Forward Note from Rick Archer
July 07, 2008

Welcome to the Huashan Letters page! 

As you will see, I have received quite a bit of correspondence regarding my Huashan story.  Most of these letters are from people who either wished to thank me for posting the article or to share further information about Mt Huashan. 

However, not all the letters have been positive. As you continue to read the Huashan Letters, I think it is important that you understand up front that the authenticity of this page is under attack. In July 2008, my original story received a fair amount of criticism from two sources.  These were people who did not agree the Huashan climb is dangerous at all.  I assume they were worried that my article was giving the entire world the wrong impression of Huashan and unnecessarily discouraging the faint-hearted from visiting in the process. 

One person wrote a vicious letter (the criticism is listed in Letter Eight below). The other person went to the trouble of listing my name in Wikipedia along with the claim that I have deliberately misled people as to the danger of Mt Huashan.  As you might gather, I didn't appreciate either attack one bit. 

However, I did at least sense an indirect compliment.  Both critics realized that the SSQQ Huashan Page contains the most information regarding Huashan of any website on the Internet.  Due to its elevated position on Internet Search Engines, this page comes up to practically any person on Planet Earth who is curious about Huashan.  Consequently the criticism made me aware that I have a responsibility to get the story right.

For now, let me briefly address the concerns of my critics before continuing. This will allow all readers a better perspective.  I think it is important to note I have never personally climbed Huashan or had any direct experience of the place.  Therefore my critics have every right to use this fact as proof that I don't know what I am talking about.  I fully acknowledge the chance exists that perhaps my critics are correct.  Perhaps the Huashan climb is indeed a lot safer than I give it credit for. 

Please note there have also been three major developments since my original story in January 2007. 

First, several people who have actually made the climb have written to report there are many new safety features in effect. So perhaps it is true that some of the danger has been removed since I originally published this story (you will be able to read these letters further below).

Second, there is an amazing amount of Huashan pictures that can be found on the Internet as of July 2008.  When I first wrote my story in January 2007, there were only a limited number of pictures and I published practically every one I could find.  I don't know if this proliferation is related to lifting the ban on cameras at Huashan or simply the growth of the Internet or both, but it means you no longer have to depend on my Huashan web page to find good Huashan pictures.  Since I based my assessment of danger largely on the basis of the pictures, more pictures means more accuracy. 

Third, when I wrote my original story in January 2007, I could discover only one single 30 second video posted on the Internet.  That's it - a SINGLE VIDEO.  Since then, that situation has changed greatly.  In May 2008, I discovered there are now quite a few videos related to the Huashan climb.  These videos give a first-hand account of the experience that enhance the material that I have posted on my web site (I will list the location of these videos later on this page).  I doubt seriously these videos are 'fake'.  These videos will allow you to make your own judgment about the danger of the Huashan climb.  In other words, the true picture of Huashan is being brought more clearly into focus.

Now let's begin our review of the Letters.

The following account was written by Andre Hycenko

Drizzle, an early start and a 3 hour overcrowded mini-bus ride is what started a day that i will never forget. Mt. Huashan, nearly 2km's high with 5 main peaks is an image most common in traditional Chinese paintings. Most paintings of mountains are most likely those of Mt. Huashan.

Starting at the bottom, i joined a group of 5 Chinese university students. One spoke vary basic English and i can basically try and speak basic Chinese. Later these students fizzled down to 2 as Mt. Huashan is very physically demanding.

Up we went, up and up and up. So many steps, some really steep and others were wet and slippery as we were climbing inside a cloud most of the morning. There are many temples, massive boulders and countless waterfalls along the 4 hour trek that eventually took us to the lowest peak. This is where you can pay $15AUS and get here by cable car in under 5 minutes. That's cheating and the hike ended up being well worth it.

From having hardly no-one during the first few hours to having hundreds of people, fit and full of energy in-front of us felt a little touristy, but we kept going. Legs fatigued but starting to get into a rhythm, we scrambled past the bulk to try and reach every peak this mountain has to offer in the 4 hours of daylight we had left.

The cable-car peak, North, South, East and West peaks, all having their own dramatic cliffs and flora where they were all breathtaking and unique. Climbing "The Dragon Ridge", 1 metre wide and about 300 metres long with steps, handrails and 2-way traffic in-between two peaks is one of the best views i have ever seen.

Climbing to the North Peak, the furthest and highest one out of the 5 was a momentous effort. Once again there were so many steps. I have never been this high before and seeing clouds below you moving around and the sun beating down on you made me feel on top of the world, and hey, i was!

In-between the West and North Peak, is a path called 'Changkongzhandao' (aka the cliff side plank path). This path is pretty much the whole reason for me coming to Mt. Huashan. Originally seeing photos of this awesome sight in an email when i was working, i decided i had to come and take a look for myself. The path leads to a small lookout where it is about 70 metres in length. Once you reach the end, you just come back and continue on your way. It is a cliff face. 90 degrees. 

To get across, they have whacked large nails into the side of the cliff and placed planks of wood over the top for you to cross. The path is about 40cm wide (16 inches)! There is also a chain nailed to the rock for you to hold onto as you make your way across.

For $5AUS you can choose to hire a safety harness (you would be absolutely stupid, i mean insane not to have one). Half of the path are planks of wood and the other half are foot holes carved into the rock.

As the people i was with were too scared to go, i went alone taking the photos myself trying not to drop the camera with my hands shaking as if i had just drunk 20 cups of coffee.

June 4, 2008
Follow-up to Andre's initial story

Rick Archer's Note: Six months after I published the Andre's account of his climb, I received this follow-up email from him.

-----Original Message-----
From: Andre Hycenko
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 10:23 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: Mt Huashan Story

Hi Rick,
I was just reading your replies to you Mt Huashan stories and I'm surprised of the people who went there and are saying a few points that i mentioned are untrue.

Everything i wrote is what i experienced and i have no reason to lie. As well as they would have had different experiences to what i had.
As a result i would like to make clearer about what the plank path is to help further travelers make a decision to go there. If you wish to publish this you have my permission.

To add to my story on Mt Huashan (also known as Mt. Hua and Mt. Huangshan - i don't know why there are so many similar names) - the plank path is an option where you don't have to walk it if you don't want to. It doesn't connect to anything except a small lookout where you see the same thing walking along the planks.

There are security cameras along the way to make sure you haven't fallen off as well as to take your photo if you want to pay for it. The harness goes all the way from the start to the end where you have 2 clips. When you reach a point where they have secured the safety wire, you unclip one clip then attach the second. Once you have done so, attach it to the next then keep going. The whole length is about 70 metres one way (from memory), then you come back. Half of the section is planks of wood and the other is foot holes carved into the rock. I had to take the photos myself by using a mini tripod and placing it on some steps then scuttling back to position myself.

The friends i had made were too scared to attempt it. I found it a huge thrill and an experience i will never forget. The walls of the cliff aren't exactly 90 degrees but close enough. Simply speaking, if you fell you would die.

With the rest of the walk, I went in Spring 2007 where the weather was great. In the morning i walked through a cloud on the way up where it is paved all the way, but there are narrow steep steps that are slippery due to it being wet because of the mist and can be dangerous for those not as fit or not careful enough. I walked from the very bottom to all the peaks in one day. A lot of people choose to take the cable car up where once you are up there it is never as impressive if you didn't complete the hard slog in getting there in the first place. Like many other walks around the world another example is Machu Picchu in Peru, would not have been as impressive if you don't complete the Inca Trail beforehand (Please note that this is my opinion).

Mt. Huashan is one of the best walks i have ever done and i strongly urge for people to go there (even you Rick) as the walk and scenery is absolutely breathtaking. The plank walk is just a bonus where i would have the same opinion about these peaks even if i didn't complete the plank path.

My blog that i have written was initially meant for just friends and family to let them know what i am up to. Explaining exactly what i was up to would have been boring and a waste of my time as I'm on holiday and didn't want to spend all my time on the Internet. Since then i have learnt many people are reading my blog stories and ask me a lot of questions about them which i am happy to answer.

What i have written about is my experience where everyone will experience something different. The best way to finding out about Mt Huashan is to go there yourself.

A NOTE TO HUASHAN READERS FROM RICK ARCHER
April 21, 2008

Now that you have read Steve and Roslyn's letters above and my replies, let me take this opportunity to completely and totally admit my article about Huashan is not up to the standards of National Geographic.

Over Christmas vacation in December 2006, I wrote stories about four different locations - the Russian Highway from Hell, the Bolivian Highway of Death, the Chinese Guoliang Tunnel, and of course the Mt Huashan Hiking Trail.

The problem is that I have never been anywhere near any of these four locations in my life. 

I wrote absolutely everything based on accounts I found on the Internet (some of which gave contradictory information).

I do not mind admitting some of what I wrote might be inaccurate.  Frankly speaking, I wrote the best story I could based on the information that was available at the time. 

I took one look at the pictures and concluded the climb appeared to be dangerous.  I have a right to my opinion, by the way.  Then an internet search turned up accounts that confirmed my initial conclusion.  In other words, this is a "Research Paper", not an "Experience Paper." 

I have not "misled" anyone.  Everyone knows that first-hand accounts are more reliable.  I have gone to great lengths to explain who I am, why I wrote the story, and to point out my own limitations.  I certainly don't think anyone who reads these Huashan letters will think I am deliberately deceiving the public. 

Furthermore, as you can tell from the total absence of advertisements on this web page, I am not trying to make a single cent off of my web site.  What possible motive would I have to tell lies about a place I have never been to and could care less about?

Like most people, I have plenty of axes to grind - serious stuff like global warming, overpopulation, famine and genocide - as well as less serious stuff like traffic congestion, oil prices, spam, and unwanted sales calls on my cell phone. 

But I assure all readers that spreading horrible Internet lies about Mt Huashan is not on my agenda.


ACCURACY OF RICK ARCHER'S HUASHAN STORY

So why wasn't my original story totally accurate? 

Considering at that time I was writing for a very limited audience (my own Newsletter readers in Houston, Texas, USA), I did not think it was important to be perfect. 

In the case of Huashan, a friend forwarded me pictures of the Huashan climbing trail on November 27, 2006.  I was so amazed by how dangerous the pictures looked, I could not wait to share them with my friends.  So I published my Huashan story in January 2007 with the specific intention of sharing the pictures with my Newsletter readers here at my dance studio in Houston.

I admit my original standard for accuracy was not set very high.  

Like the game of horseshoes, I figured 'close to correct' was good enough.

At the time, I never expected this particular page would become an Internet darling for thousands of Huashan fans around the globe.

Now that people have begun to ask about discrepancies in my story, I am more than willing to set the record straight.  Whenever somebody corrects me, I fix the problem.  For example, I erroneously listed an excellent Huashan video as "Chinese" in origin.  People pointed out it was actually "Japanese."   So I corrected my mistake. Other people say I have the North-South direction of the Peaks mixed up.  Okay, I believe them.  Unfortunately no one has come forward to say what the correct direction is.  But when someone does help me get it right, I will make the correction immediately.  I am more than willing to set the record straight.  However the real headache is determining the exact level of 'DANGER' on Huashan. First of all, this is a subjective issue.  Young men like Andre Hycenko who climb mountains on a regular basis are not going to be intimidated by Huashan.  But an elderly couple out for a hike might end up scared out of their wits, especially if it starts to rain or snow!  Those steep steps are brutal if they are iced over! Second, I am forced to deal with contradictory evidence.  Let me give you a clear example.  Look at the Red Shirt picture posted on the right with the "be careful" caption.  Study it.  This is one of the pictures enclosed in Milt's email.  If this picture was sent to you, would you see evidence of DANGER just like I did?  Does that look safe to you?  Would you let your kid or your elderly parent walk on that?  No way! Furthermore, do you see a harness on that man in the red shirt above?  No! Now please compare the Red Shirt picture with the one of Andre Hycenko below.  It looks like Andre is traveling on the same section as the man in red.  Yes, Andre has a harness, but not Mr. Red.   Mr. Red Shirt has no harness!	"Be very careful when passing someone going in the opposite direction."
Please study the picture of Andre some more.  Andre's walkway appears to possibly dead end about 20/30 feet to his right.  Now look at the other picture with Mr. Red Shirt above.  Does it look like that set of planks hits a dead end?  I don't know the correct answer off hand, but it appears to me that it continues to the right.  Now read this passage from the Frank and Laura story: "Yes, there were chains to hang onto, but there was ice and there was wind and the margin for error was very small.  Those planks could not have been more than two feet wide.  Exposed to the elements, I wondered just how safe they were.  (Note: This ramp had a name: Floating-in-Air Road. But I called it Boardwalk)" Not only do the pictures make this area look dangerous, but so does this account.  Since I am depending on Internet stories like this, the pictures, and the good will of people like Andre Hycenko to fill in the gaps, I am only as good as this second-hand information permits me to be.  I have no reason to fib.  Why should I care if I got it wrong?  I have already stated that if I find a mistake in my narrative, I will correct it.  I did the best I could with the information that was available to me at the time.  If anyone reading this story can clear up any discrepancies, I invite them to share the corrections with me.
So let me ask another question:  Do you see a harness on that person in the picture on the right?  No, of course not.   Do you see a dead end at the end of that ramp?  There may be one, but I can't see it from this angle.  It looks like this set of planks goes through to somewhere, but Andre says it is a dead end.  Andre had a harness, but there isn't any harness here.  This is known as a "discrepancy."  Is it a dead end or isn't it?  Why are there harnesses in one picture, but not the other two?  But Andre is busy climbing the great mountains of the world.  Do you honestly think Andre has the time to explain these discrepancies? Here is my final point:  The main reason I do not know the complete truth about this hiking trail is because I have pictures that contradict each other! But rather than hide my ignorance, I openly admit I am flying blind.

LET'S PLAY A GAME! Pretend that someone just sent you this picture in an email.  What's the first thing that comes to your mind? My first impression was that it looks dangerous!!! What about you?  Did you think the same thing? I am willing to bet if you saw the same pictures I did without the benefit of any modifying evidence, you too would conclude that Huashan is unbelievably dangerous! I said Huashan looked dangerous because that is the impression I got.  That said, if I get new pictures that indicate Huashan is a picnic walk in the park, I will add those as well.  I am not trying to tell lies about this mountain.  Otherwise I would not DELIBERATELY post contradictory information! I have too much respect for the position I find myself in.  You see, by a series of cosmic convergences, my web page of Huashan has magically become so widely visited that it is now the second most read page on the Internet for "Huashan".   When I last looked in July 2008, Google listed my Huashan web page link in second place right below Wikipedia.   Consequently I feel a responsibility to get the story right.  People from all over the planet are coming to me for the best stories and the best pictures of one of the most sacred places in China.  In a sense, they are depending on me to be their eyes and ears to this exciting location.  Except there is one problem.... I have no direct experience of the place!  How crazy is that?  "and a blind man shall lead them..."   So here is my request to all visitors to this web page - if you have information to share, please step forward and do so. I am very easy to contact  dance@ssqq.com

Furthermore I am not sensitive about the discrepancy problem.  My conscience is clear because I have done the best I could given the hand that was dealt to me.  Correct me if you see an error with the understanding that all I care about is getting it right.

And while I am at it, let me take this moment to thank you for visiting my page.  I am flattered that your interest in Huashan has brought you to my site.  Now please help me get it right for the sake of all the thousands of people who will follow in your footsteps.

Rick Archer
dance@ssqq.com  
April 21, 2008

RICK ARCHER'S NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNT WAS WRITTEN BY ROBIN ESROCK. 
AFTER YOU FINISH THIS ACCOUNT, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST GO SEE HIS HUASHAN VIDEO.  IT IS AMAZING!

The Gonzo finds me on two narrow wooden planks, resting on iron rivets, nailed into a solid rock face on Mount Huashan.   Below me, a 1000m plummet, and the snow and ice are making it awfully slippery to hold on.    I am here because of a picture that circulates on the Internet, claiming to be, amongst other things, the world's most dangerous hike.   With harnesses in place, danger might not be the right word.   Scary comes to mind.   Mind numbingly frightening as all hell is more accurate.   Mount Huashan is a two-hour drive from Xian, China's most ancient city and the historical seat of its opulent dynasties.   As one of five sacred mountains in the country, the rocky peaks attract hundreds, sometimes thousands, of domestic tourists every day.    They arrive in buses, purchase tickets (with optional insurance), and take the cable car towards the north peak.   From here rock-hewn trails lead to the four cardinal peaks, punctuated with temples along the way where one can make blessings, and secure engraved locks on iron chains.     For an atheist country, the Chinese have always been a superstitious lot.   Dressed casually in sneakers, they hike up steep, stone cut steps amongst weathered peasants carrying heavy boxes of food to sell at stalls along the way.   It gets cold above 2000m, and I'm not dressed for the snow that dusts the trees, the ice that forms sharp teeth on the mouth of temple ceilings.    There is just a smattering of westerners, amazed that such a hazardous trail could exist, never mind that it is popular with Chinese of all ages.

Robin Esrock writes a column known as Modern Gonzo.  He is a travel writer among other things.  Robin now has a travel show on Canadian TV known as Word Travels.   Mr. Esrock was kind enough to contribute his personal experiences of Huashan to our article.

Conforming to the unwritten rule that hiking is a cordial hobby, I hear laughs and see smiles, in stark contrast to grim people I encounter in the city.  From the boys who got a kick playing with my arm hair on the plane to the couples and families on the mountain, in central China I'm a rock star, someone to be admired and photographed.    As the trail gets steeper and slippery, I take the cement fork that leads to the "Cliffside plank path" at 2160m, located between the south and east peaks.  The human traffic peters out considerably.  The wind blows with the warmth of frostbite.   Walking through a temple, I scale a rocky mound to see a majestic view, holy almost, and a narrow trail to the planks.   A knee-high chain of iron is all that stands between me and a parachute-free skydive off the edge.   My knees wobble, I say a thankful prayer my mother isn't seeing this.    A plaque in Chinese indicates that it will cost 30RMB's ($4) to continue, but a sign has boarded up the path ahead, which seems to disappear anyway.  All this way to find "the world's most dangerous hike", and now it is closed.  I laugh.  There's not much else to do.   Then,  a young guy arrives with harnesses, and casually pulls away the sign.   The adventure is on.    I pay him the cash, and he attaches me with two carabiner hooks, briefly showing me how to use the them to make my away forward.   Canyoneering in Costa Rica reminded me that one hook must always be attached while unlocking and reattaching the other.  Nice to know I'm learning when it comes to these sorts of things.  My hands are freezing, and in a touch of kindness, the guy takes off his thin white gloves and gives them to me.   He knows I'm going to need them.  I don't know what I'm in for. 

I'm alone when I set off.  For all the crowds in China, they have left me to discover this one on my own.  The narrow ledge gives way to a vertical crevice, with erratic iron bars descending to the next section, steel stitches across the cut of rock.   The wind has picked up, my hands are numb, but I unclip the latches and carefully lower myself down.   Beneath my feet is a 1000m drop.  I'm overwhelmed by one of those "what the hell are you doing you bloody idiot" moments. I get them occasionally, perk of the job.    I reach the last rung, swing to the right against the sheer rock face, and there it is - the photo. THE photo.   Thin, crackled wooden planks hug the rock, covered in ice and snow, and although it is a moment of terror, it is also a moment of triumph.  I have found the source of a rumour.  It was at a tourism schmooze talking to another travel writer that I discovered the picture might have a source in a Chinese mountain.  Cosmically, I received an invitation from the Chinese Tourism Authority to visit the country the very next day.  After some online research and helpful Google mapping, I figured I could get there on the same ticket.  Call it divine manifestation.    These things happen to me.  I call it Modern Gonzo.  AnywayŠ

From here I begin to walk along the plank, clicking in one carabiner after another, until I stop in the middle, look down, look ahead, look up.   I have another moment.  A moment of sheer awe, lost in the bosom of the nature. The surrounding mountains are enormous, sharp, and desolate.   I am just a speck surrounded on all sides by the great outdoors, and I feel very small indeed.   Ice dust falls on my head from above. It's better not to think about rocks doing the same.  So I continue walking along the planks, and it's not until 20m or so later that I hear the laughs and giggles from a group of Chinese, clearly having a whale of a time coming down the crevice.  I stop and wait to take pictures of them, to give the planks some scale, and click out at the end to find a little clearing with a small temple in a modest cave.   The only way back is along the same path, and that means walking around the others, but by now I'm used to the planks, the view, the fear, and it's easy getting past them, exchanging cameras to take some pictures, as if this were just another normal place to find yourself on a Tuesday afternoon.   Up the crevice, back on the narrow ledge, I thankfully return the gloves, and continue along the path to the other peaks.    With the safety harnesses, I would be hard pressed to call Mount Huashan the world's most dangerous hike.  Scary as hell for the novice like me, a fun day out for any climber, but probably not your cup of green tea.  True danger comes without busloads of tourists. 

Letter Eight:  Antoine Attacks!
July 2008

-----Original Message-----
From: Antoine L
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2008 4:58 PM
To: dance@ssqq.com
Subject: Huashan

Mr. Archer,

I read you webpage in May 08 while I was studying in China.  The same weekend, I got on a 14 hours train ride back to Xian, for the second time, and begin the hike of Huashan.

Of course, this trip was unwelcome by many of my peer students, however it was encouraged by my Chinese friends.  Here is the reason - my peer students had seen pictures and based their opinion of this climb only on what they had seen, exactly like you did.  In fact, a few saw your website, but did not take the time to entirely read it through.

Meanwhile, my Chinese friends were all very excited of finding out the news.

I wonder just how many people in this world canceled their plan to hike Huashan because of your website.

Your website truly makes it look like Huashan is dangerous and that those who climb it are hero.  

The truth is, this is not a volcano, or the Saharan desert. It is only a small mountain 2160 meters high. You don't need to be superman to climb it, nor do you need to be very courageous. In fact, I saw little 8 years old kid hiking it. Thus I realized that my military experience was useless, really, in this expected "lethal" challenge.

I don't need to point out to you that your article is not very academic.  Even high school students learn that they must not use websites as sources for essays and such.  However, I have read your explanation in regards to the creation of your website.  I understand your original purposes. Despite this, I don't understand why you are actually keeping the same story, which is extremely erroneous.

Huashan did make some modifications to its safety, but it doesn't justify your article, especially when you write at the top that it is updated as of May 08.

Huashan is safe, let's call it "Chinese safe" since American standards would probably deny the access to hiker for law reasons. I felt like you made it look like that Chinese didn't care about their people.  This is so judgmental and naive.

Then you attempt to argue that the government hides thing. So does the American government, and any other government around the world.

Here is what I suggest your should do. First, go out there and live it out. If huashan is a passion for you, get a flight ticket and go hike it, you won't regret it. Second, you must edit your whole website, because it is very false and misleading. Third point, and this is coming strictly from a military point of view, apologies are no used in this world. You made a big mistake when writing your article on huashan, well swallow up your pride and do something about it.

If your website is as popular as you claim it is, it is vital for the good of potential hiker that you edit the pages immediately. You could leave a historical part explaining the evolution of security on that tourist site. You can choose to ignore my advice and take this personal. Whatever your decision, remember that I am not the first one to be upset with your website. So much that even wikipedia has an paragraph written on your false claims.

I am not attacking you, but your work. That's what scholars do, except that now I really have a good reason to do it. I understand that my approach to pass my point may sound harsh to you, but you must understand the military background I come from. Anyhow, it should do you good, as I pointed the solution to remedy the issue. Think about how frustrating it is for the Chinese, who reads something degrading one of their most attracted tourist site, as well as a sacred mountain, by a foreigner who has never been there. It's like when civilians writes about a war that they have never seen, never experienced, criticizing the soldiers on the ground. I am sure you understand seeing that you come from America. If you don't, here is a hint. You wrote something based on pictures, you exaggerated the paths, the pictures you shows makes it look 3 times harder than it was, your words make the Chinese look careless, not to say that it portray their government to be corrupted. You might have canceled the plans of many hikers planning to go to China, convincing them it was truly unsafe (even before they added the harness, it was still safe if you were smart about it). You got the every peaks confused, not to mention the directions.  

Finally, you kept the erroneous article standing as it was. In my mind, this is a fail.  And you still haven't remedy to it, instead you sadly attempted to explain yourself. I hope, on behalf of numerous potential hikers, that you will take the job to hand like a man and edit that website.

RICK ARCHER RESPONDS TO ANTOINE'S LETTER EIGHT July 7, 2008 I did not respond directly to Antoine's letter due to his deeply insulting tone.  There is a right way to approach people and a wrong way.  Antoine needs to learn some manners. However I do have some things to say in reference to Antoine's letter.

The debate here is a simple one:  Antoine says Huashan is safe enough for an 8 year old.  I say Huashan looks dangerous.  Let's start with a short review of the letter.  According to Antoine, my story was not very academic, my story was extremely erroneous, I made a big mistake when writing the article, I have made false claims, I argued that the Chinese didn't care about their people, and my whole website is false and misleading.  Antoine even challenged my manhood - "take the job like a man..." And to top it off, I got the every peaks confused, not to mention the directions.  Now this I will admit. I probably did get 'the every peaks' confused.  Does that justify Antoine's level of rudeness?  I deeply resent any accusation that suggests I deliberately listed false claims about the 'danger' of Mt Huashan.  Anyone who has taken the time to read my Huashan Letter page to this point realizes I have published several emails contradictory to my original story.  As to how safe or dangerous Huashan is, I invite you to draw your own conclusion.  Here are some points to consider: 1)  I have listed a report from a Chinese citizen who specifically wrote about a serious climbing disaster at Huashan back in the Eighties. You have my word I did not make this up. 2)  I have published literally dozens of pictures. I based my claim of "danger" because the pictures showed many places where the slightest mistake could mean death. I did not 'doctor' this pictures. 3)  I have listed six different videos for my readers to watch.  Not one of these videos makes Huashan look like an easy climb as Antoine suggests.  In fact, the Japanese video is tougher on Huashan than anything I have written. Does Antoine wish to argue with these videos? 4)  I have listed letters from several people who have actually climbed Huashan. Here are some quotes:     Robin Esrock, the Canadian reporter, said, "There is just a smattering of westerners, amazed that such a hazardous trail could exist, never mind that it is popular with Chinese of all ages."     Andre Hycenko said, "The walls of the cliff aren't exactly 90 degrees but close enough. Simply speaking, if you fell you would die."     Jerrod Wirth said, "certainly it can be challenging and without doubt death could easily call upon the unfit or unwary. I will say this - Based on the reports sent to me, I think when all is said and done, the Chinese have gone out of their way to make the Huashan climb safer.  Good for them. That said, I think it is also pretty obvious that in the recent past, the Huashan climb was without a doubt an incredibly dangerous endeavour.  For a serious mountain climber, today Huashan is no big deal.  But for an average climber, it seems like Huashan still has more than its share of danger.  I did not know about the mention of my Huashan story in Wikipedia until Antoine brought it to my attention.  To save you the time of going to the site, here is what it says: Wikipedia article on Huashan:  Rumours of deadliness Rumours of the south peak being the most dangerous hiking trail on earth seem to have risen from a story put on the web page of a person called Rick Archer with the title "The Deadly Huashan Hiking Trail"[1]. The author claims it was written by an American couple who visited the trail in 2003. The origin of the story is not known and is assumed by many Hua Shan visitors to be purely fictional. The spread and popularity of the story was aided by many videos showing the most dangerous parts of the trail[2][3]. In 2008 the website author was faced with criticism on the authenticity of the story[4], who in turn answered: "I wrote absolutely everything based on accounts I found on the Internet (some of which gave contradictory information)." "At the time, I never expected this particular page would be an Internet darling for thousands of Huashan fans.". Thus, the story bears similarities to the KiddofSpeed story which rose big attention on the net until it was revealed to be fantasy, except for the fact that Rick Archer hasn't tried to benefit financially from the story on his site. Nevertheless, it should be noted, that even though Hua Shan stairs are a popular tourist attraction and safety equipment is provided and obligatory, the trail is still risky due to strong winds, changing weather conditions and the physical condition required to pass some parts of the trail. So is my Huashan article being Swift Boated?  It sure seems that way.  The Wikipedia article above was written by Chong-Dae Park.  So who is Chong-Dae Park?  I have no idea.  And what is KiddofSpeed and what does it have to do with this?  I have no idea.  And who does Chong-Dae Park represent?  I have no idea.  And how do we reach Chong-Dae Park to ask him what makes him the expert?  I have no idea.  I do know one thing - even my critic Chong-Dae Park agrees the trail is risky.  I will leave it at that. Rick Archer July 8, 2008 dance@ssqq.com