導賞點 5
天然山徑背後….
Behind the scenes of nature trails…
走在龍脊山徑上,不知你是否察覺部分原來陡峭的路段建了大石級,讓遊客走上更感安全?
Have you ever noticed large stones built on some slope sections along the Dragon’s Back trail? Are they supposed to make tourist feel safer?
港島徑由1985年啟用,至今已經34年了,在郊野公園內的行山徑,不少是以人手鋪建(「手作步道」),一石一磚都是以人力搬運到山上。而其中的幕後功臣就是漁農自然護理署的前線員工。他們多年來不辭勞苦、日曬雨淋地為大家維修山徑,作為行山者應感謝他們的付出。然而,維修山徑是一項非常辛苦的體力勞動工作,吸引年輕新一代入職不容易。
The Hong Kong Trail has been in operation for 34 years, after being opened in 1985. Many of the country park trails have been paved by hand (handmade walkways) due to their inaccessibility. Every brick and stone was carefully carried up the mountain by workers. Much gratitude is owed to the road repair workers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for their effort and extensive work. They worked hard over many years, rain or shine to build and repair mountain trails for everyone to use. Unfortunately, a new generation of workers was reluctant to enter this field of work.
因部分山徑特别陡峭,或已侵蝕嚴重,或為方便鄉村村民出入,該些路徑或需以石屎鋪設。自2016年起,有行山者及民間團體開始關注山徑「石屎化」問題 (包括認為石屎徑與自然環境欠和諧、工程期間破壞生態環境、對使用者腳部關節損傷等),故提倡減少使用水泥修建山徑,多運用自然物料以人手鋪砌。
Due to the fact that there are some steep or eroded trails, or for the continence of transport to the villagers, some of the new repair works were done in concrete. Since 2016, hikers and local community groups have raised concerns of a concrete trail. They claimed that cement pathways were an eyesore in the natural habitat; the environment was destroyed during road works; the stiff path may damage the joints of hikers.
可是「手作步道」需要大量人手進行,並需持續維修,面對有限的人手,如何追上天然山徑的損耗速度呢?
However, handmade trails require a mass workforce and are high maintenance. With a shortage of human resources, how can trails keep up with the rate of erosion?
綠惜地球於2019年初開展「自己山徑自己修」義工培訓計劃,邀請有體力又有興趣回饋郊野的公眾人士,一起學習以手作方式協助修復耗損的山徑,希望加快山徑復修進度,並一起推廣無痕山林的郊遊文化。
In 2019, The Green Earth organisation started a program initiative dubbed “Repair Your Own Trails”, whereby natural materials are used to repair trails. The program enlists volunteers who are physically able and enthusiastic about repairing and restoring the damaged ecology. They hope to hasten the restoration of mountain trails while promoting a sustainable “leave no trace” hiking attitude.
透過親身體驗,參加者會明白修建一條山徑背後並不簡單,是一門結合了不同知識和工藝的學問。各位山友在行山時除了欣賞沿途風光外,也請好好感受一下修路人背後的心思啊!
From firsthand experience, participants understand that building a mountain trail is not easy. It requires a combination of expertise and craftsmanship to blend in repairs. A kind note to fellow hikers, while admiring the picturesque landscape, spare a thought for the special touch put in by volunteers and road workers.
請支持愛惜天然山徑,歡迎登入綠惜地球「共築可持續山徑 – 無痕山林教育計劃」網頁,認識更多愛惜郊野資訊!
Please help support preserving mountain trails. Find out more about The Green Earth, “Make Our Nature Trails Sustainable – Leave No Trace Education” from their website and become an informed hiker.