Running

**Sign-up closes on Feb 1st or when full** **We don't often run group trips to Yushan these days but we have quite a few people interested so we'll try and make this work. Not much time to get permits so sign up ASAP if you're keen!** **\*\*\*\*\*WHAT WE WILL PROVIDE\*\*\*\*\*** * Transport from Taipei to the mountain and back * Permits and accommodation (first night in a hotel (shared rooms) second night in the mountain cabin) * All the meals, from dinner on Saturday to brunch on Monday (excluding lunch on the Sunday) * Professional, native English speaking guide * Full Insurance * All entry fees * Minimum of 5 people needed. If we don't have at least 5 we'll cancel the trip and return any payments * Full refund if the trip is cancelled for other reasons (typhoons, road closures) * Winter safety gear (crampons, helmets, ice-axes) NOTE - this is a winter hike. You will be required to also carry crampons, an ice axe and helmet. We'll provide all these but you must have space available in your pack. This hike will be harder than a normal Yushan hike and could be -10C at the peak. Bring warm layers. Anyone who is struggling or not confident will be asked to stay at the cabin. The leader will decide and the decision is final. Sometimes conditions change for the worse and it may not be possible to reach the peak, or the peak may be closed by the national park. **SIGN UP FORM -** \*\*\*\* [Sign Up Yushan ](https://forms.gle/ZWZt92W2Cn2VNER69)\*\*\*\* Any problems, please email [ross@taiwan-adventures.com](mailto:ross@taiwan-adventures.com) An opportunity to go with Taiwan Adventures to Yushan (Jade Mountain), on an economical group trip. Due to the difficulty in getting permits, we rarely offer group trips to Yushan. Please read all the information below thoroughly and sign up soon, because the spaces will likely go quickly! This is an OVERNIGHT trip leaving Taipei on Saturday, March 7th and returning to Taipei on Monday March 9th. (If you work Monday to Friday, you’ll have to take Monday off) Included: Private transportation from and to Taipei for our group; dinner 1st night, breakfast and dinner 2nd night at the cabin, breakfast and noodles on the 3rd day; Your own bed\* in a hotel on the first night; Native English speaking guide, permits, and insurance. You need to bring your own lunch for the first day hiking. \*We’ll be staying in private rooms in a hotel near Alishan. You will have your own bed in a room with 4 other people. We might not be able to have separate men’s and women’s rooms. If you’d like a private room, tell us, and we’ll see what we can do, but it will cost extra. The second night will be in Paiyun Lodge and will be mixed company and probably mixed with another hiking group. **\*\*\*PRICE\*\*\*** If you're a full time student or you've been on another overnight hike with us, the price is $11,500TD pp. If this is your first hike with us, the price is $12,200NTD pp. We'll send you payment options after you sign up. **\*\*\*\*ITINERARY\*\*\*\*** Saturday (March 7th) - Meet at 1pm at Wanlong MRT Station, exit 2, Taipei. We'll drive for about 4 hours to Chiayi and have dinner. It’s another 1.5 hours to our hotel in Alishan. Meals Included: Dinner Sunday (March 8th) - Up around 7am, breakfast at the hotel and then drive 45 min to the trailhead. We’ll check in, then take the shuttle bus to the real trailhead. The hike to Paiyun Lodge is 8.5km and \~900m of vertical. It usually takes about 5 hours. Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner Monday (March 9th) - Up early (\~2am) breakfast and head to the main peak for sunrise. Hike back down to Paiyun Lodge for an early brunch (noodles), hike to the trailhead, and then drive back to Taipei. We expect to be back around 7:00-8:00pm. We'll make a brief stop at a 7-11 along the way for you to buy snacks/food. Meals Included: Breakfast, Brunch (noodles at the cabin) **\*\*\*\*\*WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING\*\*\*\*\*** (We’ll give you another packing list after you sign up) \- At least a 40L backpack \- Pack cover \- Sturdy hiking boots \(you will likely need to attach crampons\, running shoes are no use\) \- Fleece \- Raincoat \(essential\) \- Rain pants \(essential\) \- The ability to carry 2L of water \- Headlamp \(essential\) \- Toiletries and personal items \- Sunscreen \- Trousers \(not jeans or other cotton\) Sleeping bags will be waiting at the cabin for you (you can bring your own if you want but the cost is the same). Anyone who doesn't have the right equipment won't be allowed to start the hike. **\*\*\*HOW TO SIGN UP\*\*\*** Please complete the form at the link below. Please note that you are not fully signed up until we receive your payment. After you fill in the information in the link, we’ll send you an email with payment information. [Sign Up Yushan](https://forms.gle/ZWZt92W2Cn2VNER69) The payment is non-refundable and non-transferable unless we are unsuccessful in our permit application. Getting a permit can be difficult and we'll do our best to secure one. However in the event that we are unsuccessful, we will refund payments or rearrange the trip for another date. Be sure to read the group's rules, especially our refund policy: [Refund FAQ](https://www.taiwan-adventures.com/hikes-and-trips/faqs/#toggle-id-15)

小聚主題： **電商起手式-那些年沒人教的事 by 俊明** 很多人一直嚮往電商，但你真的知道什麼是電商嗎？電子商務因為不需要店面的關係，讓許多人誤以為他是個可以輕鬆跨足的產業類型，殊不知少掉店面之後\~更多了許多繁雜的操作細節需要了解，本次小聚就和大家分享我操作了近 30 個電商平台後，一些感想，還有早該知道的事。 🔹時間：3/8（週日）14:00〜16:00 🔹場地：圓林園青創基地 (圓林園滯洪池生態公園 2F) 🔹地點：[彰化縣員林市員林大道四段369號](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hFNXasXmUJ98ouFo8) 🔹費用：免費參加 現場為青創基地，有提供飲水機，場地可攜帶食物但請在活動後自行帶走垃圾。 **感謝 彰化縣政府青年發展處提供場地** 👉小聚的分享是練習表達很棒的場合喔！歡迎報名閃電秀或主題分享😉 注意：由於座位有限，如果您的出席有任何變化，請更改您的出席狀態，我們可以將座位安排給其他夥伴。 #WPTW **交通資訊：** * 自行開車：可停大勇街 [員林大勇停車場](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZrZPAhuZ53Wvggp49)，或往大同路方向也有多個停車場可使用 * 大眾運輸工具：員林火車站下車後騎乘公共自行車，約15分鐘距離。彰化公共自行車為 [MOOVO](https://www.ridemoovo.com/)，若有需要先行註冊綁訂扣款方式後，即可使用 APP 掃單車的條碼解鎖後使用。

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Columbus City Brunch Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over brunch. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new restaurants in your city, together. \* Curated lunch venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

Columbus libraries: [https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3262835](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3262835) Location: [Knotty Pine Brewing](https://www.knottypinebrewing.net/) [Menu, scroll to the bottom](https://www.knottypinebrewing.net/menus-1) Book summary: Adunni is a fourteen-year-old Nigerian girl who knows what she wants: an education. This, her mother has told her, is the only way to get a "louding voice" -- the ability to speak for herself and decide her own future. But instead, Adunni's father sells her to be the third wife of a local man who is eager for her to bear him a son and heir. When Adunni runs away to the city, hoping to make a better life, she finds that the only other option before her is servitude to a wealthy family. As a yielding daughter, a subservient wife, and a powerless slave, Adunni is told, by words and deeds, that she is nothing. But while misfortunes might muffle her voice for a time, they cannot mute it. And when she realizes that she must stand up not only for herself, but for other girls, for the ones who came before her and were lost, and for the next girls, who will inevitably follow, she finds the resolve to speak, however she can--in a whisper, in song, in broken English--until she is heard

**History** [Slate Run Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/slate-run/), located south of Canal Winchester in Pickaway County, has roots tracing back to the early planning efforts of the Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District. In 1963, Metro Parks officials identified the land along Slate Run as having strong potential for a large metropolitan park due to its expansive acreage, diverse habitats, and natural features like the stream that gave the area its name. The largest stream in the vicinity, Slate Run, flows south to northwest through a ridge, providing a logical basis for the park's designation. Between 1964 and 1968, Metro Parks acquired approximately 1,662 acres through multiple parcels, including a key 212-acre farmstead that had been continuously operated since 1805. This acquisition phase positioned Slate Run as a future major addition to the system, following the openings of other parks like Sharon Woods in 1968 and Highbanks in 1973. The park officially opened to the public in 1981, marking it as the sixth Metro Park in the district and, at the time, the largest with its substantial land holdings. From the outset, Metro Parks envisioned incorporating a living historical farm to educate visitors about 19th-century Ohio agriculture. The focal 212-acre parcel, purchased from the White family heirs in 1964, included historic structures that made it ideal for this purpose. The park's development preserved natural areas such as grasslands, wetlands, meadows, and forests while integrating interpretive elements. Upon opening, Slate Run quickly became a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Central to the park's identity is the Slate Run Living Historical Farm, which interprets life on a typical Ohio farm in the 1880s. The gothic revival farmhouse on the site was constructed in 1856 by owner Isaac Fridley and later restored by Metro Parks for historical accuracy. Visitors can explore interiors like the living room, parlor, and kitchen, where interpreters demonstrate period activities. The multi-bay barn, built in 1881 by Samuel Oman (the fourth owner), was meticulously restored with help from Amish carpenters. Heirloom animals such as Percheron horses, pigs, geese, and turkeys inhabit the farm, enhancing the immersive experience. The historical farmstead reflects a long lineage of ownership and agricultural use dating back to the early 19th century. Continuous farming on the land since 1805 made the site authentic for recreating late-19th-century practices, including grain harvesting and animal husbandry. Metro Parks focused on authenticity by restoring original buildings and introducing period-appropriate methods, such as horse-powered threshing machines from the late 1880s. The farm operates with volunteers and staff in period attire to portray daily rural life. This educational component has drawn school groups and families for decades. Today, Slate Run Metro Park spans about 1,705 acres and attracts roughly 250,000 visitors annually for its blend of natural preservation and historical interpretation. The park maintains diverse habitats supporting wildlife like nesting sandhill cranes and reintroduced northern bobwhite quail. Trails and open spaces offer opportunities for hiking and observation amid the preserved landscapes. The Living Historical Farm remains a crown jewel, continuing to teach about Ohio's agricultural heritage. Ongoing programs and restorations ensure the site's relevance for future generations. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Slate Run](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/SLR-parkmap@2x.gif). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Five Oaks, Sugar Maple, Covered Bridge, Shagbark, and Lake Trails. This will be around 4.5 to 5 miles. While Slate Run is moderately strenuous in a few places, it's generally a good place to hike and doesn't seem to wear people out. Some spots on the hike are unshaded, though, so be prepared for the possibility of some sun. I find Slate Run to be very underappreciated for the quality of its hiking. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet at the [Shady Grove Picnic Area](https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B045'30.1%22N+82%C2%B050'13.2%22W/@39.758347,-82.83701,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d39.758347!4d-82.83701?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D). You can use the map pin I've provided here; it's accurate. There's a latrine at Shady Grove, but there is no running water (no water fountains). We will pass a water fountain when we get to the Buzzard's Roost Picnic Area, although I can't guarantee this fountain won't be off for the winter. I'd recommend bringing some water just in case, at least for after the hike. I'd also recommend [hiking shoes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D972KN3W) for this park. **After the Hike** Once we're finished at Slate Run, we'll head over to [Loose Rail Brewing](https://looserailbrewing.com/) for [drinks](https://looserailbrewing.com/canal-winchester-canal-winchester-loose-rail-brewing-drink-menu) and [food](https://looserailbrewing.com/canal-winchester-canal-winchester-loose-rail-brewing-food-menu). The brewery's actual address is [37 W Waterloo St, Canal Winchester, OH 43110](https://www.google.com/maps/place/37+W+Waterloo+St,+Canal+Winchester,+OH+43110/@39.8432511,-82.8071032,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88387be3ac496d83:0x23e8ee9d9391dd6b!8m2!3d39.8432511!4d-82.8071032!16s%2Fg%2F11cp8n8x1j?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), and it's about 10-12 minutes from Slate Run. We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.