Bengaluru, 24 March

Taiwan’s National Park Service has warned that climbers who enter national parks without permission or do not carry proper ice and climbing equipment could be fined or banned for up to three years. The statement comes after recent mountaineering accidents in Hsueshan and Yushan this month, highlighting the dangers of inadequate preparation in icy conditions. 

On 22 March, two climbers attempting to reach the main, eastern and northern peaks of Yushan were found dead after falling down a steep 380-metre slope covered in thick snow between the main and northern peaks. The Nantou County Fire Department said the day after that rescuers found broken trekking poles, hats and traces of blood near the bodies, indicating that the climbers had slipped on the icy path. 

The victims remained out of contact for hours before a fellow climber, surnamed Peng, who had taken a different route to the peaks, alerted emergency services at 11 am on 22 March. Due to strong winds and the slope of the terrain, a helicopter was not dispatched until the next morning. When conditions were favorable, the bodies were successfully transported to the Tataka Visitor Center parking lot, where they were handed over to police and family members at about 12.30 pm

The Yushan National Park headquarters reported that rescuers faced considerable challenges in retrieving the bodies. An iron shed along the route was covered in thick snow, and rescuers had to navigate dangerous icy paths with extreme caution. The steep, snow-covered slope where the victims were found required rescuers to slide down a cable to safely reach the site.

The National Park Service reminded climbers that the snowmaking season in national parks began on 2 January and will end next week. During this period, climbers are required to obtain permission before entering national parks and must carry proper ice and climbing equipment according to the rules. Those who violate these rules can face fines or a ban of up to three years under the National Parks Act.

Authorities blamed strong cold wind gusts that caused temperatures to drop significantly for the recent increase in mountaineering accidents in Hsueshan and Yushan. 

Warning was issued that despite sunny weather in lower areas, icy conditions in the mountains pose serious risks to climbers. "The snow in the mountains has just started to melt, and ice on the routes has made climbing extremely dangerous, even with crampons and ice axes," the agency said. "People should not be fooled by the sunny weather at the foot of the mountain and think that climbing will be easy." 

Climbers were urged to reconsider their trip if they haven't set out yet. "Climbers who haven't set out yet are advised to reschedule their trip, while those who are already on a trip should make sure to properly use helmets, crampons and ice axes to avoid falling," the agency said.