36 year-old 吳季芸 (Gigi Wu) was a trader by profession. She started hiking up mountains some 5 years ago. Within the first 4 years of taking up this hobby, she had successfully climbed the 100 3,000 peaks in Taiwan, spending some 127 days a year climbing.
The idea of climbing these mountain scantily clad started off after she had lost a bet with her friends, but it soon became her trademark. Interestingly (and ironically), Miss Wu considered herself “low profile” and had rejected many request for interviews from the media. Despite that, she had a huge following , most of whom are probably not serious hikers. Over the last 4 years, she had posed for summit shots in 97 different sets of bikini. Below is a rare interview she did with FTV News.
On 11th January 2019, 吳季芸 started her solo climb from Nantou County’s Jupeng Shan (3109m), expecting to descend on 24th January. On 19th January 2019, however, Miss Wu fell into a 30m ravine. Unable to move, she called for help with her satellite phone. Weather conditions on the mountain made it dangerous for a helicopter rescue. Two attempts had been aborted.
Nevertheless, a rescue team organised by the Nantou fire department managed to find her on 21st January 2019. By then, Miss Wu had already died of hypothermia.
Personally, I’m against such practices. Mountains are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. Regardless of whether believe in the spirits that dwell at these heights, respecting the mountain is a must. The focus should be on the climb itself and not on audacious attempts to challenge or even mock Mother Nature. On or off the mountain, we’re but a tiny speck that can be blown away any time.