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About Qilai Range / Qilaishan Peaks
The Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆
Qilai Range (奇萊連峰) is the alpine trail where you can climb four Baiyue peaks, Qilaishan North Peak / Main Peak / South Peak, and Nanhuashan (南華山) on one hike. If you begin the trip from Qilaishan trail head, you will pass the precipitous Kaluolou Cliff (卡羅樓斷崖) before the trail joins the west section of Nenggao Cross-Ridge Trail (能高越嶺西段) at Tianchi (天池). (This section of Nenggao Cross-Ridge Trail is also a part of Nenggao-Andongjun Trail (能高安東軍).)
This 3-day hike on Qilai Range is more challenging than Qilaishan Main / North Peaks (奇萊主北) mainly because it is not a return trip, and thus hikers have to carry all the stuffs up to the ridge and then negotiate the risky terrain around Kaluoloushan (卡羅樓山). For someone who just want to ascend all the Baiyue mountains with less effort, they may head to Qilai South Peak and Nanhuashan on a different trip only via the west section of Nenggao Cross-Ridge Trail. However, they will miss the highlight on the Qilai Range, the Kaluolou Cliff, by doing so.
The full length of Qilai Range shows you the formidable and imposing face of Qilaishan Main / North Peak, and also the smooth and soothing side on Qilaishan South Peak / Nanhuashan on a single hike in three days. You would not find many trails in Taiwan represent such a great diversity within a short distance. As long as you are a competent hiker, this trail is one of the most recommended classical alpine trails in Taiwan. Even this is usually a three-day hike, I still rate it as a difficult trail. You may want to read the article, “Hiking Safety in Taiwan”, for more information.
I hiked on this trail in 2010. From dawn to dusk we spent over 12 hours on the second day. For hikers who have fear of heights, the day passing Kaluolou Cliff is no doubt a mental torture. But if you are very used to steep and exposed terrain, it may be just like a breeze.
