The First Hike on the Tiaomi Trail
Time: 1:00 pm, November 21st, 2012
Location:Entrance to Wuxing School Destination:Tiaomi Trail
Content : On the afternoon of November 21st, 2012, the full Seed of Hope team finally hit the Tiaomi Trail for the first time. Teacher Wang Zhe-fu had made an appointment for us to visit the Taihe village headman who had promoted the trail, so the first stop on today's itinerary was the headman's office, and then we went on to the trail. The grandmother of Seed of Hope team member, Yong Ming, lives near here, so with Yong Ming leading the way we soon arrived at the headman's office. But as it happened, the headman had gone out to attend to some business, and so we went directly on to the trail.
Today, after we reached step 360, we took another path back to the school via Yitsuishan Mansion, because the teacher felt that if we went on we would see the cemetery and was afraid we may not be prepared for that, and also with the lack of time, so today we just hiked as far as the Tiaomi Temple.
Team Records and Experiences:
Ming-han:Today our Seed of Hope team came to the Tiaomi Trail for the first time. Even a week ago, I was too excited to sleep. When we got onto the trail I was shocked, because the landscape there was completely different from when I was in my second grade. Not only was the path clean and neat, there were also many new things that had been built; new steps, a renovated square at the mine entrance, and also many pavilions, so considerate.
As soon as we started uphill, five classmates rushed on ahead really fast, completing the first slope in no time at all. Me and Yong-ming walked on slowly, with the teacher behind us. All along the way, there were many Human-faced Spiders. I wanted to take some photos, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't get any; they just seemed to be invisible -- so mysterious! I feel today was really fun, I really like to come out with my classmates, but our class mentor felt concerned at our learning outside the school, so I count this event as an extra-curricular activity!
Pei-lin:On Wednesday Teacher Ah Ching took the students studying historical trails on the Tiaomi Trail. First we went to find the Taihe Village headman, Mr. Lin Zheng-yi, but he wasn't there, so we went on to study the Tiaomi Trail. We went up the steps one by one, looking back from time to time to find we'd already come a long way from the entrance. Up and up we hiked, stopping to take a good look, and then a photo every time we reached an explanatory board. We had stopped at a sign to the Dexing mine to collect data, when we saw the village headman coming on a motorcycle to find us. The headman gave us a brief introduction to the history of the Tiaomi Trail, and then we made a shot together. Then we went on up to the Tiaomi Temple at the top. I was able to learn a lot of new things from taking the Tiaomi Trail and at the same time enjoy the fresh open air in the mountains.
I'm really glad that I'm able to join the web-page group studying the Tiaomi Trail and get a first-hand understanding of what a hard life people here had in the past, carrying rice from the bottom of the mountain to the top. It's really worth making a visit to the Tiaomi Trail. Would you like to take a look? I believe it will leave you with a beautiful memory!
Yong-ming:Today is my sixth time on the Tiaomi Trail, because I live nearby. But there is a world of difference between today's experience and my past visits. Not only is there now an incomparably clean path, there's also the Dexing Mine, full of the atmosphere of days long gone. Although some of us were barely able to get up this mountain, on the way up we saw many middle-aged and older hikers on their way down down, who gave us some encouragement, making us feel more confident and energetic.
I think today's event really was interesting, it's the first time teachers and students have gone mountain hiking together and it was so worthwhile. Next time I will definitely want to come again!
Yi-ting:Me and my classmates all started out on the Tiaomi Trail in a jubilant mood. The first place we went was the Taihe Village headman's office, but the headman wasn't there, so we started climbing the mountain. We walked and walked, with the teacher taking us to a supermarket and buying a drink for each of us, and then we wwent on our way, and we hiked for a really long time, till at last we reached the mountaintop. Some students ran on ahead, afraid of falling behind, but I did't know the way, so I just stayed dutifully by the teacher's side. On the way, we saw some historical artefacts. After walking for a really long time, we finally reached the end, completing our mission.
This activity made me realize that the Tiaomi Trail was made by our ancestors with such hardhship and effort,and it was just a slightly shorter route they used to carry rice when they wanted to sell it elsewhere. On the Tiaomi Trail there are remnants of the old steps, and the original temple, and the remains of the laurel tree. In recent years these have been made more and more beautiful through the renovations of the village headman and Taipei city government.
Kai-tong:We went together on the Tiaomi Trail to explore its mysteries. First we visited the Dexing coal mine, then found that the village headman had come on a motorcycle to find us. The handrails on the Tiaomi Trail have all been renovated, so they look quite comfortable, and it's much less messy than I expected; there was very little litter to be seen. At the beginning of the trail, I felt it was quite demanding, but it soon felt much easier. Today we only went as far as the Tiaomi Temple, the teacher didn't let us go on to Chongde Street, so I felt it was a little unfortunate that we came back via Yitsuishan Mansion, as there is a section there without rails that I think could be improved. On the way back there was a little rain, so we each went home in the rain, which brought today's Taiomi Trail trip to a perfect ending.
Pei-yo:I went to the Tiaomi Trail; this is the first time in my life that I've been to the Tiaomi Trail. I took a really long route here, and our Computer Studies teacher took a photo every time he saw a sign marking the distance to the trail. It took 37 minutes to get from Wuxing Elementary to the entrance of the Tiaomi Trail. When we got to the Dexing Mine, I found that it was a bit dirty, and there seemed to be chicken eggs in there too. I wish that the people coming to the Tiaomi Trail would show a little civic-mindedness and not litter the place.
Yan-qing:Today we climbed the Tiaomi Trail. When we got to the trailhead, we saw a man on a motorcycle coming in our direction, unexpectedly it turned out to be the village headman. The Tiaomi trail and its railings have been renovated, and have a kind of brand new feeling about them. But I still prefer the way it was, the old trail already had signs marking which step number you had reached. The teacher didn't let us go on to Chongde Street, I'm feel sure the reason for this is that he didn't want us to see the cemetery. Finally, we went back by way of Yitsuishan Mansion, with everyone seemingly afraid of seeing the cemetery as a result. I don't think there's anything to be scared of, because I've already taken this route with my father hundreds of times.
