More than 500 canyoneers flooded Buffalo Horn Creek in northern Pingtung County Sept. 13-14 for the 19th Taiwan River Tracers Convention, reflecting the growing popularity of the sport.
This year’s hot and humid autumn has made the county’s Haocha and Wanliou rivers, as well as Buffalo Horn Creek, loom large on river tracers’ radar, according to Hsu Bing-cheng, former head of Taiwan Mountain Rescue Association and an old hand at the sport. “Along these rivers, you will find deep water and steep cliffs waiting to be conquered.”
Hsu singled out Machia River, the main watercourse in the township of the same name, as a prime spot for canyoning. Machia is also the hometown of the Rukai people, giving it added cultural significance.
The annual convention is an opportunity for river tracers to show off their skill in traversing deep pools and ascending difficult rock faces. It also serves as a forum for exchanging experience, instructing novice enthusiasts, and teaching the importance of proper safety equipment and following correct procedure.
According to Hsu, canyoning has shed its macho image in recent years as more and more women have taken up the sport, finding they are just as adept as men at traversing the difficult terrain.
Guided river tracing tours in Pingtung usually cost about NT$1,500 (US$50) per head. Safety gear such as life jackets and helmets is mandatory by law, and guides will turn back customers refusing to wear proper equipment.
Canyoneers exploring Buffalo Horn Creek can also experience authentic Rukai culture in nearby Linali Village, making it an up-and-coming adventure tourism hotspot, Hsu said. (SSC-SDH)
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