Hundreds of hikers trekked through the mountains, colorful flags fluttered in the clouds, and laughter echoed through the valleys... On June 16–17, 2012, the offline event of the North China division of "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Hiking Season officially kicked off at the Lingshan Scenic Area in Beijing, launching a two-day large-scale outdoor hiking activity. On the day of the event, 100 qualified contestants from the North China division gathered at Lingshan to personally take on two fun outdoor competitions: the lightweight loaded trekking race and the tent-pitching contest. They also engaged in low-carbon energy-saving actions—participating in a public welfare campaign to reduce bottled water usage—spending an exciting and eco-friendly mountain carnival with hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts.
Outdoor masters gather, thrilling competitions unfold one after another
As the first stop of this event, the participation in the North China division reached the highest among all four stops, featuring many outdoor experts, making the event site exceptionally lively. Over the course of the two-day-one-night event, contestants hiked the classic Lingshan route—from Xiamawei to Baiyu—strolled along the ancient paths of Lingshan, admiring the misty landscapes and lush greenery; summited the main peak of Lingshan to take in the majestic beauty of the mountains; and camped on the Qizhuolou Grassland, listening to the melodious birdsong in the mountains. "I'm very happy to have participated in this event. The activities were novel and fun. Here, I not only made many friends but also felt completely relaxed physically and mentally. I was especially happy," one North China division contestant told reporters.
In addition, the event also featured exciting and intense mini competitions where contestants competed fiercely, showcasing their skills. In the lightweight loaded trekking race on the morning of the 16th, over a hundred contestants set off from Xiamawei, chasing each other closely with evenly matched performance. Among them, the youngest contestant, a 13-year-old named "Backspace," showed remarkable spirit despite his young age, his enthusiasm no less than that of any other participant. Meanwhile, the tent-pitching competition held on the morning of the 17th near Shixinlou tested contestants' comprehensive outdoor skills—setting up poles, laying the inner tent, pulling guylines, closing the tent door... The competition process was tense and fierce, with cheers and shouts erupting from the crowd, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere.
A grand carnival of 100 people, a large-scale opening ceremony ignites the climax
It’s worth mentioning that the much-anticipated grand launch ceremony of the "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Hiking Season series of major theme events was also held on the afternoon of the 16th at the Lingshan parking lot. This large-scale ceremony for 100 people was filled with fluttering event flags and dazzling fireworks, with a bustling crowd and a lively, energetic atmosphere. Next to the stage, Lafuma’s creative signature wall, set against a blue bottled water backdrop, stood out uniquely. Contestants eagerly wrote messages of blessing on green leaves to share their hopes for the event. At the same time, Mr. Luo Xiangzhen, CEO of Lafuma China, and several well-known figures in the outdoor community personally cheered everyone on, kicking off the event with an inspiring and uplifting start.
In addition, the awards for the loaded trekking race and the tent-pitching contest were announced on the morning of the 17th, with all major prizes finally decided. The event organizing committee presented all winning contestants with certificates of honor on-site and gifted them Lafuma top-tier outdoor gear worth thousands of yuan. "Winning this award makes me really happy. Through the event, I not only improved and was challenged but also learned a lot. I hope Lafuma will organize more such events in the future," said Ma Lei, the first-place winner of the loaded trekking race.
As the offline event of the North China division at the Lingshan Station in Beijing for "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Hiking Season progresses, contestants will share their experiences from the day on the official theme website after the event. The organizing committee will comprehensively evaluate the contestants’ overall qualities—including mountaineering experience, technical skill, mountaineering spirit, commitment to public welfare, and willingness to share—based on their performance during the event and the insights they share on the theme website. Awards for the North China division and the division champion will then be selected. The ultimate North China division champion will travel in November to Anneyron (Aneyron), the hometown of Lafuma, and visit the alpine resort town of Chamonix (Chamonix), known as the holy land of the outdoors, enjoying a free seven-day “Home of Leaves” romantic French outdoor trip. Who will claim the first victory and win the North China division championship? Let’s wait and see.
Appendix: Award winners list for the lightweight loaded trekking race and tent-pitching contest of the North China division of "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Hiking Season
Lightweight Loaded Trekking Race
First place: No. 032 Ma Lei ID: Yezi (Leaf)
Race time: 1:29:45 Backpack weight: 13kg
Second place: No. 060 Kang Yongbin ID: honeybu
Race time: 1:43:06 Backpack weight: 12kg
Third place: No. 001 Huang Ailiang ID: angelcaes
Race time: 1:44:50 Backpack weight: 12kg
Tent-Pitching Contest
First place: No. 023 Jia Shi ID: Noon Sunshine
Race time: 6 minutes 27 seconds
Second place: No. 011 Han Baoli ID: Aya
Race time: 6 minutes 56 seconds
Third place: No. 013 Tian Hongqi ID: 0Hongqi0
Race time: 7 minutes 36 seconds