An undying passion for the mountains from childhood

In sportswear and a pair of sunglasses, Lee Wai-on began a sunny summer day in the mountains. This is how he had started most of the days in the past 30 years.

Lee, now in his 60s, discovered his love for hiking as he commuted between his home and school at the age of six.

A frequent mountain hiker for more than three decades, Lee recalls the sorrows and joys he had gone through those years. He had met new friends, some of whom came and went but through it all, he has found a continuous link.

In his relationships with those who had passed by day or night and then vanished, Lee remains rooted in the mountains, where he plans to spend the rest of his life.

He has joined hundreds, if not thousands, of hiking teams. Most of the people he had hiked with have now kicked the habit. Some may have died. But, for Lee, hiking will be with him from the cradle to the grave.

Lee grew up in a log cabin in a country village far from the city. The place he had lived in, now called Sha Tin, was then far away from the urban areas. He had to walk between his home and school for years. That was where he developed his love for walking. It became a part of him.

“I think from then on, hiking has become my way of life.” In retirement, Lee still feels the deep affection from his childhood.

“I’ ll never give it up,” he vows, when asked if old age would be an obstacle to his keeping up his lifestyle.

Lee and some of his friends started a small hiking community about 10 years ago. But, all the other founding members have since dropped out, and he never asked why. What matters to him is the passion that people have for hiking. As the only original group member left, Lee keeps going . The group was an important turning point for him. He continues to organize hikes, drafts introductions to the native scenery and creates maps of the hiking routes.

“I only wish to provide one more choice for those who’re interested in hiking,” he says.

According to Lee, the members who joined the team are always changing. To him, they are people sharing information about hiking and enjoying the times they’ve been together. His relationship with his teammates is nothing more than that, and Lee is content, keeping at a distance.

“Life’s like this,” he says. The furrows on his brow, looking deeper under the sunshine, reveal the weathering of the years.

To keep up, Lee has had to compromise, but it hasn’t always worked. His forays into the wild had cost him his marriage with his first wife.

“It’s not a disgraceful thing to say my first marriage ended because of hiking,” he quips with contriteness.

On one occasion, he recalled insisting he would go hiking while his wife was dead set that he should be at home to keep her company. Such confrontations have ensued.

Lee now encourages his present wife to take up hiking. But, she can’t keep it up. When he wants to take on more difficult slopes, she would be completely lost.

Lee used to go hiking once a week on weekends. Now, he goes out twice and spends the rest of the time with his wife.

“Of course, I would love to have more freedom when I’m by myself,” Lee says in jest. “But, don’t tell anyone.”

Lee has to force himself to strike a balance between hiking and family. He expects people with the same passion to join him and enjoy our country parks.