From the Tataka Trailhead to the overnight lodge, Paiyun Lodge, it is about 5.2 miles (an average of around four to six hours of hiking) of an upward hike with beautiful scenery and dangerous rocky paths. Finally, the hike to the peak, while only 1.5 miles long, is the most challenging part due to its steep inclines and rocky scrambles, requiring careful navigation and endurance.
Day 1: Tataka Trailhead (8.5k) → Paiyun Lodge
Day 2: Paiyun Lodge (2.4k) → Mt. Jade Main Peak (10.9k) → Tataka Trailhead
Hiking Yushan was both amazing and challenging, similar to my year in Taiwan. At the beginning of the hike, my two friends and I were in high spirits, enjoying the breathtaking views and hoping to rely on our previous hiking experiences to guide us. Similar to my approach when I first arrived in Taiwan following college, I felt excited and bright-eyed about living abroad for a year in an Asian country that I had studied in college. However, after about two hours in the heat, with the altitude change exacerbating our fatigue, not only was it harder to climb, but also harder to breathe. Our hike, although still beautiful, was taking longer and felt more challenging than expected. We would occasionally take water and snack breaks while chatting about miscellaneous topics, trying to distract ourselves from the soreness beginning in our legs and backs from carrying our large hiking packs. An important moment of respite for us was our lunch break and finally making it to the Paiyun Lodge for an early night. The majority of the hike reminded me of the challenges of culture shock, fatigue from working a full-time job, and adjustment to separation from my support systems that I experienced in my first months living in Taipei.
