Sat 3rd Jan 2009 was the most memorial MTB ride I ever had. I like to thanks the Formosan Serow Biking Club 長鬃山羊單車俱樂部for inviting me to such a trail exploration ride in Pingtung County, Wutai up in the mountain 1400m high to Little Ghost Lake (2300m).
Though we did not get to the destination but the whole journey was living on the edge, a foot away from a 1000mtrs hill drop however it was rewarded with a magnificent breath taking view.
Though we did not get to the destination but the whole journey was living on the edge, a foot away from a 1000mtrs hill drop however it was rewarded with a magnificent breath taking view.
Little Ghost Lake
小鬼湖 aka Snake Lake is a scared lake from the aboriginal Rukai Tribe legend. It was said the lake lived a big white snake that guard this lake. One day a group of aboriginal girls visited the lake and saw the snake, most of the girls fled except one named Balhenge, who found the snake was a handsome Rukai man. Later she and the snake felt in love but was opposed by the villages and parents. Somehow love was blind and she left the village. Standing at the lake and facing the village she sang her sorrow love song. Today many older Rukai generation ladies still believes in this legend and on their last breath, they felt their soul wandering to this lake.
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| Photo from www.cdnews.com.tw |
About the Trail
Couple of years back the trail was destroyed by an earthquake and nobody knew if it is passable. There were no news about the trail condition if it is still traversable. So the FSB bikers decided to embark on an exploration trip. The trail head was (is) situated in the high mountain near 阿禮村 AhLi village. The terrain was mostly rocky and cover by landslide, most of the time we had to carry our bikes.
On the map below, the route in pink was the intended riding route which covered almost 23km to Little Ghost Lake. Somehow we managed to get as far as 8.6Km which is only a quarter of the distance and we were stopped by a bad landslide obstacle.
Overall the ride was adventurous and beautiful. Since then I have been planning on a return trip but this time hike instead of MTB. So far I knew a group of hikers did manage to get to Little Ghost Lake but the route seems awlfully tough and dangerous. I would like to get as far as our last rest stop, pitch the tent and enjoy the mountain view. Hope the route is still passable.
Routes taken by
成大山協 in Jan 2011(attempted)
Bruce in Feb 2011 (using another route from Ailiao River)
Couple of years back the trail was destroyed by an earthquake and nobody knew if it is passable. There were no news about the trail condition if it is still traversable. So the FSB bikers decided to embark on an exploration trip. The trail head was (is) situated in the high mountain near 阿禮村 AhLi village. The terrain was mostly rocky and cover by landslide, most of the time we had to carry our bikes.
On the map below, the route in pink was the intended riding route which covered almost 23km to Little Ghost Lake. Somehow we managed to get as far as 8.6Km which is only a quarter of the distance and we were stopped by a bad landslide obstacle.
Overall the ride was adventurous and beautiful. Since then I have been planning on a return trip but this time hike instead of MTB. So far I knew a group of hikers did manage to get to Little Ghost Lake but the route seems awlfully tough and dangerous. I would like to get as far as our last rest stop, pitch the tent and enjoy the mountain view. Hope the route is still passable.
Routes taken by
成大山協 in Jan 2011(attempted)
Bruce in Feb 2011 (using another route from Ailiao River)
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| 阿禮村 |
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| our lady rider |
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| the only open flat terrain ideal for camping |
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| 勁桑, 宗漢, 錦芳, 志明, ak, Spencer, 與阿宏, 騰宏 |
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| this is as far as we can go with the bikes |
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| That how high we got to have this magnificent view |
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| Our group leader Ah Kuei was riding a 29" SINGLE speed bike.... What can I say more... he's the man!! and Ginsan coming 60's was the toughest endurance rider in the group |
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| Our reward, best AiYu Jelly in Taiwan, home grown AiYu |
Music of Snake Lake
