How to Avoid Altitude Sickness When Climbing Taiwan's Mt. Jade (Yushan)

Mt. Jade (Mt. Yu-Shan, also known as Jade Mountain) is the highest peak on the island of Taiwan within the territory of the Republic of China, reaching an elevation of 3,952.43±0.045 meters (plus the height of the author, 3,953.8 meters[1]), and is also the highest peak in East Asia. However, whenever humans climb mountains above 2,000 meters in elevation, they may experience dangerous altitude sickness reactions. How to avoid altitude sickness as much as possible (the rest is up to luck) is one of the essential pieces of knowledge every climber needs.

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Altitude sickness refers to an illness caused by low blood oxygen, usually resulting from the body’s inability to adapt to a high-altitude environment as fast as the elevation rises.

Some people who join mountaineering group activities organized by climbing clubs, or who book in advance themselves, will take a chartered shuttle bus from Dongpu Lodge from the “Tataka Squad of the Sixth Security Police Corps, National Police Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China (abbreviated as the Tataka Police Squad), located at the entrance of Provincial Highway 18 at the 108.5K mark[2]“[3] directly to the Tataka Saddle, which is the Mt. Jade trailhead, saving the journey between the identity check point and the trailhead.

Although taking the shuttle bus can save an hour of walking, I suggest everyone first stop at the Mt. Jade Main Peak trailhead for an hour to adapt to the high-altitude environment. Besides organizing gear and taking photos, you can also observe whether mild altitude sickness symptoms appear (though the probability is not high). Some climbing teams arrive a day early to stay at Dongpu, both for evening socializing and to have ample time to climb slowly, as well as to adapt to the altitude.

If you plan to walk on your own from the Tataka Police Squad to the Mt. Jade Main Peak trailhead, you will pass through the Nanshi Forest Road and the Yushan Forest Road**. The entire route is about 2.4 kilometers long, with a walking time of about 30 to 50 minutes.

In other words, if you do not take the shuttle bus and obediently walk from the Tataka Police Squad (at an elevation of about 2,610 meters) to the trailhead, the elevation along the way averages between 2,600 and 2,700 meters, and the terrain is fairly flat. Although it wastes some energy and time, it is a way to gently warm up and also allows your body to better adapt to the high-altitude environment.

If you, like me, drove all night from Taipei down to Mt. Jade and are sleep-deprived but have plenty of climbing time, I suggest you obediently walk this stretch!

Basically, for people who climb mountains regularly, as long as they fully adapt to the altitude, the probability of altitude sickness when climbing Mt. Jade is not that high. But after all, individual differences manifest more substantially in extreme environments. Even if we think we have prepared adequately, ultimately only by climbing the mountain can we know whether we will experience altitude sickness. Therefore, when facing mountains of the 2,000-meter class or above, you must constantly observe whether your body shows reactions different from usual. After all, the way to relieve this dangerous illness, altitude sickness, is also quite ordinary—simply descend to a lower altitude immediately. As long as you don’t push yourself too hard, it won’t affect your chance to set foot on the main peak again next time.

References

1. Taiwan Mt. Jade 3,953.8 Meters: A Mountaineering Encounter Above the Clouds
2. Taiwan Mt. Jade Mountaineering Notes: Reflections and Map/Transportation Information
3. How to Book a Shuttle Bus to the Tataka Saddle Trailhead When Climbing Taiwan’s Mt. Jade?
4. Climbing Mt. Jade Without Hiring a Porter—Enjoy It More on Your Own