River tracing is often deemed as a sport only in summer. But that can be very wrong, and you are missing a lot of fun for that prejudice. Many river traces are only possible in winter and spring. Not to mention that natural hot springs are enjoyable only on cold days. Many of my best river tracing experiences were actually in winter and spring.
1.Hot spring season
Natural hot spring season starts from December to May—winter and spring. Sometimes the hot spring season starts earlier. Taiwan has hundreds of hot spring outcrops as a result of being on the intersection of three tectonic plates. This island is subtropical, indicating the weather is usually very hot in summer when it is not enjoyable for hot springs.
2. Predictability
In summer, southwest monsoon brings abundant water from the Pacific to western and southern Taiwan. Heat and water vapor often bring afternoon downpours, which might have a devastating impact on river traces. In general, the weather is much more stable as well as predictable for river traces in winter and spring.
3. Less Water Flow
Many rivers are only accessible in late winter and spring. In summer, they tend to have high water flow, making them impossible to approach.
4. Cool Weather
As Taiwan is an subtropical island, fall, winter, and spring are more comfortable for long-distance hikes in valleys; it’s the same reason for many hikes in mountains. Just imagine how unbearable it is to hike in a valley on a hot summer day in Kaohsiung with 28 degrees in the sun.
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