The Joy of Climbing - Lost in Tiger Stream Gorge

A year ago, we made a pact to visit Tiger Stream Gorge, and thus began the arduous journey of two men... At the start of the climb, we encountered a dam several meters high and climbed up the rocky side to the right, overlooking the mountain stream below, with a small path winding up the mountain on the right. The clear stream flowed, sunlight pierced through the dense foliage creating sparkling spots on the water's surface, and in the distance, the forest was dense with intertwining vines, suggesting a hidden path. Traces of climbing were evident on the right path, so we followed it upwards. The roadside weeds and wild vines, like enthusiastic locals sending off an army, kept grabbing at your ankles and arms. A moment of inattention led to several sharp branches scratching my dark but still smooth arm, drawing lines of blood. Tiny beads of blood emerged like little red gems sparkling strangely under the sunlight. I picked up my camera to take a photo as a souvenir, but a guilty hand reached out, and the evidence of the crime dissipated. We retraced our steps along the stream, walking high and low on the large stones by the mountain path. The stream poured down between two peaks, with large, chaotically placed stones in the water, like a child's overturned blocks. The trees and vines by the stream competed for sunlight and blue sky, their branches interlocking above the water, with many small vines hanging down like green silk ribbons swaying on the water's surface. The mountain rocks were deep ochre, rust-red, or dark black, with green moss thriving on the stone surfaces. Red, yellow, and green leaves swirled dizzily in the eddies; hopped and skipped in the rapids; and clung affectionately to the rock walls. The stream struck the rocks, sending up silvery spray that, in the sunlight and among the green trees, created a dazzling, colorful illusion that made one step back. So, step back and take the opportunity to sit on the bank, rest, and feel the coolness of the stream and the rich scent of the grass and trees. The mountain continued to rise, the stream overflowed the pebbles and rushed down the cliffs rapidly. The sound of water grew louder in my ears. Climbing onto the huge rocks on the bank, a damp mist hit my face. This waterfall, tens of meters high, burst forth from the narrow rocks, its silvery threads flying in the sunlight like the silhouette of a white warhorse galloping away. Below the white light, one could not look up, overlooking a deep pool, with the dull sound of the heavy flow hitting the water. A couple sat back to back by the pool, undisturbed by the mist soaking their clothes. They exchanged a smile, and unwilling to disturb them, I walked around. The slope became steep, and the well-developed roots of plants stretched out vigorously like the tentacles of a giant octopus, enveloping the mountain. The lush weeds, baked by the sun, steamed with moist heat. Holding onto the sharp edges of the rocks and the ropes left by previous climbers, I carried a heavy backpack and climbed strenuously. Drops of sweat heavily fell on the soil, and the bellflower quietly bloomed under the leaves illuminated by the harsh sun. Sitting quietly by the pool, the nearby green mountains undulated, clouds rolled, and in an instant, they obscured the harsh sun. Occasionally, a mountain breeze blew, and my mood harmonized with the mountains. Walking on and on, looking back, the path we came from was no longer visible, only the sound of the stream could be heard, meandering into the intertwined branches and vines, and the mountain stones lying across, their traces no longer to be found... We climbed up and down, sometimes under dense shade, without seeing the sun, sometimes in the chilling mist, as if in autumn coolness, and in the blink of an eye, the mountain flowers bloomed brightly, and the scorching sun burned the skin. Half a day in the mountains felt like experiencing all four seasons. No longer caring whether the water wet my feet, my body was already soaked with sweat, and I waded through the water regardless of its depth. With giant steps on the rocks, splashing water, I bent down to watch the crabs scuttle and the fish dart away. A few meters away, on a large rock, a dragonfly sat as if in deep meditation, undisturbed by my antics, the changing weather, the stretching ferns, and the fluttering butterflies... Looking up abruptly, I saw the dark rocks towering dozens of meters high, with several waterfalls cascading down like white silk ribbons dancing in the air. The stream was abruptly cut off here, and this cliff, like a black gate, suddenly closed the path ahead of us. We didn't know when we had made a mistake, and the choices that followed turned our leisurely trip into a standard plus. The cliff was insurmountable, there were faint traces of people on the left, and although the rocks on the right were steep, there were also signs of climbing. The sound of the waterfall was so loud we could hardly hear each other's shouts, and we finally decided to climb up the right side (which later proved to be the correct choice among two wrong paths). This slope, with an incline of over seventy degrees, nearly exhausted all my strength. Trees, vines, rocks, and even weeds became my climbing aids. There was no wind in the forest, and I could feel the unstoppable sweat flowing over my forehead, down my back, and along my calves. My thighs began to swell with soreness, and my chest steamed with heat like a burning furnace. I drank the last drop of water from my water bag. Finally, after eating a piece of milk candy and countless rests, after climbing about two hundred meters in height, I staggered onto a small path across the mountainside... Nearly collapsing, I pushed through the weeds that had covered the road, passed by the rubble by the cliff, and the sound of the mountain spring's turbulent water almost made me jump into the mountain pool. Once again jumping into the pool, the waterfall from above splashed like flying snow. I sat on a rock by the bank, my feet dipped into the icy spring, slowly regaining my strength. Looking up at the sky, I saw a cloud shaped like a cow drifting among the branches, slowly revealing its white belly... Suddenly, I heard a loud shout, I stood up, and a green bamboo snake, over a meter long, slithered between my feet and slowly crawled into the dense grass...