07/06/2026
I used to be quite spontaneous when it came to hiking.
A sudden call at 3 PM, and I’d pack up then head into the mountains. We’d arrive in pitch darkness, cook under the stars, or sleep on train station floors just to start early the next day. Once, a friend and I kayaked for over an hour across a dam just to find a quiet spot to camp.
But that "recklessness" was never about being arrogant or careless.
In the wild, nature doesn’t compromise for your impulses. Our freedom was only possible because it was backed by experience, sharp risk judgment, and a deep respect for the environment. Out there, you only have yourself and your partner.
Lately, the string of missing persons reports and accidents has been heartbreaking. While some mishaps are unavoidable, many could have been prevented.
It’s great that more people are heading into the trails. But many have romanticized hiking, making it look far too simple.
Don't let the photos fool you. The mountains are always beautiful, but they are also always dangerous.
Because of these rising accidents, authorities are enforcing more rules. The simple, free bond we once shared with nature is slowly being replaced by regulations.
If you love the outdoors, cherish the days you can still walk among them.
Be responsible for yourself, look out for your partners, and stay humble before nature.
True hiking isn't about conquering a peak—it's about making it back safely.
Freedom isn't the absence of rules; it’s being willing to take responsibility for your choices.
以前爬山，其实蛮"任性" 的。
下午三四点接到朋友一通电话，背起背包, 就往山里出发。抵达山顶时，天早已黑了接近半夜了，在满天星空下才边煮晚餐，边看星星。也试过半夜抵达火车站，直接睡在车站里地上，第二天一早再上山。甚至曾经和朋友两个人划着 kayak，在水坝上划了一个多小时，找了一个安静的地方扎营过夜。
但这种任性，从来不是鲁莽，不是自以为是，更不是不顾后果。
因为在山里，大自然不会因为你的冲动而让步。你的经验、伙伴的经验、对风险的判断，以及对环境的尊重，才是支撑这种“任性”的基础。
我们知道，进了山，能依靠的只有自己和伙伴。所以那时候的自由，是建立在责任之上的自由。
最近接连发生失踪和意外事故，每一宗都令人遗憾。或许有些意外无法避免，但也有不少事故其实是可以预防的。
这些年来，越来越多人走进山林，这是好事。但同时，也有不少人把登山想象得太简单、太浪漫、太完美了。
别被照片骗了。
山一直都很美，但山也一直都充满风险。
也因为事故越来越多，管理单位不得不制定更多规则和限制。曾经那种人与山之间简单而自由的关系，也渐渐被各种制度与规范所取代。
所以，如果你热爱山林，请珍惜还能走进山里的日子。
对自己负责，对同行伙伴负责，对大自然保持敬畏。
因为真正的登山，不只是征服山峰，而是平安地回来。
而自由，从来都不是没有规则，而是愿意为自己的选择负责。
MudMad Max
