THE ROVER

ZHAO Guo-gong, known as A-gong, worked as a high-altitude mountain collaborator. In the 1970s, when mountaineering tourism was booming in Taiwan, the young and promising A-gong served as a mountain guide, as well as the high-altitude guide for a TV program. It seemed his life was on a smooth path, ready to ride the wave of Taiwan’s mountaineering craze. However, a few years later, after earning enough money, he abandoned his mountaineering career to open a pawnshop in downtown Kaohsiung. Due to poor management and substantial gambling debts, he was pursued by creditors and wanted by the police. With nowhere to turn, he went into hiding, eventually seeking refuge on Yushan. After two months, realizing there was no escape from the law, he descended the mountain and surrendered, serving a nine-month prison term. After completing his sentence, he gained a new understanding of life and returned to the mountains as a collaborator.
趙國功，人稱阿功，曾是一名高山協作員。1970年代，台灣登山旅遊風氣興盛，年輕有為的阿功不僅擔任山岳嚮導，還曾是電視節目的高山嚮導。然而幾年後，在賺取了一筆錢後，他放棄了登山事業，改在高雄市區開設當舖，卻因經營不善，加上賭博欠債，遭債主追討，甚至被警方通緝。出獄後，他對人生有了新的體悟，並重新以協作員的身分重返山林。