When it was announced last November that eight disabled youths planned to climb Mt. Morrison, the loftiest summit on Taiwan, some felt the plan to be over ambitious, and questioned what would be gained from it. Reaching the 3997 meter high summit is a challenge for any climber, and requires not only strength and climbing experience, but considerable preparation and familiarity with the mountain as well. But last year on the morning of November 9, a climbing group which included eight disabled youths arrived at Taipei's West Station to embark on a trip towards the mountain.

The activity's planners had a significant motive. The physically disabled have always had more difficulty in seeking education and work than other members of society. Their exclusion from many activities also tends to limit the development of their interests and abilities. The purpose of the mountain climbing excursion was to expand the range of activity of disabled youths and give them more of an opportunity to enjoy nature.

The trip to Mt. Morrison was only one in a series of activities organized by the Eden Foundation for the Disabled and the P'ingtung Victory House. The success of a hike along the Cross-Island Highway in August involving 40 disabled participants encouraged both hikers and organizers alike of the value of continuing such activities.

Disabled hikers climbing Mt. Morrison is unprecedented. The difficult summit was chosen to give the hikers an opportunity to face a tremendous challenge-and in the process broaden their range of experiences and friendships.

Participants were chosen on the basis of their physical strength, and performance in the August excursion. Although many wanted to participate, only eight were chosen--four from the Eden Foundation and four from Victory House.

Two days prior to the trip, the climbers were sent to the National Taiwan University Hospital to undergo simulation tests for physical strength in order to insure that the climb would be safe. While the tests judged the participants strength to be inadequate, none were willing to give up the climb. It was eventually decided that a group of experienced climbers would be sent along to accompany and aid the disabled climbers.

The group from the Eden Foundation was first to arrive at Alishan, the starting point for the climb. Ni Hua-ch'en, assistant leader for the group led them in simulation warm-up exercises. Later the group from P'ingtung arrived with 12 experienced climbers who would assist in the excursion. Although they had climbed the mountain a number of times, the opportunity to assist others gave the climb a new significance.

The next day the P'ingtung group, whose members were more disabled than those from Eden, started out earlier than the others. Among them was the large-eyed, dark skinned Wang Sheng-ch'uan. Wang, of Shanti heritage, came from a very poor family. When Wang was stricken with polio at an early age, the family could not afford treatment. His condition was severe by the time he was discovered by Victory House. But after two operations in which a steel frame was placed in Wang's vertebrae, the courageous youth can now stand up, and shows particular strength and energy in climbing activities.

Of the eight climbers, seven have leg or foot disabilities and require the aid of crutches. A considerable portion of their weight is thus distributed to their arms. While hiking they must make an extra effort to find a stable place among broken rocks in which to place their crutches. In addition, if the slope is steep they cannot face it directly, as their center of gravity would cause them to fall backward. Steep climbs must be made with their backs to the slope. Being led by the hand by an experienced aide can only increase the danger. In the end, the disabled climbers were supported only by their crutches and strong convictions.

The climbers moved at a slow pace, and by mid-morning some exhausted members dropped out of the group. At one point Chen Hsu-han, a climber who assisted the group, fell the length of a five-story building while helping a disabled climber. Securing himself on a growth of bamboo he managed to pull himself back up without suffering injury.

One trouble followed another. By noon the climbers were weakened by a bout of intestinal problems. By afternoon some hikers began to stumble and it was feared that they wouldn't reach the P'aiyun rest stop before nightfall. As the sky darkened and temperatures dropped, the disabled climbers were carried on the assistants' backs. All were hungry, thirsty and exhausted by the time they reached the rest stop.

That night the normally introverted Ts'ai Wen-chun, a participant with a sight disability, made use of his training in massage to relieve the aches of his comrades. At the same time the leaders held an emergency meeting to consider the dangers of continuing. With safety as the first priority, it was decided not to continue. "Reaching the top is not the main goal," said Ni Huach'en as he consoled the group. "What's important is the process, and the fact that we did our best."

Reaching the 3528 meter high P'aiyun rest stop was indeed a record accomplishment. Its setbacks and errors also provided significant lessons for organizing the next climb. Future activities will be geared more to the participants' degree of disability. More preparatory training of both disabled climbers and assistants will precede the climb.

The effort to climb Mt. Morrison was an indication of increasing concerns for disabled members of society. It also provided a useful lesson in the importance of method in guiding and channeling such enthusiasm.

(Jill Ardourel)

[Picture Caption]

1. Disabled climber Liu P'u-sheng enjoys a moment of exhilaration upon reaching a summit. 2. Disabled youths must exert a much greater amount of energy than others to climb the mountain.

1. Assistants carry the disabled on their backs to help them along a dangerous log-formed road on a steep cliff. 2. On the second day the climbers raise the flag and prepare to descend the mountain.

1. Hardy wild flowers bloom on a precipitous mountain cliff. 2. Disabled climbers hope to conquer even the highest of cliffs. 3. Assistants take care of the climbers at every step along the way.

1. While the group stops to rest, assistant leader Ni Hua-chen gives Wang Sheng-ch'uan an arm massage. 2. After falling down the side of a cliff, the experienced climber Cheng Hsu-han skillfully made his way back to safety. 3. Sunrise on Mt. Morrison is a marvelous display of changing clouds. Only the mountain climber can fully intuit such a vista.

2. Disabled youths must exert a much greater amount of energy than others to climb the mountain.

1. Assistants carry the disabled on their backs to help them along a dangerous log-formed road on a steep cliff.

2. On the second day the climbers raise the flag and prepare to descend the mountain.

1. Hardy wild flowers bloom on a precipitous mountain cliff.

2. Disabled climbers hope to conquer even the highest of cliffs.

3. Assistants take care of the climbers at every step along the way.

1. While the group stops to rest, assistant leader Ni Hua-chen gives Wang Sheng-ch'uan an arm massage.

2. After falling down the side of a cliff, the experienced climber Cheng Hsu-han skillfully made his way back to safety.

3. Sunrise on Mt. Morrison is a marvelous display of changing clouds. Only the mountain climber can fully intuit such a vista.