^ The problem with the Chinese trails (especially Huashan) is that many of them are built directly along steep mountain ridges, and many sections have NO railing. Also whoever cut the steps obviously didn't factor in step size. Half the steps on that thing are designed for midgets. I slipped and fell a couple of times (this was in September, light rain), once down about 3-5 steps, and remember a few sections where I went on all 4s in an effort not to slide/fall off the mountain. There was also this one metal staircase that was so steep and HIGH, I remember taking it one step at a time like a toddler, and using both hands.
My buddy and I also did Mount Tai (Taishan), and that one was way more packed but nowhere near as difficult.
Of course, the fact that many of these trails are bi-directional doesn't help.
Anyone on RS done the "Soldier's Path" (bypasses the gondola, like the Grouse Grind) up Huashan? That was closed the day we hit it up.
And speaking of Huashan, we came across this "monument".. *cough* Anyone know the history behind it? This thing was maybe 6m high.
This was the plaque in front. "Hua Shan Summer Root". Huh??
Can someone translate the Chinese on this thing? My simplified sucks.