Wilderness Retreats: Autumn Child

As the gentle breeze of early summer caresses our faces, the fragrant ayu fish make their dazzling appearance in May, adding a delicious anticipation to the arrival of the season. Also known as “Hachigatsu Kou” or “Autumn Child,” the ayu is a freshwater migratory fish that thrives in environments with good water quality, spacious activity space, and a clean setting. In this aquatic realm, wild ayu feed on bottom-dwelling algae attached to rocks, endowing them with a unique and delightful fragrance. While cultivated ayu dominates the Taiwanese market, our journey led us to the Songmao Forest Road in pursuit of this wild delicacy.

Guided by the Defender, we traversed through Taiwan’s distinctive mountainous terrain. The layers of canyons along the forest road seemed like stages in a journey toward a delightful destination, where each leg brought us closer to savoring the delectable ayu fish. Upon reaching our camping site, we observed anglers skillfully employing fly fishing techniques to entice wild ayu onto their hooks. We seized the opportunity to purchase a fresh harvest from these anglers, eager to experience the true essence of wild ayu.

In the great outdoors, we fashioned bamboo skewers ranging from thick to thin, threading the ayu fish in an S-shape. Coating the fish fins generously with coarse salt, we used both hands to evenly distribute the seasoning. Then, we opted for woodfired cooking, allowing the ayu fish to retain its tender texture while absorbing a hint of the campfire’s woody aroma. Paired with the freshness of a lemon, it presented the most delightful meal of our adventure.

The entire expedition, with the Defender navigating through the forest roads and the savory taste of ayu fish, intertwined to create unforgettable memories. This adventure not only satisfied our taste buds but also added a beautiful chapter to the story of early summer.

在南投松茂林道的溪畔，有一個獨特的野營體驗-台灣野生香魚的產地，讓我們一起來探索這個秘境，一邊享受美味的香魚，一邊欣賞大自然的美景。

野生香魚生長在清澈的山溪中，而南投的松茂林道是台灣香魚最主要的產地之一。香魚的生長環境需要有清澈的水質和豐富的水草，這裡的氣候和環境非常適合香魚的生長，因此產量也非常豐富。台灣每年的夏季至秋季是香魚的產季，這時候正是品嚐香魚最美味的時刻。在溪畔的野營地點，你可以享受到獨特的野營體驗。

我們將用天然的木柴燒烤野生香魚，讓你品嘗到美味的烤香魚。除此之外，你還可以在溪中嬉戲玩水，感受清涼的水流和大自然的氣息。而讓人驚豔的是，夜晚我們利用環繞的銅管燒熱水，頭一次在野營的時後還能享受熱水澡。這種在大自然中享受到溫暖和清新的感受，絕對是一種難得的體驗。

南投松茂林道的山景也是這裡的特色之一。你可以在清晨享受到雲霧瀰漫的美景，晴天的時候更可以欣賞到山巒疊嶂的美麗風景。在這裡，你可以感受到大自然的神奇和美妙。來到南投松茂林道，不僅可以品嚐到獨特的野生香魚美食，還可以享受到美麗的山景和清新的溪畔。這裡是一個值得一去的好地方，讓我們一起來探索吧！

Photo Spec : Nikon D800 | Nikon 70-200/F4