Renmin University Self-Travelers2014Mountaineering&Public Welfare Scientific Expedition Team’s Departure —— The Haituo Training Hike
7July5to6, the mountaineering team and public welfare scientific expedition team of the Self-Travelers Association at Renmin University of China embarked on their first outdoor training hike of the summer vacation —— an intense traverse of Haituo Mountain. After a busy exam week, this training session served to review and practice previously acquired mountaineering skills, acting as the final warm-up and team bonding before departure. The challenging Haituo hike restored most team members’ physical condition to a good level, preparing them for the greater challenges ahead. The Self-Travelers Mountaineering Team and Public Welfare Scientific Expedition Team are soon to set off separately for Sichuan’s Qiao’er Mountain and Tibet’s Anduo.,The mountaineering team and the public welfare scientific expedition team of the Self-Travelers Association at Renmin University of China embarked on their first outdoor training session of the summer vacation—a high-intensity hike across Haituo Mountain. After a busy exam week, this training session served to review and practice various mountaineering skills previously learned, acting as the final warm-up and team-building exercise before their expeditions. The challenging Haituo hike helped most team members regain good physical condition in preparation for the greater challenges ahead. Soon, the Self-Travelers mountaineering team and the public welfare scientific expedition team will set off on their respective journeys to Qiaogedi Mountain in Sichuan and Amdo in Tibet.
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Morning assembly and departure from Renmin University’s East Gate
7On the morning of5July6, all team members gathered at Renmin University’s East Gate, ready to depart.6:40They then departed for Haituo.8:40Upon arrival at the entrance, the team disembarked, repacked their gear, and began ascending into the mountain. Along the way up, there was a steep section known as the “Soul-Selling Slope,” with a gradient of around60degrees, made up of unevenly stacked rocks of varying sizes, stretching endlessly toward the summit. Coupled with the scorching weather, it posed a significant challenge for the heavily loaded hikers.11:40After about an hour of effort, the team finally emerged from the “Soul-Selling Slope,” greatly improving their pace. The main group continued unimpeded toward the campsite. Not far from the camp, the group split in two: the male members carried tents and headed to the campsite to set up, while the female members selected a spot for node ascending and descending exercises, after which the males returned for synchronized training.
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Roped team practice
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Group photo at the summit
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Descending during the march
The next day, the mountaineering team also practiced glacier skills such as roped team travel, self-arrest, and crevasse rescue, and successfully summited Haituo Mountain. They then broke camp and began the descent. The downhill sections had steeper gradients than the ascent, and the abundance of small loose rocks reduced ground friction, making slipping a constant hazard. As a result, team members proceeded with extreme caution, but thanks to mutual support, their descent speed remained unaffected, arriving at Beer Creek one hour ahead of schedule. The cool creek water washed away the heat and fatigue of the past two days. Returning to campus,19:00the main group returned to Renmin University’s East Gate.
We would also like to thank companies such as Kailas, Ezon Watches, Toread, Lvyecheng Outdoor,MBC, and Gaote Glassesfor providing us with high-quality equipment and support. Good gear is our greatest safety assurance on the path to the summit.