“After ten days of grueling effort, having made two unsuccessful summit attempts in snowstorms, we finally succeeded on September 15 in opening two new routes, one of which we named the Summit of Dreams. I want to thank my teammates Siting, David, Moyu, Niuniu, Laoyao, and others for their contributions to the team. Dreams should never be given up lightly — they are a person’s spiritual faith. Passion, bravery, and perseverance are indispensable for climbers. Along the way, we witnessed too many snowstorms. Climbing is like life — success often comes just when you think you can’t take it anymore, when you endure one more moment and then see the light. Whenever I felt tempted to give up due to difficulties, I would immediately tell those thoughts to get lost, not giving myself any more reasons to quit.”
—— Sina Weibo, Zheng Zhaohui
A microblog of fewer than 200 characters reads like a gripping short film, condensing a remarkable feat in the mountaineering world.
In January 2013, Chinese professional climbers Li Yuan, Zheng Zhaohui, and Zhang Xiaohui, protected by the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro products provided by Gore, successfully completed an extraordinary climb — the first ascent of the main peak of the Baima Snow Mountain, Zhalaqueni. In September, while the public was still celebrating the first Chinese ascent of Baima Snow Mountain, Zheng Zhaohui and his teammates, accompanied once again by the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro products, as the leading team of the seventh “Gore-TexTM Outdoor Dreams Realized” event’s professional climbing division, successfully challenged the unclimbed peak within Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province — Dayangtianwo Peak (5220m). This created a new record for the first Chinese ascent of a big wall-type unclimbed peak and successfully opened two new climbing routes. After team discussions, one of the climbing routes was specially named the “Summit of Dreams.” Dreams know no bounds, and the team hopes to pay tribute to all brave souls who persistently pursue their dreams, to anticipate more peak moments, and also to express gratitude to the Gore-TexTM Outdoor Dreams Realized event for seven consecutive years of unwavering support and effort towards dreams, wishing for the realization of even more dreams.
On September 4, 2013, Zheng Zhaohui and his teammates gathered in Chengdu. “The KOLON SPORT brand sponsored our trip, and all the gear arrived on schedule. The high-energy rapid-climbing food I pre-ordered, such as super Spanish energy gels, also arrived on time. We had everything ready except for the right weather, but unfortunately, the weather wasn’t cooperative,” said Zheng Zhaohui. Dark clouds hung over Sichuan, and soon it began to rain. Due to the poor weather, the climb was extremely tough: the thick snow on the rock surfaces was daunting, and deep snow would swallow your knees with each step... After a difficult struggle, they had no choice but to retreat. They set out again on September 14. “The first section was rated 5.7–5.9 in difficulty — I had to drag and pull my way up. For the anchor, I tied two slings to a sharply jutting rock, with a sheer drop right beneath my feet...” said Zheng Zhaohui. After a tough climb, the finish line was finally getting closer. Around 2 p.m., three furry rock goats suddenly appeared at the edge of the cliff. They stared at Zheng Zhaohui and the others for a few seconds, then dashed down the vertical cliff at lightning speed along a diagonal line, “I instantly felt my climbing skills were terrible,” teammate David couldn’t help but exclaim. When they finally stood atop Dayangtianwo Peak, besides the immense joy of victory, there was also deep gratitude among the team for supporting each other through the stormy journey. “This victory belongs to the whole team!” During the arduous climb, some team members’ new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro products occasionally rubbed against the rough and uneven rock surfaces, shielding them from wind and snow, and helping them ascend safely.
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After reaching the summit, the smiles of Zheng Zhaohui and teammate Siting shone brighter than the sun that day.
The area above the base camp of Dayangtianwo Peak is highly exposed and extremely dangerous. But the desire to explore the unknown and the fearless climbing spirit gave Zheng Zhaohui and the team the “courage” to set out. Zheng Zhaohui constantly motivated himself with the words “I live, therefore I climb.” And during the challenging ascent, the “comrades-in-arms” that had once accompanied him and the team to power through to the summit of Zhalaqueni — the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro products — once again stayed close to their sides, giving them the “confidence” to reach the summit. Together, they faced and successfully met a new challenge.
The new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro series products are a brand-new, durable, waterproof, windproof, and more breathable three-layer composite fabric newly developed by Gore. Specifically designed for professional mountaineers and adventurous outdoor enthusiasts, this innovative technology ensures a premium outdoor experience for professionals, providing them with perfect protection even in extreme weather conditions. With enhanced comfort, these expertly engineered products enable them to pursue their bold adventure dreams under optimal gear protection.