A young Singaporean university student found himself in a harrowing situation while hiking alone in Taiwan, after dense fog and heavy rain caused him to lose his way on a remote mountain trail in Yilan County.

The 20-year-old had embarked on a solo “spontaneous” hike at Taiping Mountain on Friday (1 Aug), aiming to tackle the challenging Taijia Thru Trail — an 18.9km route leading to Jialuo Lake, usually requiring two full days of trekking and overnight camping.

Unfortunately, his adventurous spirit quickly met reality as the weather turned for the worse. At around 1.30pm, strong downpours and thick fog rolled in, severely limiting visibility and disorienting the hiker mid-journey.

Singaporean Calls for Help, Rescued After Over Two Hours

Recognising the severity of his situation, the student reached out for help by calling the local police. Officers from Sanxing Township quickly responded, dispatching Officer Lin Yutang, who braved the worsening weather to begin a rescue operation.

After more than two hours of searching through steep, slippery terrain, the officer finally located the lost hiker near Duomen Mountain — sitting at a daunting elevation of 2,273 metres above sea level. The student was visibly weak and fatigued.

Officer Lin offered him food, water, and emotional reassurance before beginning the journey back. The return trek to safety took an additional two hours, with the pair finally reaching the police station before 6.30pm.

Police Urge Hikers to Plan Ahead and Avoid Solo Treks

In light of the incident, Taiwanese authorities issued a fresh reminder to all hikers, especially tourists, to prepare adequately for high-altitude treks. Key advice includes mapping out the trail beforehand, checking real-time weather updates, carrying the correct hiking equipment, and avoiding solo trips whenever possible.

This case has highlighted the importance of having emergency contacts, reliable mobile reception, and even investing in travel insurance for hikers. While this situation ended without injury, such stories don’t always have happy endings.

For those planning mountain adventures abroad, consider registering your travel plans with local embassies and packing GPS trackers or satellite beacons as part of your essential gear. With rising global interest in ecotourism and nature travel, emergency mountain rescue services are under increasing strain — prevention is always better than cure.