Another weekend, another mountain...

First trip with HP Mountaineering society to 太平山 and a visit to Kavalan whisky distillery (the only one in Taiwan). The hikes we did smell fantastic - the cypress woods I guess. It smelt like spas most of the time. Really enjoyed it, except it was mostly steps - like being on a stairmaster all weekend. My calves ache like hell now.

And the other highlight was the whisky distillery. It's recent, into it's 3rd year and as the whisky distillation process takes 2 years, technically it is the first year of producing whisky. I bought 2 bottles back for Michelle/Ian & Calvin. We got to sample a small sip - it's nice. Rae and I clink glasses and downed it, much to the consternation of everyone else at our table, we got dirty looks of 'you alcoholics'...

Our overall itineary

5/23(六) 第一天(午餐自理)
6:50 am 台北集合出發=== 8:20 太平山入口(土場)，停車購票=== 9:15 太平山莊下車，整裝
9:30 搭09:30 分蹦蹦車去走三疊瀑布...每一小時一班，若沒搭上09:30 分蹦蹦車，就先遊走
鐵杉林自然步道全長1.7km，再搭10:30 分蹦蹦車去走三疊瀑布～～步行
三疊瀑布2.7km 下切3 百公尺，若不想走這麼累的人，建議可以走茂興懷舊步道
14:00 搭14:00 分蹦蹦車回太平山莊，Check In，自由活動，下列步道依個人體力作選擇，
於當日再召集有興趣者共同出遊，
1) 鐵杉林自然步道全長1.7km
2) 鳩之澤自然步道全長2km
3) 見晴懷古步道全長2.35km
18:20~19:20 太平山莊用晚餐，夜空數星星太平山莊(宿)

5/24(日) 第二天
5:30 起床...看日出，不看日出者可繼續見周公
6:30~7:20 太平山莊早餐，
7: 20 集合，7:30 搭接駁車往翠峰湖===8:20 抵翠峰湖～～8: 30 台灣山毛櫸步道入口
8: 30 台灣山毛櫸步道～～3.8 km * 2 來回約需220 分鐘(普通腳)，若不想走這麼累的人
中途折返，建議可以走翠峰湖環山(湖)步道
12:00 回程往太平山莊===12:50 抵太平山莊
12:50~13:50 太平山莊午餐
13:50 集合上車，14:00 開車前往金車KAVALAN Whisky 酒莊===14:50 底達酒莊
14:50~17:50 金車酒莊參觀，品酒，喝咖啡
17:50 集合上車===18:30~19:30 礁溪用晚餐(Option:礁溪洗溫泉，不包含於費用中)
19:30 上車回台北===20:30 底台北