The famous German poet and playwright Goethe once said: "The important thing in life is to have a great aim, and the determination to attain it." Dreams, like classics, never fade with time; instead, they become even more precious. For outdoor enthusiasts, the same holds true for their outdoor dreams—as long as the dream remains, there's no reason not to pursue it.
It’s never too late to start chasing your dream. The 8th edition of the 2014 "Endless Experience – Gore-Tex Outdoor Dreams Realization" event, upholding a positive and healthy outdoor philosophy, respects, encourages, and supports every outdoor dream. Simply present your dream plan for a chance to win a full set of top-tier Gore-Tex gear and travel funding. The March monthly champions of this edition, serving as the first monthly winners of the 8th event, have been announced: Professional Mountaineering Group’s "First Ascent Plan for Mt. Zhongshan at 6,886m," Wilderness Trekking Group’s "The Abode of Padmasambhava – Mid-Circle Kora of Mt. Zari," Hiking Group’s "Keketuohai – A Heavy-Duty Hiking Adventure to Explore China’s Most Mysterious Bermuda Triangle," Outdoor Photography Group’s "Waving on Alpine Meadows, Pausing in the Grand Shangri-La," and Self-Drive Outdoor Group’s "In Search of the Last Patriarchal Tribe of Goba, Challenging the Most Treacherous Mountain Roads."
In 2013, the photography group champions set up colorful tents under the stunning starry sky and happily played with light painting.
To help more people understand and easily participate in the event to realize their outdoor dreams, the mentors of this edition actively engaged with netizens across various platforms, answering their questions one by one. Summing these up amounts to the "Ultimate Guide" for the "Outdoor Dreams Realization" event.
Guide 1: Writing Your Proposal – Feasibility, Creativity, and the Outdoor Spirit Are All Essential
One of the mentors for this edition, "Old Li Backpack," suggests that when writing your proposal, you should first choose a category based on your specific situation. Each category’s requirements are detailed on the five main event pages. The content doesn’t need to be overly lengthy—keep it simple, clear, and concise. Feasibility is the foundation for being selected, but creativity is the key to winning. Incorporating elements like history, culture, environmental protection, and public welfare can greatly enhance your proposal. For example, the "Keketuohai – A Heavy-Duty Hiking Adventure to Explore China’s Most Mysterious Bermuda Triangle" proposal introduced many to such a beautiful and mysterious place for the first time. With its novel route, well-thought-out plan, and detailed writing, it earned unanimous praise from mentors. Most importantly, your proposal must embody the outdoor spirit of connecting with nature, challenging yourself, and enjoying teamwork—only then does it align with the event’s purpose. Mentor "Old Li Backpack" also emphasized that he’s seen many proposals copied directly from the internet, so he reminds everyone that while online plans can serve as references, they shouldn’t be copied outright. "Originality is the core of the event."
The Blue River Bay – Lake Yilimu
Guide 2: Join the Vote and Reach Your Dream Destination with Friends
Netizens can share their proposals as Weibo posts on platforms like Sina Weibo or through the official WeChat mobile community site to their social circles, inviting friends to vote and like their proposals. The top five proposals from each category each month will advance to the monthly championship round. Mentor "Old Yin" reminds everyone that they can also recommend their proposals to mentors via the "Ask a Mentor for a Vote" method. If a mentor approves and votes for your proposal, it will directly advance to the monthly championship round. Each mentor has only one vote per group per month, but that single vote carries significant weight.
Additionally, netizens can share their dream destinations with friends via private messages on Sina Weibo, WeChat, or other social platforms, inviting them to vote for their dream destinations. Voters may eventually have the chance to join the "New Explorers’ Dream Destination" travel team, experiencing this "dream journey" alongside mentors and fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
Guide 3: Safety First – Don’t Overlook the Small Details
Safety comes first in outdoor adventures. There are countless possible routes, and while we can’t cover them all, mentor "Old Cat Sleeping on the Roof" has summarized several key details regarding gear and safety for netizens: Good and sufficient outdoor gear is essential. Prepare equipment and supplies suitable for various weather and conditions based on your route and the season. Anticipate all possible worst-case scenarios and prepare countermeasures and items accordingly—such as altitude sickness medication, disinfectant wipes, and lighters. It’s better to have more than not enough. Choose travel companions with extensive outdoor experience, survival knowledge, and strong physical health to ensure safety.
In 2013, the hiking group champions faced heavy rain while crossing Motianling. The team had to wade through streams with heavy loads, facing numerous challenges, but thanks to the protection of their GORE-TEX gear, they successfully completed the journey.
In addition to the mentors’ dedicated guidance, professional gear support is indispensable. As in previous years, the Gore-Tex brand will provide travel funding to the champion teams, with partners The North Face, KOLON SPORT, NORTHLAND, Subaru, BLACK YAK, and OZARK GEAR also sponsoring the teams.
"You don’t know how high the mountain is until you climb it; you don’t know how deep the water is until you wade through it; you don’t know how magnificent a wonder is until you see it." Only by experiencing it firsthand can you truly appreciate it. Trekking through mountains and rivers, immersing yourself in the scenery, once nature’s unique landscapes fill your vision and thoughts, you’ll realize that life’s tone is no longer so monotonous. The new edition of the "Endless Experience – Gore-Tex Outdoor Dreams Realization" event has begun, and the key is in your hands. Embark on this journey with Gore and head toward your "dream destination"!