Mountains had to be traversed as there was no dynamite to blast out more convenient detours. In constant fear of aboriginal raids, builders cleared a wide area in order to discourage aboriginal attacks. Forts, outposts and military encampments were also set up at varying intervals along the course of the route. Chang Yeh Yi-hu, a first lieutenant in the Japanese army, spent 17 days travelling the trail.
「古人開路和今人大不相同」，陳仲玉解釋：「吳光亮開路可以說是『山不轉路轉』﹘ ﹘順著山勢地形上下，不繞山腰、不挖山洞，不似今人逢山不轉就炸山開路，因此不必用炸藥或挖土機等工具，也能築成寬達六尺的山路。」