Segment times are from my own track — my pace, not advice; guidebook times are transcribed verbatim from Sunriver Culture's step-time charts (Gaoshan Baiyue topographic maps), a public yardstick. Every station's position and name was checked by hand and aligned with Sunriver's naming, so names and elevations match what hikers actually call them. Route is for reference only.This is a GPS-recorded log of my own walk on 9 October 2026: Mt. Hehuan North and West Peaks as a day return, 13.3 km walked, 1274 m total ascent, 8 h 19 m of recorded time (4 pauses not counted), 9 h 26 m from start to return to the trailhead. A few things to note:
- Mt. Hehuan West Peak is counted among the Baiyue's "four dreary mountains", but it is the approach that is dreary: nearly six hours there and back, dwarf bamboo and false summits the whole way, no water, and the climb back over the north peak at the end. The summit itself stands clear of the bamboo; on 9 October 2026 it had a full 360-degree view. Turn back at the lowest saddle if you are not up to it.
- No reliable water anywhere; carry your own. The guidebook gives 8 h 55 m there and back (trailhead to the north peak 1:30, north peak to the west peak 3:00, back 3:25, north peak down to the trailhead 1:00). Carry accordingly. The return is slower because of the climb from the lowest saddle back up to the north peak: the book gives 110 minutes for it against 75 coming down.
- The north peak trailhead is at the 37.1K mark on Provincial Highway 14A. Up to 1.3K, where the ridge begins, it is a steady steep climb over staple-shaped iron rungs, rock, stacked stone-and-timber steps and gravel.
- October afternoons fog over often; visibility in the dwarf bamboo drops, so read the route markers before moving on.
- This GPX keeps the original timestamps — that's the record of my own pace, not a suggested pace; hikers should judge by their own condition and the weather. Every track point has a timestamp.
Actual conditions on the ground take priority over this record.
