Sunday, September 13, 2026

Above the Clouds: Climbing Mt. Fuji

There's a particular kind of quiet that settles in once you're standing above the clouds, and I found it somewhere past the seventh station on Mt. Fuji. The climb began at the Fuji-Subaru Line Fifth Station, gateway to Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, on a cool, misty morning. Before setting off, I passed through a bright red torii gate to a small shrine among the pines — a reminder that this mountain has drawn pilgrims for centuries. The trail climbs through forest before the trees give way to volcanic rock and roped switchbacks. By the seventh station, weathered mountain huts like Tomoekan dot the route, offering a place to rest and refuel before the next push. Higher still, the clouds fell away entirely. Standing on a narrow ledge with huts on one side and an ocean of white below was the moment that made the climb worth it — that quiet privilege of being above the weather instead of under it. Along the way, a horse carried supplies up the rocky, misty trail, a reminder of how these huts survive. Mt. Fuji reveals itself in transitions — forest to rock, cloud to clear sky — each station marking not just elevation, but a shift in the mountain's mood.

Monday, August 17, 2026

Hiking the Tefulye Ancient Trail: Taiwan's Hidden Forest Gem

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Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Revisit the highest point of mountain road in Taiwan (Wuling)

I drove my EV up to Wuling (武嶺) on Hehuan Mountain (合歡山) today. The last time I was here was probably 23 years ago. It was cool and refreshing — a perfect escape from the summer heat. I met many people enjoying the mountain scenery, arriving by bike, scooter, motorcycle, and car. Revisiting places like this is one of the things I want to do before I retire from NCNU in Puli.