The High Places of the Earth, Part III

The trailhead

Yu Shan! Po Hau’s invitation and orchestration efforts all paid off on March 6 and 7 when he and his brother Po Song, three from Nan Jung Junior High School, four others and I met up for an intense two-day hike.
The school schedule allowed a couple days of preparation--and a chunk of time was spent chopping chunks of chocolate for the hikeMany things for the hike came from friends including this backpack from Teacher Ting-Un from NJJH
The first night was spent not far from the Tatung Vistor Center, and for the second night the Lord provided room in the Lodge just a few kilometers from the peak.
Po Hau's brother Po Song joined us, as he had on Bei Da Wu ShanHere is where we stayed the first night--and where I spotted my first Collared Bush RobinI was glad that Mr. Hsu, from NJJH, also came with usThrough the woodsOn the Tropic of Cancer the forests are called subtropicalThe hail was a big amazementGood spirits despite the weather. (Those are vegetables I'm snacking on)Due to the weather, Paiyun Lodge was as far as we gotNature Valley granola bars are good on the mountaintop tooI was tremendously grateful for the raincoat from Po HauHigh altitudeThis is a good example of what the trail was like; This is teacher Huang and our guide.I was glad that the climb didn't include scaling this huge slippery rock faceShoe repairThe ladies took things really wellA rare experience in Taiwan (The guide had seen hail only twice in a ten-year career)Through many pine forests, some with white woodSometimes the trail was a stream. My plastic-bag-lined shoes did well, but not like the guide\'s reinforced rubber boots.\"Gently down the stream\"In the cloudsThe road back down provided better picture opportunities (The guide is in orange, Chen Po Hao took the picture, one member not present)A great teamA little like West Virginia!The town of Chaiyi was lower than some clouds and higher than some clouds!

“If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 58:13-14).

7 Comments

  1. Allen P. March 26, 2009 at 9:27 pm #

    Wow – I really enjoyed these pictures. The hikers are funny with their peace-signs in all the pics! The mountains there are very beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

  2. Daniel and David March 28, 2009 at 10:48 am #

    We both gasped when we saw that fifth picture! Wow…that really make you want to go mountain climbing in Taiwan. Onzjhouy it!

  3. Joshua March 28, 2009 at 4:23 pm #

    Donald, those final two pics are breathtaking. And you’re right – a little like WV. What amazing opportunities to explore the Lord is affording you as you serve over there! Keep them coming.

  4. Robert March 30, 2009 at 8:59 pm #

    Wow, Donald! What an experience! Wish we could be there with you. It looks like quite an adventure. Please send our greetings to the other members of the team! 🙂

  5. James March 31, 2009 at 9:22 pm #

    Absolutely AMAZING! Almost as good as beautiful-looking as West Virginia. 🙂

  6. Dad and Mom April 1, 2009 at 7:06 pm #

    It looks like mountain climbing agrees with you. Donald, you should climb the mountain every day!
    Thanks for the update and great pictures. We are trusting the Lord and praying for good weather for the next climb in May.

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  1. StaddonFamily.com » Blog Archive » The High Places of the Earth, Part V - August 14, 2009

    […] views of Greenland, winter in Mongolia, Christmas in Russia, the Pacific Ocean, then Taipei 101 and Jade Mountain,  Hawaii all came by the way, very unexpected sidelights on a journey of  service with […]

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