"Those years"—just three simple words, yet always carrying memories that run deep. What happened in those years? What was missed? And what was achieved? On February 19th, the 2014 Beijing ISPO Expo was held at the China National Convention Center, with numerous renowned domestic and international outdoor brands attending the exhibition. At the event, the Goer "Journey into the Outdoors, Achieve Your Dreams" Seven-Year Handbook made its debut. The handbook chronicles the seven-year journey from the first edition in 2007 to the seventh in 2013 of the "Experience the Infinite – The North Face Outdoor Dream Realization" campaign, as countless outdoor enthusiasts advanced toward their "outdoor dreams," along with the stories of dreams fulfilled in "those years." It aims to convey the power and charm of realizing outdoor dreams, encouraging "the fulfillment of every outdoor dream" and paying tribute to everyone who dares to dream.
In 2007, inspired by the U.S.-based "Simpson-Tellman Exploration Fund," Gore introduced the campaign to China, launching the "Experience the Infinite – The North Face Outdoor Dream Realization" initiative, providing Chinese outdoor enthusiasts with a more standardized and expansive platform to engage with the outdoors. The campaign solicited outstanding travel plans online and, with support from Gore and its partners, provided winning entries with funding and equipment. Having been held for seven consecutive years, a look back at the outdoor dreams realized in "those years" reveals how the power of dreams touches the heart, as if taking you back to those dream destinations.
In 2007, the very first winning plan of the inaugural event, "Pilgrimage to Guge’s Primitive Art – Distributing Love Sunglasses," was born. On April 30th, the "Pilgrimage to the Guge Civilization" team officially set off from Chengdu, returning to Beijing from Lhasa on May 28th. Over the course of a month, they left the first mark of a dream on a journey spanning nearly 10,000 kilometers. In 2010, the champion of the exploration travel category in the fourth edition, the "Tracing the Snowland Postal Route" team, retraced the snowland postal path at the foot of Meili Snow Mountain along the Lancang River—a route repeatedly traversed by national model worker Nyima Lamu for ten years. Team members followed in her footsteps through three seasons, from summer to winter, paying tribute to Nyima Lamu’s husband Nongbu and her successor Lazu, while also bringing school supplies to local children, giving the dream-realizing journey deeper meaning. In 2011, the fifth edition’s "Into the Gamagou Valley" team set off from Chengdu, driving Subaru Forester vehicles deep into the Tibetan hinterland. Crystal-clear blue skies, mysterious high-altitude uninhabited areas, and valleys like hidden paradises… With the roar of their vehicles, they left both tire tracks and the imprint of dreams on the beautiful land. In 2012, the champion of the extraordinary outdoor category in the sixth edition, the "Revitalize Mt. Gongga" team, hiked up Mt. Gongga, picking up trash along the way and calling on more people to protect the outdoor environment. They hiked 92 kilometers in four days, crossed raging rivers by building makeshift bridges, carried heavy loads over long distances, and scaled high mountain passes… Persisting relentlessly, all for an environmental dream.
The 2012 Sixth Edition’s Extraordinary Outdoor Category "Revitalize Mt. Gongga" Team
Over seven years, the number of participants grew from 285 in the first edition to 460,000. A total of 24,240 outstanding travel plans were submitted, helping 30 champion teams realize their dreams, accumulating 7,680 hours of travel. By the seventh edition, the travel routes of all champion teams had covered all provinces in China... These figures not only bear witness to the growth and maturity of the outdoor dream realization campaign over seven years but also reflect its influence and transformation on the lifestyle of Chinese outdoor enthusiasts—encouraging more people to enjoy nature and embrace the outdoors. Furthermore, they demonstrate the maturation of China’s outdoor sector.
The Sixth Edition’s "Climb of Peak 6252" Team’s “Tough Guys” Roped Together While Climbing on the Glacier
Seven years—a period that has been an increasingly vibrant journey for outdoor enthusiasts, as well as a time of growth and flourishing for the outdoor dream realization campaign. Upholding a dedication to the outdoors and a sincere commitment to dreams, a brand-new journey of outdoor aspirations has commenced once again: the eighth edition of 2014 kicked off in March, with the call for proposals in full swing. As in previous years, The North Face® brand will provide financial support to champion teams, while its partners such as The North Face®, KOLON SPORT, NORTHLAND, Subaru, BLACK YAK®, and OZARK GEAR will offer sponsorship. Notably, this edition introduces a new “Vote for Your Dream Destination” segment. For the majority of outdoor enthusiasts who may not be adept at crafting travel plans, simply voting for your desired destination and sharing the origin of your dream offers a chance to join an eight-person dream destination team led by professional mentors to fulfill your outdoor aspirations. Aside from the main site, netizens can also participate in the dream destination vote at various sub-sites. The selection process for champion proposals also builds on previous editions’ rules, incorporating mentor recommendations and online voting to choose shortlisted proposals, enabling even more people to take part in the event.