Crossing 7 Peaks Alone: The Taiwan Mountains Where 4 Hikers Went Missing

Crossing 7 Peaks Alone: The Taiwan Mountains Where 4 Hikers Went Missing

This is the story of my solo attempt to summit all seven peaks of Baigu Mountain above 3000 meters in Taiwan. The journey took two days, covered 60 kilometers, and passed through the same mountains where four hikers got lost – three were found dead, one is still missing.

I chose the harder, less popular route: starting from Guguan, climbing over Malun Mountain, and traversing the entire Baigu range via the east ridge. This direction is extremely challenging – dense bamboo sections, no reliable water sources, and navigation difficulties that have claimed lives.

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WHY THIS ROUTE MATTERS:
While hiking through these mountains, I share four real search and rescue cases I’ve been involved with. Each story teaches critical lessons about mountain safety, navigation errors, and why proper preparation can mean the difference between life and death.

MOUNTAIN SAFETY LESSONS COVERED:
– Why GPS navigation is essential (not just paper maps)
– The fatal mistake: descending randomly when lost
– Water filtration and management in remote areas
– Cold weather gear for Taiwan’s high mountains
– Group separation dangers and solo navigation skills
– Real consequences of poor preparation

MY BACKGROUND:
I’ve completed about 240 of Taiwan’s 285 peaks over 3000m and have participated in multiple search and rescue missions. These experiences have taught me that mountain safety starts with the hiker’s preparation, not rescue teams.

GEAR FEATURED:
– Tornado vest pack (32L ultralight system)
– Sawyer SP129 water filter vs other filters
– Showa 282 winter waterproof gloves
– Ultralight sleep system (under 1200g)
– GPS devices: Garmin watch, smartphone, inReach mini 2

THE STATISTICS:
Day 1: 19km, 3,250m elevation gain, 11.5 hours
Day 2: 40km total distance, 15 hours moving time
Seven peaks completed in two days

CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Introduction: 7 Peaks, 4 Missing Hikers
00:00:57 Starting from Guguan
00:02:52 SAR Story #1: Malun Mountain Drowning (2022)
00:04:11 Why GPS Navigation is Essential
00:05:08 Climbing to Baigu West Peak
00:09:47 Taiwan’s 285 Peaks Over 3000m
00:10:16 Winter Gear: Waterproof Gloves
00:11:19 The Bamboo Battle Begins
00:13:19 Southwest Peak Detour
00:14:55 Sleeping on the Summit
00:15:29 Day 2: Sunrise at Baigu
00:15:43 SAR Story #2: Wrong Turn at Ravine (2020)
00:17:01 SAR Story #3: Senior Hiker Found (2021)
00:18:18 Water Filtration in Remote Areas
00:19:36 Filter Comparison: What Works
00:20:25 Reaching the Farthest Peaks
00:21:47 The East Ridge Gamble
00:22:04 No Trail, No Hope, Just Fear
00:23:10 Forest History & Old Logging
00:24:07 Ta Ban Chi Water Pool
00:25:13 SAR Story #4: Zhang Bowei (2011)
00:25:48 The Fatal Pattern: All 4 Cases
00:26:39 Finally Reaching the Road
00:27:13 40km Walk to Lixing Village
00:28:21 Final Thoughts: Preparation Matters

IMPORTANT NOTE:
All four missing hiker cases occurred on the standard trail, not this difficult route. This shows that danger exists even on easier paths when navigation mistakes are made.

LOCATIONS FEATURED:
谷關 Guguan (starting point)
馬崙山 Malun Mountain
馬崙山步道 Malunshan Trail
馬崙白姑步道 Malun Baigu Trail
馬崙溪 Malun River
白姑大山西峰 Baigu Mountain West Peak
白姑大山西南峰 Southwest Peak of Baigu Mountain
白姑大山三叉峰 Baigu Mountain Three-Forked Peak
白姑大山 Baigu Mountain (main peak)
白姑大山徑 Baigu Main Trail
白姑東南峰 Baigu Southeast Peak
司晏池營地 Siyan Chi Campsite
白姑大山中峰 Baigu Mountain Middle Peak
白姑大山東峰 Baigu Mountain East Peak
東高山 Dong Gao Mountain (also called Ta Ban Mountain 塔班山)
塔班池 Ta Ban Chi (water pool)
勝利路 Sheng Li Road
力行 Lixing Village (also called Marepa 馬烈霸)
三錐山 Sanzui Mountain (SAR case location)

基隆山 2938m
九仙山 2987m
力行吊橋 Lixing Suspension Bridge

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DISCLAIMER:
This video contains real search and rescue stories. The content is educational and aims to prevent future tragedies through better preparation and awareness. Always check weather conditions, carry proper navigation tools, and inform someone of your hiking plans.

#MountainSafety #TaiwanHiking #SearchAndRescue #BaiguMountain #GPSNavigation #HikingSafety #Taiwan #台灣登山 #白姑大山 #搜救