GMBA桃源谷步道健行

國際事務室暨GMBA辦公室

撰文者／GMBA 陳依瑾、一年級Lorenzo Miguel Galura Ramos

俗話常說：「最艱難的登頂後，等待的是最美的風景。」2021/03/21一群由GMBA的學生與來自其他學程的登山愛好者，一同組團出發前往位於東海岸宜蘭市鼎鼎大名的桃源谷步道健行。

這群登山團準時在週六早上9點集合，租車準備開往宜蘭。這趟旅程的開頭些許顛簸，高速公路出乎意料地壅塞，大家被困在車陣中將近兩小時，使得他們的原先的計劃不得不跟著作調動，意即取消部分行程。為了不讓壅塞的交通影響大夥的情緒，大家開始在車上娓娓道出各自有趣的經歷與故事，也在車上大聲歌唱喜愛的曲子。很幸運地，他們最後找到替代的公路前往宜蘭，彌補前面因塞車而浪費的時間。

在攻頂桃源谷步道之前，登山團先到福隆海水浴場歇歇腳，並在那享用了美味的便當、好吃的香腸以及新鮮的梅子汁，補充足夠的能量後開始以步行草嶺古道開啟他們的攻頂之旅。最先迎接他們的是一段長達好幾千階的樓梯，陡峭的步道與春日炎熱的天氣使得不少團員走得頗為辛苦。很幸運地，許多步道被高聳的大樹遮蔽著，沿途也有休息站讓他們累的時候可以喘口氣、補充些水份。

在兩個小時疲憊地步行階梯之後，登山團被眼前美麗的風景大大地撫慰了身體上的不適。看著一群水牛們平靜地在大草原上漫步，太平洋湛藍的海水盡收眼底，龜山島就像是近在咫尺，晴朗無雲的藍天與溫暖的春日氣息巧妙結合了海陸空的美景。登山團的每個人都興奮地飽覽眼前的景象，更拍了許多人物、風景等照片。

當他們終於抵達頂峰，愜意地坐下來歇息，花了不少時間將美景帶來的感動好好地悉心地存在心裡，之後大家才將事先準備的零嘴與食物拿出來一同分享。下山後，登山團的每個人早已飢腸轆轆，之前帶上山的零食根本無法滿足大家步行四小時所消耗的熱量，幸好此行有GMBA學生Donny Hsiao為大家規劃行程，在宜蘭最有名的道地餐廳享受美味、新鮮的海鮮料理。

一群人度過一個充實的週末，誠摯的感謝這位GMBA最棒的登山領隊!

 

GMBA Taouyan Valley Hike

Written by Lorenzo Miguel Galura Ramos

As often said, “The best view comes after the hardest climb.”

Saturday of March 20, 2021, a group of GMBA hiking enthusiasts set out to trek the famous Taoyuan Valley located just along the eastern coastline of Yilan County.

The hikers, consisting of current GMBA students and friends from other programs, gathered at the car rental shop at around 9am to begin their drive up north to Yilan. Their trip started on a not so happy note as everyone was caught off guard by the unusual traffic congestion along the main highway. They were stuck in traffic for almost two hours and were forced to readjust their schedule and remove some activities from their initial itinerary. Not to let the traffic dampen their spirits, the friends and classmates bonded over funny and interesting stories and carpool karaoke. Luckily, they found an alternate route to Yilan and made up for lost time.

Just before beginning their ascent to Taoyuan Valley, the group stopped by Fulong beach to energize and stuff themselves with a nice bento lunch box, some tasty sausages, and freshly-squeezed plum juice.

The group chose to go through the Caoling Historic Trail for the first leg of the hike. They were greeted with thousands of stone steps to climb. The steep trail, coupled with the hot spring weather, gave the GMBA hikers a very difficult time. Luckily, the trail had an abundant canopy of tall trees and had several resting stops for them take short breaks and rehydrate.

After 2 grueling hours of walking up the stone steps, the group was rewarded with the best view ever – water buffalos peacefully grazing in the vast grassland area, a view of the Pacific Ocean with Turtle Island just within sight, and clear blue skies amidst the warm spring weather. It was a stunning combination of land, sea, and sky.

It became really difficult for the group to refrain from stopping and taking lots of photos. Once they finally reached the summit, they took their time to relax and really bask in the scenery. They also brought out snacks and shared a nice meal with one another before heading back down. As the snacks were not enough after a grueling 4-hour hike, the GMBA-ers stopped by at a famous restaurant to enjoy Yilan’s fresh seafood platters.

Truly a weekend well spent!

Special thanks to Donny Hsiao for making all the arrangements and for being an awesome trail leader!