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Letter from the Editor

From the Desk

Perspectives


Toppers

Top Ten Reasons to Love Taiwan
By Andrew Crosthwaite


Interview

Ultramarathon Man
By Matt Gibson


From the Road

Hellride to Heaven
By Teveli Gabor

Triumph
By David Alexander

Three Times on Two Wheels
By Chris Scott


Reflection
It's Something
By Kimberley Powell

The Homefront

Reaching the Peak
By Caroline Emmerson

Busted
By Anonymous

Conquering Fears
By Fabian Dearaujo


Gettin' It Done

How to Apply for a Permit to Climb Yushan
By Matt Gibson


Photofactual Essay
Protest
By Teveli Gabor and Cheng Kai-Chun

Contest

Triumph of Teaching
By Andrew Crosthwaite

A Small Teaching Victory
By Carey J. Broder

My Triumph
By Sam Sherry


Excerpt

To Squat or Not to Squat


Comic

Bonus Web Features

Gettin' It Done

How to Fish for Prawns (in Neihu)
By Dana Lee


Interview

Mark Lee: Foreign Affairs Officer
By David May


How to Apply for a Permit to Climb Yushan

By Matt Gibson

The Rundown

There are two permits you must apply for in Yushan National Park - a park entry permit (which is issued by the park) and a mountain entry permit (which is issued by the police).  

First you should apply for the park entry permit.   Yushan is a very popular destination, and the number of people the park allows to enter is limited.   So, when there are more applications than spaces (which is normal), the park holds a lottery for entry permits.   I recommend that you apply for your park entry permit one month in advance so that you will be entered in the lottery.

Only if you win the lottery should you apply for your mountain entry permit.   You'll be pretty much guaranteed to get it.   It's just a bit of paperwork, but it's a bit of a hassle as the police don't have the application available in English on their website.   To obtain the application you will have to contact them (information below).

Application for Park Entry

What you need:

  1. Three copies of the application completed in full. The application form can be downloaded from the park's application webpage at: http://www.ysnp.gov.tw/en/park_entry/parkentry.html
  2. One copy of your hiking plan.
  3. One self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Mail above items between one week and one month before your trip to:

Yushan National Park

No. 300, Sec. 1, Chung Shan Rd.,

Shuili Hsiang, Nantou County 553

Taiwan, R.O.C.

Application for Mountain Entry

If you win the lottery and get your Park Entry Permit, then you can apply for your Mountain Entry Permit.   For this you'll need:

  1. Four copies of the mountain entry application, completed in full (including: group name list, itinerary, environmental protection guidelines, and emergency preparedness measures)   You can obtain the application from the Nantou County Police Department:
  2. (049) 223-4302
  3. 669, Chungshin Rd., Nantou City, Nantou County
  4. fad@mail.ncpb.gov.tw
  5. A copy of each group member's I.D. or ARC
  6. Three copies of your hiking plan
  7. Three copies of your hiking route map
  8. NT$10 per person

A self addressed, stamped envelope

Mail above items between one week and one month before your trip to the Nantou County Police Department (address above).

Accomodations

If you wish to stay in the park you should also make reservations at Paiyun Village.   Paiyun Villiage is a hostel inside the park on the trail to Yushan that holds 90 people.   If you wish to stay there you must check 'Paiyun Villiage Accommodation' on your Park Entry Application.   The cost is NT$220 per person and must be paid in advance.

There's also a campground at Paiyun Villiage that holds 40 people.   Reservations and a Park Entry Permit are necessary to stay there.   The Paiyun Village Accommodation Services Center can be contacted at (049) 234-8257.

For more information on how to apply, contact the Yushan National Park Headquarters between 9 am and 4:30 pm at:

(049) 277-3121 ext. 242

300, Jungshan Rd., Sec. 2, Shueili Shiang, Nantou

or visit the Yushan National Park applications web page at: http://www.ysnp.gov.tw/en/park_entry/parkentry.html