Bad weather on Yushan kills hiker, strands five others

The body of Lai Sung-nan, 58, was sent to the Nantou Morgue for an autopsy to determine the cause of death while his two companions, surnamed Lai, 31 and Chou, 37, were escorted to the Yushan (“Jade Mountain”) National Park police station for questioning relating to the events that led to the victim’s death.

The three were found by rescuers Wednesday morning around 8 a.m. after the hikers sent a message for help on October 9th the day before. According to Yushan authorities, the three mountaineers originally set out on their hiking expedition on October 2nd with the plan to scale the Yushan mountain range from the Taitung side and finish at the Nantou County side on October 8th. Severe weather conditions brought on by Typhoon Krosa were initially blamed for the tragedy.

Authorities identified the victim as a retired water power technician with seven years of mountaineering experience. His neighbors said Lai’s goal was to climb all of the island’s mountains before the age of 60, and Yushan was the only challenge remaining before he fulfilled that goal.

An unrelated five-member mountain hiking team that set out from Taichung on the same mountain route on October 3rd were reported missing Friday until yesterday morning, when one of the hikers called home. According to local firefighters, the climbers were forced off course by the severe weather system, but have since gotten back on track and were expected to return safely.

Authorities released the identities of the five hikers as guide Chen Mei-chin, Liu Ming-tsung, Chang Mei-chi, Ko Chin-hsiu, and carrier surnamed Sung.

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