TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Heavy snowfall forced safety warnings across Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園) Sunday (Dec. 28) as temperatures plunged to 1 degree Celsius (33.8°F). Park management, Taiwan's national park authority, has urged hikers to exercise extreme caution on the Wuling Quadruple Mountains Trail (武陵四秀) and the Dabajian Mountain Trail (大霸尖山步道). Multiple popular hiking routes in the mountainous region experienced hazardous conditions due to heavy snow accumulation and icing in high-altitude areas.
Hikers and volunteers reported snow accumulation reaching 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) at Xinda Hut (新達山屋) across Xueshan, Dabajian, and Wuling Quadruple Mountains Trail locations. Snowfall continued at 99 Hut (九九山莊), a mountain lodge, with temperatures dropping to 1°C (33.8°F). The park's snow management office, responsible for monitoring winter conditions, warned of wet, heavy snow posing significant safety risks despite minimal accumulation at some shelters.
Assistant patrol officer Hsu Wei-che (徐偉哲) reported at 6:40 a.m. Sunday that Taoshan peak (桃山) recorded 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of snow depth with icing conditions. Multiple trail sections have iced over, creating hazardous conditions requiring hikers to carry crampons for safe passage. Park authorities, Taiwan's national park management, mandated anti-slip equipment and cold-weather gear for all hikers entering snow-affected mountain areas to prevent accidents.
Park officials warned of poor cell phone coverage in high-altitude areas, where signals are unreliable, urging hikers to carry GPS devices for emergency situations. Authorities recommended installing Taiwan's mountain entry app, a government tracking system, for real-time safety check-ins during hazardous winter conditions. Hikers must continuously monitor their own and their companions' health conditions and retreat immediately if they experience cold-related symptoms, hypothermia risks, or any physical discomfort. ◼