Your route, our support—explore majestic mountains and rivers to your heart's content. The authentic outdoor experience is boundless. To help consumers realize their outdoor dreams and boost the development of outdoor sports in China, the "Endless Experience—Gore-Tex Outdoor Dreams Come True" campaign has been held for five consecutive editions. The sixth edition in 2012, just like previous years, collects outstanding travel plans via the internet. The submission period now enters its final month. By the end of March, 3,321 plans had been received, with numbers still rapidly growing—a veritable sea of "red flags" across China.
So who will raise the "flag" and win? Or which exciting routes are worth joining or following? Let’s take a look together.
Plan 1: Conquer the Stunning Xiasai Peak
At an altitude of 5,833 meters, Xiasai Peak lies within Batang County, Garzê Prefecture. The professional mountaineering group’s plan titled "2012 Xiasai Peak Ascent" on the Gore campaign official website aims to summit this peak. In September 2006, the cover of the special issue on China’s Landscape Avenue in the Chinese National Geography magazine featured a photo of the peak taken along National Highway 318—testament to its breathtaking beauty. While the ascent of Xiasai Peak involves certain technical challenges, the planned route features relatively low natural risks and offers stunning mountain scenery, making it highly appealing. Will this plan clinch the monthly championship in the professional mountaineering category on the Gore website and win a KOLON SPORT-sponsored down jacket? The anticipation is high.
Plan 2: Achieve the First Ascent by an Amateur Female Climber
The "2013 Makalu Peak Ascent in Nepal" plan was submitted by female outdoor enthusiast Luo Jing via the Sanfo Outdoor sub-site, which offered prizes sponsored by Lowa. With an elevation of 8,463 meters, Makalu is the world’s fifth-highest peak. Located in the central Himalayas, the mountain is covered in thick ice and snow, with massive glaciers in its valleys and frequent ice and snow avalanches, making its ascent extremely challenging. Winning this trip would mark the first time a Chinese amateur female climber reaches Makalu.
Plan 3: Bridging the Gap—Hiking Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range
The trekking group’s plan titled "Trekking Through the Batongguan Ancient Trail Across Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range" comes from the Piao Wang-Shenge Northeast Sub-site, supported by prizes from Lafuma. The Central Mountain Range is the backbone of Taiwan Island and historically the biggest barrier to east-west transportation on the island. The Batongguan Ancient Trail, also known as the Yuli Ancient Trail, has fallen into disrepair due to typhoons and floods, but many sections remain well-preserved.
Plans related to Taiwan have been absent in the Outdoor Dreams campaign, and this route helps fill that gap. The Piao Wang-Shenge Northeast Sub-site also provides a great platform for outdoor enthusiasts in the northeast to connect.
Plan 4: A Thrilling Journey Along the Wusun Ancient Trail
The plan from the Yuantuo Outdoor Sub-site titled "Crossing? Crossing Again!! Travel Back to the Ancient Kingdom Along the Wusun Ancient Trail" refers to the ancient trails that crossed between the Wusun and Kucha kingdoms through the Tianshan Mountains—there were many such routes. Today’s National Highway 217 follows what was once the most-traveled of these ancient trails. The crossing route is rugged and perilous, especially the rope-crossing over the Kequs River, which is extremely thrilling. It’s a high-risk, high-difficulty hiking trail that deserves attention. Compared to the fierce competition at other sub-sites, the Yuantuo Outdoor Sub-site offers relatively mild rivalry, giving participants better odds of winning the monthly championship—and even the annual champion gear from OZARK GEAR (Osprey) for the trekking group.
Have these plans already given you a taste of the thrill of the outdoors? If you’ve submitted a plan but didn’t win, don’t be discouraged. This year’s campaign continues its cross-industry collaboration with Subaru, launching the "Subaru Special Route." In addition to the four annual champions, one team among all participants will also receive an Outback SUV from Gore and Subaru, along with travel funds and equipment support.
The diverse ways to join the campaign offer more shortcuts to your dream journey. You can sign up via the main Gore campaign site at http://fund.gore-tex.com.cn, or submit your travel plan through the Sina sub-site, Lvyeh sub-site, 8264 sub-site, Sanfo Outdoor sub-site, Imaging Visual sub-site, NetEase sub-site, 517 sub-site, Piao Wang-Shenge Northeast sub-site, Yuantuo Outdoor sub-site, or Ku6 sub-site.
Plan submissions close at the end of May—time is running out. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or just an everyday netizen with an outdoor dream, you can join the campaign through any of the above channels and set off on a dream-seeking journey with Gore, planting your dream flag far and wide.