This is a story about a man and his dog — one river, one team. But this is no ordinary feat. It is a journey that will combine their most advanced skills to rock climb, swim, trek and survive in an unpredictable wilderness. This is river tracing, an extreme sport with increasing popularity in Taiwan.
這是關於一個男人與一隻狗的探險故事。一條河流、一個團隊。一個集合了攀岩、游泳、登山與野外求生的極限運動,正在台灣蓬勃發展。
River tracing is the art of following a river up to its source, usually high in a mountain range. Harder than it sounds, these rivers weave through some of the most inaccessible landscapes. Each mile traced is a feat unto itself, with the threat of drowning, hard falls and boulders around every corner. Even though river tracing has its roots in the Italian Alps, some of the best terrain for this sport is in the Pacific region. And on small mountainous islands like Japan and Taiwan, the sport has really taken off.
溯溪就是沿著溪流上山尋找河水源頭,聽起來簡單,但許多溪流流經寸步難行的崎嶇地形,因此,每征服一哩,就是一次勝利。但每一步,也都面臨了溺水、摔傷和落石的危險,這項運動最早起源於義大利的阿爾卑斯山。但最適合溯溪的地形,多半位於太平洋地區。崎嶇多山的島嶼,如日本和臺灣,才是溯溪的天堂。
There is good reason why river tracing is so popular in Taiwan. The scenery is spectacular, and the varieties of animals and plants are endless. But Taiwan is unique in another key way. Geologically, it is a young island, with steep mountain formations. Thanks to its location in East Asia, it experiences severe earthquakes and typhoons that can cause major changes to the landscape. And those who river trace will often find new and unexpected challenges on old routes.
溯溪風行臺灣其來有自。臺灣風景秀麗,動植物相豐富。但臺灣還有另一個特點,在地質學上它是座山勢陡峭的年輕島嶼,而且因為地處東亞,所以常有強震、颱風等改變地貌的天災,溯溪客常會在熟悉的路線上遇到意想不到的新挑戰。
Ah-Da is a river-tracing expert. Lively is Ah-Da’s best friend and constant companion. From the age of two, Lively has also been Ah-Da’s climbing partner, following him along countless mountain trails. Now, she too is a river tracing expert in her own right. Not bad for a once homeless stray. Today, Lively is nine years old and far from puppyhood. But despite her age, she still follows Ah-Da on any expedition. Together they have completed an impressive number of journeys.
阿達是溯溪的箇中好手,Lively是阿達最好的朋友和最親密的夥伴。Lively從兩歲開始,阿達便帶著牠征戰臺灣的高山,現在牠也是溯溪高手,但誰也想不到,牠原本是隻無家可歸的流浪狗。現在,Lively已經九歲,不算是小狗了。雖然年事已高,但牠還是跟著阿達東奔西跑,他們已經完成許多人印象深刻的旅程。
With its dangerous river crossings and climbs, river tracing is typically not a sport suited for dogs, so all of her gear is custom-made. Thanks to her regular swings from a tree, Lively is accustomed to heights and the sensation of being lifted. It is all part of her unique conditioning as a river tracer.
以渡河和攀登為主的溯溪並不是一種適合狗兒的運動,所以Lively的裝備都是特別訂製的。平時就習慣在樹上盪來盪去的Lively,對高度和吊掛早已習以為常,這都是牠溯溪訓練的一部分。
In river tracing, swimming meets rock climbing and orienteering meets outdoor survival. With so many skills in play, an expedition team is only as strong as its individual members. A team typically has several key people, each bringing a different expertise. If one is weak, the entire team suffers. The three keystones are the team leader, the lead climber, and the belayer. Ah-Da is, of course, the team leader, the manager of all major decisions along the way.
溯溪包含了游泳、攀岩、戶外定向和野外求生等元素,由於技巧多樣,所以探險隊員間截長補短發揮團隊精神很重要。一般而言,溯溪隊會有幾個擁有不同專長的靈魂人物,若一個人表現不好整個團隊都會被影響,而最重要的三個人是領隊、攻擊手和確保手。領隊當然是阿達,他負責行程裡所有重大決策。
Tune in on Sunday at 9:00pm to find out more about Ah-Da and the team’s thrilling adventure.
週日晚間九點敬請收看本節目,一同深入了解阿達及其團隊的刺激冒險。
A: The newest twist in “Friends” star Matthew Perry’s sudden death is shocking. B: Didn’t he die from a ketamine overdose last year? A: But the police say his death could be a conspiracy. B: Wow, what happened? A: Five suspects have been charged for intentionally supplying him with large amounts of ketamine for personal gain. A: 《六人行》男星馬修派瑞之死大逆轉真令人震驚! B: 他去年不是因吸毒過量致死嗎? A: 但警方說他的死可能是個陰謀。 B: 發生了什麼事? A: 警方已起訴5名嫌犯,他們故意提供大量「K他命」給他,以謀取暴利。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
South Korea’s famous kimchi is falling victim to climate change, with scientists, farmers and manufacturers saying the quality and quantity of the napa cabbage that is pickled to make the ubiquitous dish is suffering due to rising temperatures. Napa cabbage thrives in cooler climates, and is usually planted in mountainous regions where temperatures during the key growing summer season once rarely rose above 25 degrees Celsius. Studies show that warmer weather brought about by climate change is now threatening these crops, so much so that South Korea might not be able to grow napa cabbage one day due to the intensifying heat. “We
A: What’s even more horrible is that the five suspects who purposely supplied ketamine to actor Matthew Perry were all his “friends.” B: Who exactly are the five suspects? A: They include Matthew’s two doctors, a broker, a drug dealer, and even his live-in assistant. B: Those scumbags should go to jail. A: Yeah, one of the doctors may be sentenced to up to 120 years in prison. A: 更可怕的是,提供男星馬修派瑞「K他命」的5人全是他的「朋友」。 B: 嫌犯是誰啊? A: 其中包括他的2位醫生、1位仲介、1位毒販、甚至他的同居助理! B: 那些人渣真該去坐牢。 A: 對啊,其中1位醫生可能面臨120年徒刑。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s widely recognized that there are far more right-handed people than left-handed people in the world. Being right-handed simply means preferring to use one’s right hand for tasks that involve only one hand, such as writing and eating. But have you ever wondered about the possible reasons behind the global dominance of the right hand over the left? As with many complex biological questions, multiple factors appear to be at play. First, one reason seems to be genetics. __1__ Therefore, the global dominance of right-handedness is something that has been passed down through many generations of humans. Next,