While he is paid by the families that offer rewards for finding missing members of their family (one tycoon’s daughter offered NT1M), Petr has been risking his life on these search and rescue missions. Nobody would do what he’s doing for the sake of money. He’s doing it out of passion and compassion. Like everyone, he needs to earn a living too. His strength, fitness and intimate knowledge of the mountains – sometimes even better than local guides, puts him in the best position to find the missing hikers. It’s sad that though he had a few successes finding missing hikers alive, more often than not, he found them dead.
This may sound counterintuitive, but if you’re lost, do not descend on any unmarked trail. You have a much better chance of being rescued when you’re closer to the top.
His wife is native Taiwanese. They are so passionate about their pursuits (discovering ancient mountain trails) that they are helping others enjoy the sport of trail running. When they attract runners into remote areas not on the tourist trails, they are improving the economy of tribal villages. I’m amazed that such a “traditional” looking woman can be so forward-thinking. Instead of abandoning the villages and let luxury resort developers take over, they are helping to turn the villages into modernised, self-sustaining settlements that could preserve the culture and way of life of the tribes for a very long time. Let Taiwan remain Taiwan.
Check Out Knapsack Books by Chan Joon Yee