Be the Adventure
The Girl Adventurer
Yangmingshan Park, Taipei, Taiwan
Reaching the summit of a mountain is an accomplishment in itself, even on ordinary days and in familiar locales. However, ascending one in the heart of a typhoon, in a foreign land, and entirely on your own? Well, that’s a feat that borders on audacious and is certainly deserving of some serious bragging rights.
Yangmingshan National Park, one of Taiwan’s nine national treasures, is a place of breathtaking natural beauty. As I sit down to pen this piece, I’m discovering that this majestic mountain hides a plethora of trails, each with its own unique charm. With my penchant for adventure and a dash of recklessness, I chose the path leading to the park’s highest peak, Mt. Qixing, also known as The Seven Star Mountain. After all, why not? A little typhoon couldn’t deter my adventurous spirit, or could it? (Well, my other personalities had some reservations!)
At a staggering elevation of 1,120 meters (3,674 ft.), Mt. Qixing reigns as the tallest peak in Taipei. The trail, under ordinary circumstances, is quite manageable and straightforward. However, when rain and, to make matters worse, a typhoon enter the equation, it transforms into a potentially perilous adventure. Several times during my hike up Mt. Qixing, I contemplated turning back, not because I was fatigued but due to the growing apprehension that enveloped me. The heavens had opened up, rain poured relentlessly, and the wind howled with determination. Darkness was descending, and the forested mountain seemed to engulf me. Fear began to gnaw at me, although not the kind of fear one might expect. My unease was rooted in the notion of encountering people with ill intentions in such a remote setting. Yet, I couldn’t help but question who in their right mind would embark on a hiking expedition amid a raging storm? So, bolstered by resolve, I pressed on. I encountered a few fellow adventurers along the way, all of whom offered warm camaraderie and genuine concern for my solitary endeavor.
After a grueling two-hour ascent, I finally reached the summit of the mountain, and what greeted me was nothing short of surreal—dense, impenetrable fog enveloped everything in sight. Taipei, usually visible from this vantage point, was entirely shrouded. While the obscured view was somewhat expected, the sense of accomplishment and triumph that washed over me was undeniable. I had conquered this unfamiliar and exquisite mountain on a day when most would have deemed it folly. When self-doubt had threatened to derail my journey, I forged ahead. When fear had loomed like a dark cloud above me, I stood my ground and emerged victorious.
This extraordinary experience is etched in the annals of my life, a memory for the ages. Yet, there is an undeniable urge to return and relive it, this time under the warm embrace of a brilliant, sunny day.
