Yushan Tragedy: Two Hikers Found Dead After Fall Down Icy Slope

Rescue efforts end in heartbreak as hikers succumb to treacherous conditions on Taiwan's highest peak.

Taipei, Taiwan - A rescue operation on Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest peak, concluded in tragedy this past Saturday, as authorities confirmed the recovery of two hikers, found without vital signs after falling approximately 380 meters down a steep, icy slope.

The Nantou County Fire Department received an emergency call at 10 a.m. Saturday, reporting that a male and female hiker had fallen while traversing the main and north peaks of Yushan.

The National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) conducted an aerial search and located the two individuals at the bottom of the slope around dusk that same day, partially covered in snow. However, due to the extremely challenging terrain and high winds, a helicopter rescue was deemed unsafe.

Early Sunday morning, a rescue team comprised of Nantou fire department personnel and Yushan National Park officials made their way from Paiyun Lodge. They reached the location of the hikers around 11 a.m. and confirmed they had perished. The team is now working to move the bodies to a more accessible area for helicopter extraction by the NASC.

In a statement released Saturday evening, the Yushan National Park Headquarters cautioned hikers about the “extremely dangerous” conditions currently present at higher elevations. The melting of winter snow, followed by frequent refreezing due to nighttime temperatures dropping below zero, creates hazardous icy conditions on the trails.

Yushan's main peak stands at an elevation of 3,952 meters (approximately 12,966 feet), making it a challenging climb even under ideal conditions.