small spoiler…
It only snowed for two hours.
There wasn’t any snowfall for the next few days either.
We had been wishing for snow…
And oh God…
Did we get it!
Just look at the photos below and see for yourself.
Okay…
Now let’s talk about that 2.4 km.
The trail started with a steady climb.
The fresh snow made the path incredibly slippery. It had only snowed for two hours, yet the entire mountain was covered in white.
The high altitude naturally slows you down.
There’s no doubt about that.
But the freezing wind…
That was the real villain.
Every gust chilled me to the bone and made it harder to keep moving.
Soon, the steady climb turned into rocky scrambles.
The snow-covered rocks certainly didn’t make things any easier. Every single step had to be taken with caution.
Before long, we reached the sections with the chains firmly bolted into the rocks.
They almost looked like pieces of natural art.
The snow had settled on them in beautiful patterns, shaped by the wind. As beautiful as they looked, they also made the climb even more intimidating.
Since the chains were covered in snow, getting a proper grip wasn’t easy. Your body heat melts the snow onto your gloves, turning it into icy water that slowly freezes your fingers.
But you have no choice.
You hold on to those chains like your life depends on it…
Because it actually does.
One wrong step…
And it’s BYE BYE.
The cold was biting.
The wind was howling.
My heart was pounding from both the effort and the freezing temperature.
Even breathing felt like hard work.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
But with every metre I climbed…
The excitement only grew stronger.
And then…
After what felt like forever…
I finally reached the summit.
Standing on Top of Taiwan
3,952 metres.
There I was…
Standing on the highest point in Taiwan.
When people imagine standing on top of Yushan, they picture something like this…
“The sky painted in shades of orange and pink, the surrounding peaks glowing in the morning light, while the famous sea of clouds rolled gently beneath.”
Well…
If you’re climbing during winter…
You probably won’t get that.
As you already know, the entire mountain was covered in thick fog. You couldn’t even see more than a few metres ahead.
So for me…
It was more like this.
“There stood the famous Yushan summit, wrapped in nature’s white smoke, with freezing winds that made your teeth shiver the moment you stepped onto the peak.”
There was something I had always wanted to do once I reached the top.
A little dream I started recently.
I wanted to shout something from every summit I climb.
One day, I want to make a compilation video of all those moments…
And end it by standing on top of the world…
EVEREST.
So I shouted…
“At this moment in time, I’m the tallest thing standing in the face of Taiwan!”
(It may sound stupid to you… but it’s my dream. 😀)
At the summit…
I was speechless.
And for someone who talks a lot (you’ve read my blogs… you know), that’s saying something.
People around me were taking photos.
Some were crying.
And I…
I was simply taking it all in.
I touched the summit marker—that iconic stone.
(Later, I even got a tattoo of it. 😂)
And then…
I let out the loudest cheer.
Yes.
Your boy made it!
Let me ask you something.
What’s that one dream you’ve chased for years and finally achieved?
That overwhelming joy.
That burst of pride.
That moment where nothing else matters.
That’s exactly how I felt.
The Descent — It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
After spending around 30–40 minutes on the summit, it was finally time to head back down.
And let me tell you…
Going downhill isn’t necessarily easier.
My knees were screaming.
The loose rocks made me slip more times than I care to admit.
And…
Do I even need to mention the snow?
The rocks were unbelievably slippery.
Looking back, I think I was incredibly lucky to make it down without a single scratch.
But the views on the way back?
Absolutely killer.
With daylight finally taking over, I could see dramatic cliffs, snow-covered mountains, and endless stretches of white.
Every turn looked like a postcard.
And yes…
I took a lot of photos.
(I even got one of my all-time favourite photos there.)
I made it back to Paiyun Lodge, grabbed a quick snack, and then continued all the way back to Tataka Trailhead.
By the end of the day, I had spent almost 12 hours on my feet.
And when I finally reached the trailhead…
I was completely exhausted.
But unbelievably happy.
Final Thoughts: Yushan, You Beauty
As I made my way back to the car, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Summiting Yushan wasn’t just about reaching the highest point in Taiwan.
It was about testing my limits.
Connecting with nature.
And creating memories that I’ll carry with me forever.
If you’re thinking about doing this hike…
Let me tell you one thing.
GO FOR IT.
Start training.
Get your permits sorted.
Pack smart.
And just go.
Yushan is waiting.
And trust me…
She’ll welcome you with open arms.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat.
Maybe next time I’ll visit during another season so I can finally witness those famous sea of clouds and breathtaking sunrises.
I definitely have to come back.
No second thoughts about that.
Haha.
Got any questions about hiking Yushan?
Drop me a message below.
You know I love sharing my adventures and helping fellow trekkers.
Until the next mountain,
Jerry
