This hike was more about reminiscing about the school field trips I went on as a child. Back then, my mother would prepare a lot of snacks. She always said, “Can children eat anything that’s cooked?” So this time, after setting off, we left the snacks behind and focused on the main meals. The main purpose of this trip was to experience the feeling of living in the wild.
Along the way, we met a farmer, a mysterious man whose voice we heard but never saw, a mountain guardian in the bamboo forest, a beekeeper by the stream, and a couple digging for bamboo shoots by the bridge. We heard the call of the partridge, and greeted everyone we met warmly. We exchanged simple greetings and reminders, without any malice.
The first farm house
We dug for bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest, cut down bamboo stalks, and pulled up bamboo roots (though we forgot to bring the bamboo roots with us). We discovered tea trees by the stream, and brought back a rose bud (hopefully I can keep it alive).
Upon reaching the campsite, we chose a spot to set up our tent, gathered firewood, built a stove, washed vegetables, and started a fire to cook. Everyone was busy and excited, enjoying themselves.
Digging for bamboo shoots
Washing vegetables
Cooking
Chopping vegetables
Having a good time
Sitting by the bridge, with the sound of the spring water tinkling and the smoke rising, listening to music, amidst the vastness of nature, eating hot pot, as the sun moved from the east mountain to the west tree, what a pleasant experience.
A sumptuous dinner
After dinner, we cleaned up all the trash and leftover food. We chatted by the tent and waited for time to pass by the bridge.
Lao Wang boiled water, Dongdong looked for a place to build a bonfire for the night, and I sat on the bridge listening to the gurgling stream.
Lao Wang gave me instructions on what to do at night, and talked about the appeal of the outdoors. I’m a newcomer to the outdoors, so I just listened quietly.
We sat together, built a bonfire, watched the cracks grow larger, the flames danced, and our expressions became more distinct in the light.
Frogs croaked, stars glittered, and the occasional lone firefly flickered in the distance, adding a touch of beauty to the night.
Bonfire at night
Then there were the travelers who passed by in the middle of the night, getting closer and closer. We talked to them across the fields, and it was so much fun.
And the midnight snack of grilled ham was even more fun. We used every bit of ingenuity, making the most of our limited resources to have endless fun.
We didn’t have oil, but we had the fat from the beef jerky. Lao Wang even carved a stick for us, and we grilled ham and beef jerky burgers…
Joyful grilling of ham
We ate meat to our heart’s content. Sadly, we didn’t have wine, but we had wine in our hearts. We raised our cups, clinked them together, and drank to our fill. I don’t usually drink, but I didn’t want to spoil the mood…
That night, everything was quiet, and I went to sleep with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The occasional breeze ruffled the tent, making a rustling sound, and I kept waking up and falling asleep again. In the middle of the night, rain started falling, pattering on the tent. But to me, it was like a beautiful lullaby.
Surrounded by mountains
The next morning, we woke up to the sounds of birds singing in the mountains. We greeted the morning dew and the gurgling stream. The early risers had the leisure of lying down in nature and putting on a face mask.
As everyone woke up, the rain started coming down harder. We cooked a pot of soft, sweet porridge in the rain. Time slowed down, everything slowed down.
Breakfast in the rain
The rain intensified, and we were trapped in the mountains. We took shelter in a beehive, with the sound of the nearby waterfall echoing, and a few bees keeping us company. The quiet mountain came alive with energy.
Setting off after the rain
We walked through a collapsed section of the road and waded through some water. We were so happy! I wasn’t afraid of falling down a few times. I felt like this first outdoor experience was worth it, even though my shoes were constantly wet and uncomfortable.
The section where we waded through water
The rain was coming down hard. Luckily, we reached a cliff face where we could take shelter. It was also lunchtime, so why not have a Water Curtain Cave lunch?
Water Curtain Cave stove
After lunch, we roasted our socks, which was also a lot of fun. Everyone roasted in different positions, and different things happened…
Joyful roasting
Everyone had a smoky smell, a fragrant smell.
My understanding of the outdoors is not about having professional gear or extensive experience, and not just about seeing beautiful scenery. It’s about having a time to be with nature, a time to reminisce about the past. It’s not that you’ve forgotten, but that you’ve become numb in the mundane aspects of life and forgotten that you once had such simple joys. A group of friends, everyone together, regardless of whether you are interested in the outdoors. Maybe it’s 24 hours with no service, no internet, just caring about the people around you, being friendly with everyone you meet, whether you know them or not. The whole world is filled with kindness. You have plenty of time to chat, plenty of time to think about what you want, plenty of time to discover what you like.
I might go on more outdoor trips in the future, and I might meet other more experienced mentors, but maybe none will be as memorable as this one. I know that there are many unknowns in the outdoors, and accidents often happen. But this first outdoor experience was so wonderful, what can I do? I’m helpless.
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