A Dialogue Between Mountains and Souls: Exploring the Charm of Mountain Literature
Mountains and literature seem like two unrelated fields. However, the "Meters Mountain Literature" series, launched by Taiwan's Faces Publishing in 2020, completely changed my preconceived notions. The series invited social observer and veteran mountaineering historian Chan Wei-Hsiung to select and curate the books, systematically introducing classic overseas mountain literature to fill a long-standing gap in Chinese-language publishing. Recently, the final book in this series, Feed the Rat: An Old-School Climber's Life on the Edge, was released in July this year.
©Faces Publishing
Feed the Rat: An Old-School Climber's Life on the Edge is written by British mountaineer Mo Anthoine (1939-1989), who vividly describes the human desire for climbing. Among Western mountaineers, the slang term "feed the rat" refers to the craving for climbing, as if there is an invisible rat inside that mountaineers must continuously feed by climbing one high mountain after another to satisfy its hunger.
©Faces Publishing
Just like everyone who loves mountaineering, they will always continue to challenge more mountains.
Curator Chan Wei-Hsiung writes, "Every piece of mountain literature has a knack for allowing its readers to thoroughly understand several mountains, even if the person is just lying on the sofa, engrossed in reading. This mysterious art of communication between the two originates from the body. The mountain writer's body calls upon their pen, turning the encounters remembered by muscles and nerves into stories. The reader's eyes read, and with the imagination of virtual reality, nerves and muscles restore a certain degree of tension and excitement. Suddenly, there's a cliff edge, icy crystals within reach, strong winds and heavy snow; a stumble means a fall. Of course, the reader won't die, but they feel the lingering fear, leading to a sense of awe."
©Faces Publishing
The significance of mountain literature lies in its comprehensive reporting and documentation of mountaineering journeys, serving as a reference for future generations. Secondly, it deeply portrays the inner motivations and emotions of mountaineers, allowing people to reflect profoundly on life amidst magnificent mountain scenery.
This series features many world-renowned mountains, such as Annapurna, K2, and Mount Everest, each extremely challenging. Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain in the world, has a death rate of up to 31% due to its volatile weather and avalanches. In terms of technical difficulty, K2 is internationally recognized as the hardest mountain to climb, with steep terrain, difficult mixed ice and rock sections, and a high risk of avalanches in the "Bottleneck" section before the summit, requiring many climbing techniques. It is the only eight-thousander that has never been summited in winter, with a summit death rate of 27%. Each article in the books describes the physical and mental challenges faced by mountaineers in harsh environments, showcasing the solitude, courage, and reflection on life during the climbing process. Every word reflects immense difficulties and dangers, and a culmination of intellect and physical strength. Therefore, mountaineering literature differs from general literature; it is factual, philosophical, and diary-like, depicting a profound understanding of survival and challenge, a hymn to mountains and the human spirit.
K2, ©Daniel Born
Annapurna, Narchyang, Nepal ©mo jiaming
As stated on the dust jacket of The Silent Glory:
"Only those moments truly lived constitute the true value of life."
Mountaineering is always filled with tranquility and philosophy, offering much time for self-dialogue. Every step, every breath, is a profound experience of being alive. However, for the general public, mountaineering seems like an extremely challenging activity, demanding high levels of physical fitness and willpower, and even posing life-threatening risks. This situation makes one wonder: what is the meaning of climbing? Is it a weariness of life?
I believe, quite the opposite. Mountaineers love this activity precisely because they cherish life. High in the mountains, they profoundly experience the hardships of survival, which inspires deeper reflections on life. Only by experiencing it firsthand can one truly understand why they climb those peaks.
If, for various reasons, you cannot embark on a journey right now, perhaps reading "Meters Mountain Literature" can temporarily satisfy that "hungry rat" within, allowing you to experience the grandeur of the mountains and the mountaineers' journeys through words.
-
"Meters Mountain Literature" full series: