【好書推介】「操山」風氣至上的香港，我們如何認識自然？
在香港，有部份人討論行山時，總愛談論「時間」或「裝備」。以幾個小時幾分鐘，完成麥理浩徑的一二三段， 又總計里數歷程、參加的比賽場數。當然，體能是行山的基礎，但在奔馳疾走之際，我們除了對自身的表現了解透徹以外，又怎樣熟知腳下和身邊的場景？是期〈聯合文學〉的山岳文學專題，涵蓋歐亞洲的作品，或許能在「操山」風氣至上的香港，引領我們如何認識自然。
「山是甚麼？」
2017年，19歲的劉宸君與旅伴梁聖岳出發到尼泊爾登山，兩人遇見罕見的大雪，受困40多天，獲救時劉逝世數天，只剩下梁奇蹟生還。是期雜誌節錄了她的遺稿，在她最後旅程中，劉宸君透過自身的旅行和行山體驗，嘗試以文字紀錄探索生命本質的思考歷程。
臺灣作家吳明益亦在專訪中分享深刻影響他的山岳書寫作品，除了文化知識、踏查經歷以外，繁多的文學種類亦為他帶來不同的想像。
「因為，山在那裡」
這句經典句子，是1923年George Mallory攀登珠穆朗瑪峰前在訪問中的答案。在接近100年以後，西方的文學中對山岳想像，世界各地愛好的登山的人又是怎樣？雜誌中兩篇簡短的文章，簡介了各地登山者的群像，令人更理解各地的風景及登山風格。
延伸閱讀
聯合文學第417期 山在那裡 Because it's there. ── George Herbert Leigh Mallory
聯合文學：吳明益談山——山在那裡，有新的死亡，也有新的生命
芋傳媒：劉宸君書寫對山的告白 留下文字面對孤獨
“Because it’s there” – How Do We Connect with Nature?
Some hikers or mountaineers focuses only on “finishing time” or “equipment” when talking about hiking. The best personal record of MacLehose Trail, number of races participated and the total overall distance covered are some of the common topics about hikers. While physical fitness is fundamental to hiking and trail running and it is important to understand ones physical performance, have we paid enough attention to our mountains? In the latest issue of Unitas Lifestyle (Taiwan), some European and Asian mountain literatures were introduced which may provide us insights into how to appreciate and connect with nature while hiking or running in the mountain.
“What is a Mountain?”
In 2017, nineteen-year-old hiker Liu Chen-chun visited Nepal and trekked with her partner Liang Sheng-Yueh. They were caught in a rare snowstorm and trapped in the mountain for over 40 days. Liang survived but Liu passed away three days before the rescue. During Liu’s last days, she recorded her thoughts in writing about the exploration of the nature and life through travelling and hiking. Some of her last words are published in the magazine. The issue also featured an interview with a Taiwanese author Wu Ming-Yi and he shared the mountain literature that had a strong influence on him.
“Because it is there”
In 1923, when George Mallory, the world famous mountaineer, prepared to summit Mount Everest, he was asked why did he want to climb Mount Everest and the answer ‘because it is there’ become popular amongst hikers ever since. After almost a century, how has people’s imagination of the mountain changed? And how do mountaineers from one place different to another? The magazine featured two short articles looking at the stories of mountaineers from around the world and how they related themselves to the mountains and nature. (*The magazine is available in Chinese only)
Further Reading:
The Himalayan Times: Missing Taiwanese rescued after 47 days