Jade Mountain Tragedy: Two Hikers Feared Lost, Snow Leopard Criticizes Safety Regulations

The recent incident at Jade Mountain (Yushan) sparks debate about mountain safety and the impact of past restrictions.

In a tragic development, two hikers are missing on Jade Mountain (Yushan) after an incident during their ascent. The pair, believed to be experienced mountaineers, were climbing near the "Devil's Slope" at the main North Peak intersection when they reportedly fell into a ravine. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with the fall estimated to be as deep as 380 meters.

In response to the incident, the renowned mountain writer, 雪羊 (Xue Yang), voiced strong opinions on social media. He emphasized that the high number of snow-related accidents necessitate a focus on "education" and "the dissemination of knowledge" as fundamental solutions. 雪羊 (Xue Yang) also criticized the mountaineering self-governance regulations, deeming them "useless" for improving mountaineering safety, and a remnant of the most unpleasant aspects of past mountain closures.

雪羊 (Xue Yang) attributes the recent surge in mountain accidents primarily to inadequate preparation for extreme weather conditions, particularly the unexpected heavy snowfall in March, coupled with the unfamiliarity of most Taiwanese with icy and snowy environments. He argued that "education" and the "spread of knowledge" are essential for fundamentally resolving the problem, believing that other measures are largely ineffective.