【冰川上的悔改者|The Penitent on the Glacier】
#MATANUSKA5D#GlacierEncounters
今天下午,我帶了一組十位客人的冰川徒步團,五對夫妻,來自緬因州、田納西、佛羅里達等地。大家年紀都不小,只有一對夫妻可能跟我年齡相仿。大部分是白人,也有一位韓裔太太。
In the afternoon, I guided a ten-person glacier tour—five couples from Maine, Tennessee, Florida, and other states. Most were older than me; only one couple seemed around my age. Mostly white Americans, with one Korean-American lady.
其中有一位走得比較慢、穿得比較厚的長者,他叫 Jorge。他一開始就說自己不想登頂,想在中途等大家下來。但根據公司規定,客人不能獨自停留。我也真心希望他能看到冰川最壯觀的風景。
One guest, walking slowly and dressed warmly, was Jorge. From the beginning, he said he wouldn’t go to the top and preferred to wait midway. But per our company policy, no guest can be left alone. And deep down, I truly wanted him to see the glacier summit.
於是我開始「半哄半勸」的引導。他先是跟我到了中段。我說,再走一點點有冰川水可以喝;他繼續前進。到了那裡,我又說:「再走一點,我會給大家數碼驚喜。」他雖然猶豫,但還是一步一步走上去了。
So I began a gentle game of persuasion. He made it to the middle. Then I said, “Just a bit higher, and you can drink fresh glacier water.” He moved on. Later I added, “Go a little farther and I’ll give you a digital surprise.” Hesitant but trusting, he followed.
最後一段是最難走的冰階,還好我幾天前就規劃了替代方案,大家都順利登頂。我啟動飛行相機幫大家拍攝高空影像。每個人都笑得很開心,而 Jorge,也站在了冰川之巔。
The final section was tough, but thanks to a new route I planned earlier, everyone made it to the top. I launched my drone and captured aerial footage of their joy. Jorge stood with them—on top of the glacier, smiling.
下山時,我特別拉著 Jorge 的手陪他走。他很健談,也很好奇。他知道我來自中國,在美國十四年,是基督教徒;他則說自己是聖經教授。我們一路東拉西扯,聊得很開心。
During descent, I held Jorge’s hand to help him step by step. He was warm, curious, and talkative. He learned I was from China, had lived in the U.S. for 14 years, and that I’m a Mormon. He told me he was a Bible professor. We chatted about everything and nothing.
他忽然說:「我21歲那年(1977),住在香港的半島酒店,是勞斯萊斯接送的。」我笑著問:「你那麼有錢?」他說:「那時我權勢滔天。」我半信半疑。他又問我:「你看 Netflix 嗎?」我說看,他就說:「我在 Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami 裡出現過。」
Then Jorge said, “In 1977, when I was 21, I stayed at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce.” I laughed, “You were that rich?” He replied, “I was powerful back then.” I wasn’t sure what to believe—until he asked, “Do you watch Netflix?”
“I do,” I said.
“I’m in Cocaine Cowboys: Kings of Miami,” he said.
這一瞬間我愣住了。原來,我手牽著的,是 Netflix 紀錄片裡的真實人物——Jorge L. Valdés,哥倫比亞麥德林毒梟財務核心,後來入獄悔改,如今是聖經學者與福音講者。
In that moment, I froze. The man I was guiding was none other than Dr. Jorge L. Valdés—former Medellín cartel financier, real-life figure in the Netflix documentary, now reborn as a Bible professor and speaker.
我們彼此留下了聯絡方式,Jorge 和其他幾位客人都說冬季還要再來看我。在臨別時,他看著我說:「你是我的朋友了。」我看著他笑說:「你是我老大哥了。」
We exchanged contact info. Jorge and a few others said they’d come visit again in winter. As we parted, Jorge looked at me and said, “You’re my friend now.”
I smiled back, “You’re my big brother.”
我們來自兩個世界,卻在冰川上同行一段;他曾經登過權力的頂峰,如今又在我手中,重新登上一座純潔之山。這段相遇,是我今年最難忘的冰川時刻之一。
We come from two different worlds, yet shared a trail across the ice. Jorge once stood atop power’s dark peaks—now, he stood again, this time on a pure glacier summit, guided by a stranger-turned-friend.
This was one of my most unforgettable glacier moments of the year.
#MATANUSKA5D #GlacierEncounters #CocaineCowboys #Netflix #JorgeValdes #RedemptionStory #Alaska #GlacierGuide #RealLifeStory #冰川江森 #阿拉斯加 #冰川人生
遠眺馬塔努斯卡冰川的姐妹科尼克冰川
06/18/3025
江森
今天是具有歷史意義的一天,一家非常專業的科技儀器公司Kestrel贊助了MATANUSKA5D科普項目。他們將提供一套最新最高配置的手持式氣候儀表。當然作為贊助商,也會得到項目的使用報告和宣傳推廣。
而得到這消息之後,就一邊遠眺科尼克冰川,一邊錄製了一些視頻,週二週三休息,今天沒有客人,江森就是主角。輕鬆愜意,開心快樂。
從這幾天開始,MATANUSKA5D計畫逐漸起步了。這是一個以長期紀錄馬塔努斯卡冰川變遷、人文痕跡、生物活動、太空天文和哲學思考的五維科普紀錄項目。
未來將在五個社交媒體平台發布圖片、文字和視頻(直播)信息。也註冊了網址:https://t.co/v6P1zaLJkQ。網站將匯總所有信息,還在建設中。五個平台分別是華語:B站、小紅書,華語/英文雙語:YouTube 、TikTok和X平台。華語品牌已經統一為:馬塔努斯卡5D冰川江森,雙語簡單:MATANUSKA5D。
隨著項目的逐漸完善,將來會公布更多信息,現在還屬於籌備期,已經有多個贊助者了,形勢喜人,任務逼人。放心,等項目公佈,每一位關心冰川、愛護地球的朋友可以參加,每一个意见,每一照片和視頻都是支持。#冰川[话题]# #气候变暖冰川融化[话题]# #世界的尽头是雪山和大海[话题]# #远处的雪山[话题]#
Overlooking Konik Glacier, Sister to Matanuska Glacier
06/18/3025
By Johnson
Today marks a historic milestone: Kestrel, a highly respected scientific instrument company, has officially sponsored the MATANUSKA5D science outreach project. They will provide a top-tier, state-of-the-art handheld climate monitoring device. In return, they’ll receive project reports and brand exposure through our platform.
Upon receiving the good news, I filmed several clips while gazing out toward Konik Glacier, Matanuska’s neighboring sister. With no tour guests today and Tuesday-Wednesday being my days off, I got to relax and enjoy the moment—carefree and joyful, with myself as the sole protagonist.
The MATANUSKA5D initiative is now officially underway. This is a long-term five-dimensional science documentation project, dedicated to capturing the changes of the Matanuska Glacier, traces of human presence, wildlife activity, astronomical phenomena, and philosophical reflections.
In the future, updates will be shared across five social media platforms, featuring photos, stories, and videos (including livestreams). The project also has an official website: https://t.co/v6P1zaLJkQ, which is currently under construction and will serve as a hub for all content. The five platforms include two for Chinese-language audiences—Bilibili and Xiaohongshu—and three bilingual/international platforms: YouTube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). The Chinese branding is now unified as “馬塔努斯卡5D|冰川江森,” while the international bilingual identity is simply MATANUSKA5D.
As the project framework continues to take shape, more details will be revealed. Though still in the preparatory phase, multiple sponsors have already come on board—a promising start with heavy responsibilities ahead. Rest assured, once the project is fully launched, every glacier-loving, Earth-caring friend will be welcome to participate. Every photo and video will be a form of support.
#Glacier #ClimateChangeAndMeltingGlaciers #TheEndOfTheWorldIsSnowAndSea #DistantSnowyPeaks
原來在冰凍圈的每個春天,都會迎來令人心碎的冰裂時刻
江森
04/10/2025
去年的四月底,冰川氣溫很冷,在冰川臉部右側上方的巨大冰塊,被我命名為“天堂之冰”的殞落,讓人心碎了許久。
去年底十二月,在左側冰磧一側很遠的裡面,和同事們一起發現了一個地下不深的奇蹟,被我命名為“水晶宮”了,“水晶宮”不到三米高,兩側的冰塊巨大和深厚,幾乎完全透明,宛若水晶,令人陶醉和震撼,但是大約只去過幾次,因為路途太過遙遠,一直沒有能被納入主要行程。
那一次發現“水晶宮”之後,立即在網絡購買了亮度高達20萬流明的號稱史上最亮的大電筒,大電筒後來在主行程的冰洞遊卻發揮了意想不到的作用。
上週日,好友們前來探望,我第一時間帶著大電筒和大家直奔“水晶宮”,今年的氣溫比較高,路上的雪化了不少,如果沒有了路標,幾乎都迷路了。
可我們趕到一看,心又一次碎了。四個月前晶瑩剔透的“水晶宮”在早春的高溫下,早已化作了一汪平淡無奇的水池。
其實今年我最擔心會坍塌的,並不是“水晶宮”,而是“冰川泰坦尼克號”,這是主行程的最後一站,但有時馬塔努斯卡河流的冰塊由於高溫太軟,也不敢進去的。
“冰川泰坦尼克號”,是另一塊巨大的宛若大型郵輪倒過來的冰塊,去年冬天隱隱約約,今年冬天就展現無遺了。剛開始,我們還無所顧忌地在裏側遊玩,後來發現她非常傾斜,就用樹木建立了警戒綫,沒有人再進去玩了。
在我的內心中,“冰川泰坦尼克號”很快會因為氣溫上升而坍塌,但沒有想到的“水晶宮”早走了一步。
就像我們都知道,總有一天至親的人都會別離,但沒人知道是哪一刻一樣。
地球上絕大多數人類,都生活在四個圈裡面,那就是水圈、巖石圈、大氣圈、生物圈。而只有江森有幸地生活在五個圈裡,我的生活多了一個冰凍圈。
經歷了每一個春天與美麗冰凍風景的生離死別,在五圈生活的江森,決定抓住每一個機會,為所有的朋友盡量展示出第五個圈-冰凍圈自然魅力。
冰川的大氣乾淨純潔,冬季極夜星空特別明亮。冰川的水千姿百態,長年飲用冰川井水,令人特別心曠神怡。冰川的動物懵懂可愛,夏天的植物五彩多姿。冰磧夏天的石塊特別美麗,大塊的石頭還有一個綽號“走路的石頭桌子”。
而最不為人所知的就是冰凍圈的生活,不要急,朋友們,江森已經準備好了,為您開始做沈浸式的介紹,文字的、圖片的、視頻的。從春天開始,直到漸漸老去。
The Heartbreak of Ice Cracking—A Cryosphere Spring Ritual
Johnson
April 10, 2025
Every spring in the cryosphere brings with it a heartbreak—a moment of collapse that no one can stop.
In late April last year, the glacier was still bitterly cold. A massive block of ice, perched on the upper right side of the glacier face, broke off. I had named it Heaven’s Ice. Its fall shattered more than just itself—it left a long-lasting ache in my heart.
Then, in December, deep on the left side beyond the lateral moraine, my colleagues and I stumbled upon a shallow underground wonder. I named it The Crystal Palace. Standing just under three meters tall, it was flanked by towering walls of ice—immense, translucent, and dazzlingly clear, like pure crystal. It left us spellbound. But we only visited a few times. The journey was too far, too remote, and so it never became part of our main routes.
After discovering the Crystal Palace, I immediately ordered what was advertised as the brightest flashlight ever made—a monster boasting 200,000 lumens. Though I originally bought it for the palace, it turned out to be unexpectedly useful for our guided ice cave tours.
Just this past Sunday, some close friends came to visit. Without hesitation, I grabbed the big flashlight and led everyone straight to the Crystal Palace. This year’s warmer temperatures had melted much of the snow along the way. Without markers, we nearly got lost.
But when we arrived—our hearts broke again. What had been a mesmerizing crystal chamber just four months ago had now vanished, reduced to an ordinary puddle of meltwater under the early spring heat.
Ironically, The Crystal Palace wasn’t even the structure I was most worried about this year. My greatest concern was another ice formation near the end of our main route, which we call The Glacier Titanic. Sometimes, the softened river ice from the Matanuska makes it too risky to even approach.
The Glacier Titanic is a giant block of ice shaped like an overturned ocean liner. Last winter, it was barely visible. But this year, it revealed itself in full. At first, we wandered around and under it without a second thought. Then we realized how precariously tilted it was. We quickly set up a warning perimeter with tree branches. No one dared enter again.
In my heart, I was convinced that The Glacier Titanic would collapse first due to the rising temperatures. I never imagined The Crystal Palace would vanish before it.
It’s like losing a loved one—you always know it will happen someday, but never know exactly when.
Most people on Earth live within four spheres: the hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. But I, Johnson, am fortunate to live within a fifth—the cryosphere.
Having experienced the birth and death of stunning frozen wonders every spring, I—living among the five spheres—am determined to seize every opportunity to share with my friends the natural beauty of this fifth one: the cryosphere.
The glacier’s air is astonishingly clean and pure. Its night sky in winter is breathtakingly bright. Its waters flow in infinite forms, and drinking from glacier wells brings a sense of clarity unlike anything else. The animals here are innocent and endearing; the summer plants, vibrant and full of color. Even the rocks along the moraine in summer are beautiful. Some large stones have even earned a nickname: “walking stone tables.”
And the most overlooked of all—life in the cryosphere itself.
But don’t worry, friends. I, Johnson, am ready. Ready to begin sharing this world with you—immersively, through words, photos, and videos. From spring, and onward, as I slowly grow old.