South Section 1　D4 Waypoint

D4 Itinerary

Leaving Yun–Ma Saddle Campground, a gentle climb of about 1K brings you to the Maxibaxiu Mountain Triangulation Point at 3,020 meters elevation. It's not classified as a Baiyue peak, but it's an easy tag along the South Section 1 traverse. If time and weather allow, it's worth stopping at this beautiful spot.

From the Maxibaxiu Mountain Triangulation Point, the trail ahead is mostly a slippery forest road with quite a few fallen trees to watch for; about 350 meters brings you to Lamata Sinsin Ruins, where there are plenty of stinging nettles nearby, so be careful when taking photos here. Continuing on to Waypoint 31, there's a sheltered clearing; since we set out before it got light, the dew and the arrow bamboo taller than a person will soak your clothes, pants, and shoes, so this clearing is a good spot for a short break, resupply, and some sun.

After resting, a gentle climb of about 3.2K brings you to the viewpoint at Waypoint 32 — a large rock jutting out over a cliff that makes for great photos, at roughly 23.0816, 120.88076. Leaving the viewpoint, about another 2.5K along the trail, as shown at Waypoint 34, there are sika deer remains that hadn't fully turned to bone yet; since only the body remained, it looked like an antlered buck had had its head taken. Less than 450 meters past the deer remains gets you to the Campground below Sancha Peak.

Beinanzhu Mountain
The Campground below Sancha Peak is only 1.1K from Beinanzhu Mountain — if you arrive at camp early, I strongly recommend a short rest and then switching to a summit pack to tag the peak, since Day 5's exit route is quite long, and climbing it in the dark the next morning isn't advisable and would eat into the day's schedule. The route to Beinanzhu Mountain is mostly a gentle climb; the last short stretch is steeper, but it's just a bigger elevation change, no ropes needed.

The Beinanzhu Mountain Triangulation Point at 3,295 meters elevation has a 360-degree panorama; in good weather you can even see a nearly 360-degree sea of clouds. The triangulation point sits on broad ground, with an imposing view of the surrounding mountains on every side — you can see Pingtung's Mt. Beidawu, and the South Section 2's Xiangyangshan and Dashuiku Mountain, and you can even preview Shishan, which you'll pass tomorrow.

After taking it all in, retrace your steps back down to the Campground below Sancha Peak. This campground has two water sources: one is the rain pond within the campground, whose water level varies and whose quality looks like an old family stew broth, with a film of oil floating on the surface. The other is reached by heading from the Campground below Sancha Peak toward Beinanzhu Mountain, then cutting down toward 'paradise on earth' to fetch water — a round trip of over an hour; if you have porters along, you might consider paying them to help carry water back. There are quite a few sika deer at this campground at night, so keep your gear put away.

The Campground below Sancha Peak had the most beautiful starry sky I've seen in my first year of hiking — it's just a shame my phone and photography skills couldn't capture even a fraction of its beauty. Hikers who get the chance to come here can enjoy stargazing in the company of sika deer.