It took us about two hours to drive from our home in Changhua (彰化縣, zhānghuà xiàn) to the trailhead in Nantou (南投縣, nántóu xiàn), followed by another hour and a half of hiking to reach the summit. Along the way, I was treated to stunning views of the surrounding mountains, including Hehuanshan’s Main and East peaks rising in the distance. I could also spot small villages and communities nestled among the valleys below. As we climbed higher, I could really feel the air getting thinner; we were already more than 10,000 feet above sea level!
The higher we went, the cooler the weather became and the breeze grew stronger. By that point, I was starting to struggle a little with the climb, so the cool breeze felt especially refreshing. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to apply sunscreen, and with the sun beaming down in the early afternoon, I ended up getting sunburned. Still, despite these minor hiccups, the incredible scenery made every step worthwhile!
Super Typhoon Champi ended up being one of the strongest Pacific storms of 2026. School was canceled for a day as a precaution to ensure everyone was safe and indoors in the midst of the storms. Additionally, a lot of public transportation and air travel was suspended due to the storm, which also affected China, Japan, and South Korea.
