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| Viewing the ridge to traverse with a pointing peak of Mt. Fuxingjian-shan in a distance |
前日の宜蘭大白山，蘭崁山の足慣らしのあと、本番である長時間困難ルートである。少なくとも11時間ほどの時間が必要なため、登山口に近いところで宿泊し早朝から歩き始めた。縦走の主要ピーク
巴博庫魯山も
復興尖山もともに以前訪れたことがある。当二座は多くの登山者が訪れるが、二つのピークを結ぶ稜線ルートを歩く登山者は少ない。それは、道筋がはっきりしない困難ルートで尚且つ岩場や原生林の間の上り下りを繰り返せなければならない、技術的にも体力的にもチャレンジングなルートだからだ。
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| The ridge we have just traversed with Mt. Babokulu-shan behind |
地元タイヤル族の言葉でバボー・クルと呼ばれる巴博庫魯山は、標高2101mを有し新北市，桃園市そして宜蘭縣の境界に立つ山である。山頂には一等三角点がうめられている。主要な登山ルートは、ふもとの明池と呼ばれる湖畔リゾートからがある。もちろん稜線を経由してくる道もあり、去年訪れたときはまさに、今回の復興尖山以外の二つの尾根を経由して訪れた。復興尖山は、巴博庫魯山から西へと下る尾根上にある標高1852mの突出したピークだ。一般的にはその南側を行く北横公路の四稜近くの登山口から往復する。
我々の今回のルートは、明池の登山口から巴博庫魯山へ標高差約950mを登り、その後復興尖山への稜線を伝って登頂、さらに尾根を進み四稜登山口へと下山した。朝5時45分に歩き始め、17時50分に登山口に降り立つ、休憩を含み12時間の行動であった。以前から訪れることを考えていた。今回は午後雷鳴がとどろきちょっとぱらついたが、全体として良好な天気に恵まれ、疲れたがよい縦走であった。
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| Traversing from east to west |
So called Bajian traversing (巴尖縱走) is a trekking from Mingchi (明池) trail head to climb Mt. Babokulu-shan (巴博庫魯山, elevation 2101 meters), to follow the ridge trail to Mt. Fuxingjian-shan (復興尖山, elev. 1852m) and down to another trail head near Sileng (四稜) on the North cross-island highway (北橫公路). It is located in the heart of the island's northern mid-height mountain ranges. It would need at least eleven or so long hours to complete and the track is not so clear at many points. In other words, it is a physically as well as technically challenging route.
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| The locations of the route day 1 and day 2 |
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| At Mingchi recreational area, our starting point |
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| passing the lodge area |
We have fourteen members and three cars to share. We left the inn at 4:00 and came to Mingchi by 4:55. It was still dark out here. Because the location of our final destination is several kilometers away down on the north cross-island highway. after everybody alighted cars two of our cars headed for the other trail head and one was left there for fetching. We are now ready for the hike at 5:45 standing by a tall sign post saying Mingchi shanzhuang (明池山莊, Mingchi lodge, elev. 1150m) as the sky is getting lighter. The paved and wide road leads to a main building of the lodge. Passing by it we come to a step way to the upper level, which is where our hiking trail starts.
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| Walking along the forestry road in the morning sun |
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| #1 trail head |
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| Very steep but good trail |
Going up on steps we come onto a former forestry road. Mingchi is a lake in the mountain and a recreational park was formed around it a couple of decades ago. This location was a part of forestry business in the past and a logging roads were built. We first follow this gravel road to the first trail head of Mt. Babokulu-shan. The sun comes up over the east skyline and golden light seeps through woods. We come to the first trail head (elev. 1290m) at 6:18. The abandoned forestry roads leads to the second trail head, which according to a nearby explanatory board is not recommended to take as there are landslides along the way. We have a short rest before a long climb.
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| An old big stump |
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| Going over a lot of fallen trunks |
We take on our ascent at 6:25. The trail is well travelled and its track is clear, but mercilessly steep. The whole slope must have been a former logging area. Japanese cedar trees are tall and thick. They must have been planted a few decades ago. As we follow up the trail, we come across giant decaying stumps of cypress trees. About a half hour ascent takes us into a forest of broad leaf trees. There are lot of nasty fallen trunks, big and small, blocking the trail. Taking a rest twice on our way, we finally come to a easier grade at 8:45 with an altitude of 1950 meters. On our way up here some members are attacked by small wasps, which is very unlucky but rather common in this season of a year. Except one member who is allergic and his face gets swollen, the damage was not so bad that fortunately we do not have to cancel our original plan and go down.
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| Keep climbing |
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| The grade gets easier |
The easy and broad ridge goes over a small hump and finally to a junction (elev. 2080m) at 9:27 where a trail to Mt. Fuxingjian-shan diverges to left. After a short break we head for the summit of Mt. Babokllu-shan leaving our backpacks at the junction. It is an easy stroll to the summit, which only takes us a few minutes. The summit is in flooding sunlight, but fog has already been formed preventing distant views that we enjoyed on our first visit last year. At 10:05 we head back to the junction, putting on backpacks for our long trip to Mt. Fuxingjian-shan.
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| Junction before the summit |
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| The summit of Mt. Babokuru-shan with the triangulation stone marker |
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| A warning board at the junction |
As a warning plate at the junction shows, the trail ahead is indeed very little traveled. Markers are very few and most of them are old. Green arrow bamboo (箭竹) leaves cover the track and you need to navigate your way through. The primordial forest holds many big trees including giant cypress trees. In about a half hour the trail goes into a rhododendron forest of which floor is covered with fallen leaves with no arrow bamboos. Around 10:55 the trail turns to be steep decent. We have a break.
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| The trail soon turns unclear |
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| Passing through a rhododendron forest |
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| Down on a steep section |
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| Rocky section |
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| Mt. Taman-shan (left) and Mt. Meikuiximo-shan |
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| Mt. Fuxingjian-shan |
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| Mt. Lidong-shan (left) and Mt. Neiniaozui-shan |
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| Near the end of the rocky section |
The rocky section comes to an end around 11:52 at last and we go into a forest of rhododendron again. The grade gets steep and in another few minutes we come onto a flat area covered with short grasses in the forest, which is inviting us to have a rest. We take a lunch break here. In terms of distance to cover for today, we have completed a half way by now.
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| Going down in a rhododendron forest |
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| Large cypress trees in a primordial forest |
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| Roaming in the forest |
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| An old direction sign |
A half hour break gives us back some stamina. The trail goes a little more down and up to a flat and wide terrain. The contour line of my map shows the terrain is flat, but there are small ups and downs to go. Trees here are very tall and thick, making us look like ants roaming in a grass land. Because it is rather flat and a lot of undergrowth everywhere, it is hard to find the right track. Markers are very few and old if any. At 13:06 I find an old direction sign of year 2000 is still attached to a tree trunk. This is a single sign on the entire route before the Mt. Fuxingjian-shan.
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| The ridge gets narrower |
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| Tiresome ups and downs continue |
Around 13:20 the ridge gets narrower and generally descending. It seems that we have passed the lowest point of the ridge around 13:40 and the trail starts upwards. We have another break before a long way up. Ii is encouraging to know that this is the last stretch before the peak of Mt. Fuxingjian-shan, but it is still laboring to go up and down two more humps prior to the final climb of 100 meters of a gap to the summit. As we go along this section, thunder is getting louder and louder, as if threatening a hard shower may come. The final climb to the peak passes a rock exposed spot twice, but thickening mist prevents any view. Ropes here are old and unreliable as their thin inner core has been exposed. At 14:54 I finally reach the summit and all other members soon follow.
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| A final ascent to the summit |
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| At the summit of Mt. Fuxingjian-shan |
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| Mt. Taman-shan (left) and Mt. Babokulu-shan (right) viewed from Mt. Fuxingjian-shan summit |
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| Steep first half way dawn |
While we are at the summit, we feel small droplets of rain but the north sky is clearing. Towards the end of our 25-minute stay on the summit, fog gets clear and a view toward Mt. Babokulu-shan appears under a overcast sky. It is nice to look at the ridge that we have come over and to appreciate what we have accomplished. The massive body of Mt. Babokulu-shan stands high behind the long ridge. We are all happy that we have made it.
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| Passing a rope section |
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| A strange shaped tree |
We leave the summit behind at 15:19. The trail down is a popular route and navigationally easy, but there are several steep stretches with ropes. We carefully pass through steep sections in a half hour and come down to a rather flat stretch. Going up a little for a while we come to a junction at 16:52 with a break on the way. Knowing this is our last leg of today's hike makes me feel the progress is not fast enough.
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| The last junction |
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| Steep descent in the light of setting sun |
We take the left trail and begin a long way down of more than 500 meters in altitude. The grade is rather easy first. We pass over a final hump around 17:25. Golden light illuminates woods like this morning from the west instead. The trail gets pretty steep for the last stretch. As we come down motor traffic is audible from below. At 17:50 I finally reach the trail head by the north cross-island highway. All members come down soon and walk a little to the place our car is parked. Three divers go to the parking space of Mingchi lodge to fetch the other cars. As soon as the cars come back in about 40 minutes, we all get on and head home taking the north cross-island highway west, by which we meet no congestion at all.
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| At the trail head |
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This route proved very hard even on a such fine day. The ascent to Mt. Babokulu-shan summit is a hard labor of nearly four hours. Then you have to navigate through primordial forests with little signage to show you the direction, The final section from Mt. Fuxingjian-shan is an easy route but still takes time. In total we spent 12 hours. All our members are experienced hikers with certain physical fitness, yet it took us such a long time. If you want to try this route, you would better allow yourself ample time and need good navigational skills. However difficult it is, this would give you a deep satisfaction when you complete it.
The distance we travelled was a little more than 13 kilometers with an total ascent approximately 1200 meters. The route physical index is 39.
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