West Xue Trail D2 Waypoint
16 Jul 2025 32 waypoints 42 photos 9.83 km
D2 Itinerary
Before leaving Qika Cabin, check your supplies and water — today has a lot of exposed sections and a big climb, so to be safe I'd suggest bringing 2 liters.
East Peak of Xue Mountain
On the way to the East Peak of Xue Mountain, you first pass Kupo, which is really just a relentless, continuous steep rocky climb; you can take a short break at the Kupo Viewing Platform partway up. The contour lines bunch up tightly in the last stretch, and there are even signs warning about altitude sickness — just pace your breathing and take it step by step. Right past the top of Kupo, you'll see the sign toward 369 Cabin, and about another half hour gets you to the East Peak of Xue Mountain at 3201m elevation.
Main Peak of Xue Mountain
About 20 minutes after leaving the East Peak, you'll see a helipad, and about another half hour of climbing brings you to 369 Cabin, which was under renovation. Next you cross a stretch of meadow climbing toward the Black Forest. There are two ways up here: a slow switchback route, or a steeper direct climb. Compared to a descent, climbing through the meadow carries less risk, so if you have the legs and supplies for it, going straight up through the Black Forest can save time. Since this meadow has no cover, the views are great, but watch your sun protection and water intake. Once you're in the Black Forest, you get cover, and it's a pleasant stretch with both shade and light coming through; the Black Forest has a water source you can consider using, since once you're out of it there's no cover again. Past the Black Forest, about another half hour brings you to the glacial cirque carved out by ice — well worth stopping for photos! Continuing to climb for about 90 minutes gets you to Taiwan's second-highest peak, the Main Peak of Xue Mountain at 3886m elevation.
Before leaving the Main Peak of Xue Mountain to descend toward Cui Pond, check two things first:
1. Sort out your shoes, tighten the laces, make sure your heel is snug in the back and your toes won't jam into the front.
2. Extend your trekking poles.
The path down to Cui Pond is all loose scree — it's already tricky even without rain, but this stretch is prone to afternoon thunderstorms, so slow down whenever you can! Let your trekking poles lead, confirm they're solid, and only then move your feet; keep your weight back, so that if you do fall, your pack hits the ground first — absolutely avoid falling forward!
We camped overnight at Cui Pond Hut. Cui Pond isn't just for refilling water — in the morning you can even get a photo with the reflection of Beileng Horn in it! There's a very comfortable spot by the pond for filling water — see Waypoint 37 for details, demonstrated by fellow hiker 'Instant-Teleport Ah-De': you can sit, rest your feet, and set down your water bladder — very comfortable.
Trail Log
06 Getting ready for Kupo (feat. the unstoppable Brother Da)
3,914 m2,518↓9 min 150 m ↑23 m
07 Toward 369 Cabin — there are chairs to rest on
3,914 m2,518↓16 min 240 m ↑78 m
08 Photo stop
3,914 m2,518↓14 min 320 m ↑75 m
09 Kupo Viewing Platform
3,914 m2,518↓35 min 390 m ↑135 m
10 Continue toward 369 Cabin
3,914 m2,518↓21 min 600 m ↑57 m
11 Toward the East Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓2 min 20 m
12 East Peak of Xue Mountain Triangulation Point
3,914 m2,518↓25 min 140 m ↓19 m
13 Helipad
3,914 m2,518↓35 min 1.84 km ↑66 m ↓62 m
14 369 Cabin (Zhengxiuzhong)
3,914 m2,518↓5 min 120 m
15 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓6 min 80 m ↑26 m
16 Please don't take the shortcut
3,914 m2,518↓15 min 230 m ↑86 m
17 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓1 min 20 m
18 Fallen tree
3,914 m2,518↓48 min 980 m ↑74 m ↓26 m
19 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓12 min 170 m ↑65 m
20 Keep right past the fallen tree
3,914 m2,518↓2 min 50 m
21 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓12 min 250 m ↑58 m
22 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓15 min 130 m ↑29 m
23 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓32 min 400 m ↑84 m
24 Xue Mountain Glacial Cirques
3,914 m2,518↓2 min 40 m
25 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓30 min 410 m ↑111 m
26 Toward the Main Peak of Xue Mountain
3,914 m2,518↓38 min 380 m ↑167 m
27 Fire-scarred Yushan juniper
3,914 m2,518↓6 min 100 m ↑28 m
28 Xue Mountain Main Peak (with Lama and little Xiatian)
3,914 m2,518↓43 min 60 m ↑26 m ↓27 m
30 Toward the campsite at Cui Pond
3,914 m2,518↓7 min 20 m
31 Toward Cui Pond
3,914 m2,518↓8 min 270 m ↓75 m
32 Toward Cui Pond
3,914 m2,518↓37 min 730 m ↓234 m
33 Toward Cui Pond
3,914 m2,518↓1 min 30 m
34 Mountain gate
3,914 m2,518↓17 min 420 m ↓55 m
35 Cui Pond
3,914 m2,518↓1 min 20 m
36 Tent area
3,914 m2,518↓3 min 0 m
37 Sitting down to fill water (feat. Instant-Teleport Ah-De)Mentioned in text
3,914 m2,518↓20 min 0 m
38 Cui Pond Hut
3,914 m2,518
Start of record04:43 2510 m 0 km Qika Cabin
↓49 min 1.22 km ↑315 m
End of record13:48 3520 m 9.83 km Cui Pond
← Back to D2 card