"The azure sky and the endless 'mirror' surface blend and reflect into one, merging the entire world into a boundless whole. One female teammate gently played the guqin in this boundless expanse, each note seemingly drifting between heaven and earth—an awe-inspiring beauty." This isn't someone's imagination or a dream story, but a simple recap by A'She, an outdoor hero of Gore and host of Travel Channel, of a scene from the recent Bolivia "Mirror of the Sky" trip supported by the Gore-Tex brand.
The Salar de Uyuni, located in the western plateau of Potosí Department in western Bolivia, South America, is a serene white salt flat spanning 150 kilometers in length, 130 kilometers in width, and covering an area of 9,065 square kilometers. Every summer, as the lake water dries up, a mineral crust primarily composed of salt is left behind on the Salar de Uyuni. After rain, the surface of the lake becomes mirror-like, reflecting dreamlike and stunning reflections—this is the legendary "Mirror of the Sky" that so many people yearn to see. A'She, who has traveled to over 70 countries and embarks on an "Around the World in 80 Days" journey every year, is no exception. "I've long dreamed of visiting the 'Mirror of the Sky' and have been once before, but the view was so breathtaking that I’ve always wanted to go again. That longing has only grown stronger over time, and with the support of the Gore-Tex brand, I finally returned to this dream destination," said A'She.
Upon arriving at the destination, A'She and his team were immediately struck by the overwhelming beauty of the Uyuni Salt Flat. The azure sky was reflected by the 'mirror', making the land look like a reflection of the sky, utterly intoxicating. With the clear sky, open ground, and lack of reference points, A'She and his friends instantly experienced an illusion: "Most people have played with a resin base with a glass dome as a child—when you shake it, snow falls inside. The moment I arrived here, it felt like I was inside that glass dome. Forget 3D, even multiple dimensions can’t describe what I felt at that moment!" A'She said excitedly. Along with the stunning scenery came hidden 'dangers': having previously suffered from severe sunburn that caused his face and body to peel, A'She knew the sunlight reflected off the 'Mirror of the Sky' would be even more intense, and wind could further harm the body. Therefore, he had very high requirements for his gear this time. "I still chose a full set of Gore-Tex gear for this trip because the unique waterproof, windproof, and breathable features of Gore-Tex fabric not only protected me from the scorching sun but also kept my body comfortable thanks to its excellent breathability. When the wind blew, it blocked the cold air outside, allowing me to stay completely unaffected by the environment. Oh, and I also wore a Gore-Tex headscarf this time, wrapping my face tightly to prevent peeling and ruining my skin—once bitten, twice shy!" A'She explained.
The azure sky is reflected by the 'mirror', with everyone immersed in the sky’s reflection
More surprises followed later when they waited quietly for the sunset and were once again deeply moved: as the sun gradually descended, the colors of the sky kept changing—blue, then purple, then red. As the time intervals grew shorter, countless colors intermingled and shifted. "Sky color changes may not be rare, but usually when we watch a sunset, we face one direction. On the mirror, no matter which way you look, there are colors—it's truly a marvel. This 'sunset' is really not the same as any other 'sunset'!" At that moment, everyone was stunned into silence.
As the sun gradually descended, the colors of the sky kept changing
On the mirror surface, no matter where you look, colors spread out as if in a dream
With breathtaking scenery all around, A'She’s camera and camcorder never stopped. Accompanied by his Gore-Tex gear, he waded into the water at times, lay on the ground at others, moving freely to capture all the beautiful scenes. "Neither the water nor the wind interfered with my movement at all. I shot wherever I wanted, in whatever position was convenient. I not only witnessed the wonders crafted by nature but also recorded these precious sights in my lens and memory. I think if it weren’t for the Gore-Tex gear, this trip might not have been so perfect!" As night fell, under the clear sky, when the stars filled the heavens and the ground seemed an endless sea of stars, it felt like walking through the Milky Way. One woman on the team, a guqin enthusiast, had her husband custom-make a guqin for her before the trip. In this "fairyland" where heaven and earth merged, as the strings were gently plucked, it felt as if countless notes floated in the primordial world, fascinating everyone once again...
Accompanied by Gore-Tex gear, A'She took photos by stepping into the water and lying on the ground, deeply imprinting the beautiful views in his lens and memory
"I’ve been to many countries and places, such as the North and South Poles. Although the scenery there is shocking and carries a lot of spiritual meaning, the thrill of the 'Mirror of the Sky' is the most unique, the most unparalleled, and something you simply can’t experience anywhere else in the world. Here, you forget all your identities, titles, worries, glories, and everything else attached to being a 'person'. You feel that for this moment, you are just a pure human, just as you were when you came into this world naked. This experience is incredibly precious to me, and to everyone in this trip. I truly hope that if given the chance, everyone can come and experience it!" A'She exclaimed. "Experience knows no bounds." Just like A'She’s miraculous encounter with the 'Mirror of the Sky', the Gore-Tex brand has for years supported outdoor heroes like A'She on their journeys, and hopes to share their understanding of outdoor sports, survival skills, gear selection, and more through the personal experiences of these outdoor heroes—leading more people to experience more, go further, and help realize "every outdoor dream".
Tips:The Gore-Tex brand, as a renowned outdoor fabric brand, has since entering China in 1997 upheld its promise to consumers of "guaranteed to keep you dry" with its high-end windproof, waterproof, and breathable features, supporting the healthy development of outdoor activities in China and standing together with Chinese outdoor enthusiasts through thick and thin. Gore-Tex fabric offers durable waterproof performance and high breathability. Its core technology—the Gore-Tex membrane—has over 1.4 billion microscopic pores per square centimeter. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet but 700 times larger than a water molecule, enabling the Gore-Tex membrane to completely prevent external water from entering, avoid wetness and cold, while also allowing sweat vapor to escape from within, ensuring optimal waterproof and breathable performance.