Two days one night journey on our mountain bikes in search of a hot spring on a river bed that has been raised 30mtr after the last Typhoon in 8 Aug 2009. No mountain to cross but countless of river crossing.
12 Feb 2011, total 11 bikers and our dog, Siboy undertook a journey that covered 16.4Km deep into the mountain valley and probably the only bikers that rode that deep inside.
GPS 22°45'33.09"N 120°49'46.47"E
Location: Pingtung County, Wutai Township 屏東縣霧台鄉
Total Distance one way ~ 16.4Km
View 哈尤溪溫泉 Hayou River Hot Spring in a larger map
From Tawu village we started off our journey around 12noon and somehow by 1630 we still have not reach our destination and decided to find a place to camp for the night. After returning from the trip and the records from the GPS, the first day we covered 10.8Km (red) to our campsite, the next day from our campsite, it take another 5.6Km (yellow) to the hot spring.
Police checkpoint, you need to register mountain permits before entry
Road into the mountains
Bikers friends decided to start their journey from Jiamu 佳暮
We drove further into Tawu and found an abandon house, nice spot to park our vehicle
met up with our bikers friend at Tawu for lunch break
1200 noon Tawu, the real journey starts.
 |
| Photo by FSBC |
 |
| photo by FSBC T2 Trailer on trail test |
 |
| photo by Ah Yao |
 |
| photo by FSBC |
 |
| photo by Ah Yao |
 |
| photo by FSBC |
 |
| photo by FSBC |
 |
| photo by FSBC |
Countless of river crossing and loose gravel to ride on
At Campsite, our friend AK decided to take a cold shower
home cooked curry and roast pork
temperature in the night 15.7 deg C, not as bad as we expected a cold spell
9am morning, the bikers had left the camp for the hot spring, we decided to hike instead as my partner knees was hurt from the cold river water.
This was where the two rivers met, Hayou River 哈尤溪 and North Ailiao River 隘寮北溪
Waterfall
Guess this was as far the MTB could go, from here another 1km of rocky climb to the hotspring
along the trail, the were hotspring flowing from the cliffs
trash left by other campers
Finally the hot spring folowing from the cracks of the mountain wall into a make shift bath area left by previous campers.
Siboy was so exhausted and felt asleep in the hot spring
Creatures on the river
We were pretty amazed with Siboy, this was the first time he crossed that many river unassisted. Some parts of the river we can't even get a strong foot hold
4x4
We left the hot spring around 12noon and arrived at our campsite around 1340hrs, took our lunch and broke camp around 1430. We were all exhausted, I had been carrying two bikes through the countless river crossing and both my legs were cramped up. Finally we arrived at our vehicle around 1640hrs.
DINNER!!! I was craving for Urn Roast Chicken and found this joint at Santimen. The roast chicken is simply delicious, I am not bragging because I was hungry, it was really good and it cost NT550 a chick. They even provided free desserts, oranges and the sweet millet dessert which I finished most of it.
- According to the local, venturing this river is best done during Winter, by Summer the river will swell and it is not passable.
- If you plan hiking, do it early around 8~9am.
- You do not need hiking shoes or boots just a pair of wet shoes and sandal for camp.
- Study the weather before you go, any heavy rain fall in the east will still swell the river.
- At police checkpoint make sure you detail the journey accurately, any misleading information will cost you a Seahawk ride
- If you are planning MTB, carry a backpack. Any load on your bike will hider your river crossing.
