Mount Hua is rumored to be one of the most dangerous hiking trails in the world. Since I am living in Shanghai for the semester I was yearning to get out of the city for a weekend in seek of an adrenaline rush.
At the beginning of my hike I looked up and saw traces of fresh flakes on the top peaks. Being from Wyoming, it is rare to make it past Halloween without seeing the first snow. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to know I would be able to touch snow once I arrived to the top. This motivated me to hike at a faster pace. Here is a shot I took once I hit snow line.
Mount Hua was my getaway for some fresh air, scenery, and as stated above; adrenaline. Here is a photo of the “plank walk” trail, which is the main reason I wanted to visit this mountain. Previously the mountain had minimal safety measures. In recent years, the Chinese government has initiated more safety protocol in response to the mountain attracting an increased number tourists. Here I am strapped into a mandatory harness. I felt pretty safe, but it certainly was a long way down to the bottom.
I spent a night on the East Peak for the convenience of waking up the next morning to watch the famous sunrise. Mount Hua is not like the Rocky Mountains that I am used to, but it was an adventure of a lifetime!
Sam Morse
November 27th, 2014
China’s got some awesome mountains for sure? In what part of the country was Mount Hua?
Allison McCuskey
November 27th, 2014
Sam, Mount Hua is located in Shaanxi province. Looking at a map, it is just about smack dab in the middle of China.
You may have heard of Xi’an city and the Terra Cotta Warrior statues? It is near that area-lots of awesome history!