Lesson 3
第三節
Matterhorn man
馬特霍恩山區人
What was the main objective of early mountain climbers?
早期登山者的主要目標是什麼
Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport,
現代登山運動員總想找一條能夠給他們帶來運動樂趣的路線來攀登山峰
and the more difficult it is,the more highly it is regarded.
他們認為， 道路愈艱險愈帶勁兒
In the pioneering days however,this was not the case at all.
然而，在登山運動的初期，全然不是這種情況
The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top
早期登山者所尋找的是通往山頂的最方便的途徑
because the summit was the prize they sought,
因為頂峰特別是前人未曾到過的頂峰
especially if it had never been attained before.
才是他們尋求的目標
It is true that during their explorations
確實，在探險中
they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature,
他們經常遇到驚心動魄的困難和危險
equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought,
而他們裝備之簡陋足以使現代登山者一想起來就膽戰心驚
but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement.
但是，他們並非故意尋求這種刺激
They had a single aim,a solitary goal--the top!
他們只有一個目標，唯一的目標-- 頂峰！
It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers.
我們今天很難想像昔日的登山先驅們是多麼艱苦
Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular.
除了澤曼特和夏蒙尼等一兩個很快出了名的地方外
Alpine villages tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization
阿爾卑斯山山區的小村幾乎全是與世隔絕的窮鄉僻壤
by the high mountains.
高山環抱
Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden;
那裡的小客棧一般都很骯髒，而且跳蚤猖獗
the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old,
食物是當地的干酪和通常存放了一年之久的麵包
all washed down with coarse wine.
人們就著劣酒吞下這種食物
Often a valley boasted no inn at all, and climbers found shelter wherever they could--
山谷裡常常沒有小客棧，登山者只好隨遇而安
sometimes with the local priest(who was usually as poor as his parishioners),
有時同當地牧師（他通常和他的教民一樣窮）住在一起
sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers.
有時同牧羊人或製乳酪的人住在一起
Invariably the background was the same:dirt and poverty,and very uncomfortable.
無論住在哪兒，情況都一樣：骯髒、貧窮，極其不舒適
For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners
對於過慣了一頓飯吃7道菜
and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home,
和睡亞麻細布床單的人來說
the change to the Alps must have been very hard indeed.
變換一下生活環境來到阿爾卑斯山山區，那一定是很艱難的
lesson 3 Matterhorn滿