Yushan, Taiwan

I feel like Taiwan has some of the most dramatic and underrated mountains in the world. The island has more than a hundred peaks above 3,000 meters (9,800ft), with the tallest being Yushan at 3,952 meters (12,966ft). At the end of my 10-day hike through these rugged mountains, I camped just below the summit on my final night on the trail. I debated whether to climb the summit the next morning or make the final 500 meters of ascent just before sunset and descend back to my tent afterward. I’m very glad I chose the second option. I had the entire summit completely to myself and watched one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. Clouds drifted through the valleys below while the orange sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon. Hiking in the Taiwanese mountains is definitely tough, but incredibly rewarding.