Whether you choose hiking, cycling, or mountain climbing... aside from seeing more scenery, safety always comes first. In outdoor activities, the relationship between the team leader and members involves certain principles. When engaging in outdoor adventures, “a participant bets their life,” while “a leader bets on safety.” Let’s take a look at the thirteen golden rules of outdoor adventure.
A Participant Bets Their Life
Golden Rule #1: Always Rely on Yourself
What does “AA” mean in the outdoors? 90% of outdoor enthusiasts think it only refers to “sharing costs,” but over the past decade, this notion has led to serious misunderstandings—and frequent accidents. I want to tell you that sometimes in the outdoors, you’re betting your life.
Outdoor AA isn’t just about splitting costs—it also means sharing responsibility and risk. To put it formally: all participants, driven by a shared passion or goal and based on voluntary participation, spontaneously organize an outdoor activity and equally divide the associated expenses, “bearing the consequences themselves.”
But true AA in the outdoors should involve cooperation among friends, each bringing their own strengths. As the saying goes, “No brothers, no mountaineering.” Many understand this, but few truly practice it. In a purely AA-based outdoor setting, the team leader usually has no legal obligation or responsibility for the safety of the participants. He or she may not even feel any sense of responsibility toward you. So why would we as participants trust our lives entirely to someone else?
Take the outdoor movie “Everest” as an example. On the way back to camp, both Beck and Yasuko were dying from exhaustion. The rescuers chose their more mobile companions and left the former behind to die. This reflects the basic moral code of disaster films: when disaster strikes, do you choose self-preservation with higher survival odds or stick with your team and not abandon your companions? Similarly, “Vertical Limit” features a critical scene where cutting the rope might be the only option when someone’s predicament endangers others. These are the rules of mountaineering—not that rescue isn’t attempted, as unity and mutual aid are the most treasured values in climbing. But why show such scenes? Because reality is harsh. You must understand that if you choose this lifestyle, you must bravely face the fact that one day, either you or your partner may have to cut the rope above your head.
In AA-based outdoor activities, never rely on anyone but yourself. When everyone is in danger, people mostly think about how to survive. Don’t expect someone to help you—they may have already run to safety. Don’t rely on the leader either; he or she may abandon you when you go missing or not even know where you are when you’re in danger. Don’t even rely on your lover or spouse. Remember, apart from yourself, only your parents would sacrifice everything for you.
The most thorough implementation of AA in the outdoors is “Alpine-style climbing”—a form of climbing that relies entirely or mostly on the climber’s own strength without depending on others. From 1786 to 1865, nearly all mountains above 3,000–4,000 meters around the world were conquered. Later, the global mountaineering community called this period the Golden Age of Alpinism.
If your abilities don’t meet AA standards, choose a commercial team—also understood as “X-style climbing,” or “nanny climbing.” Everything is taken care of: vehicles, routes, food, accommodation. All you need to do is walk. If you can’t carry your load, porters will help. If you’re too tired to proceed, they may even carry you to the summit—of course, as long as you have the money.
Golden Rule #2: Come Back Alive
Safety Always Comes First: From 2001 to 2014, over 300 lives were lost in mountaineering and outdoor sports accidents.
In fact, the actual number of outdoor fatalities over the past decade is likely much higher. According to rescue teams, over 90% of outdoor mishaps are related to human factors—lack of preparation in terms of physical fitness, technical skills, or mental readiness. Many accidents stem from reckless and overly adventurous behavior. When unexpected situations arise, you must dare to “sacrifice.” And this doesn’t just apply to the whole team—sometimes it’s about an individual.
Always remember, your “life” isn’t just yours—it belongs to your parents, spouse, children, and friends. Being brave enough to challenge and take risks is commendable, but many outdoor enthusiasts and mountaineers offer this advice: adventure safely, and come back alive.
Often, participants fail to see impending dangers, but when leaders do, they must speak up and intervene. Perhaps it's poor health or inadequate gear. Don’t rely on luck. Sure, the decision is tough, but you must “sacrifice” to “gain.” Leaders must understand: safety always comes first. Adventure safely, and come back alive.
The less experienced a climber is, the more likely they are to reach the summit on their first attempt. This is often because they ignore the risks and get lucky—which is extremely dangerous. You might dodge danger once or twice by chance, but it means nothing for seasoned, long-term climbers. The success rate on Mount Everest is 1 in 3.
When Wang Shi first summited Mount Everest, he remarked: “The view here is beautiful, absolutely worth the climb, but I was more focused on how to make it back alive.”
Golden Rule #3: Protect Your Teammates—Your Second Life
“Everest” illustrates this rule vividly: the struggling teammate Doug, exhausted and slowing the descent, got stranded. The leader didn’t dissuade Doug from summiting (had he succeeded in persuading Doug to protect his teammates, three might have survived), which ultimately led to Andy—originally able to escape danger—hearing Rob’s distress call and turning back to rescue him, disappearing in the process. What could have been one death and two survivors turned into three deaths.
In 1975, Xia Boyu, as part of China’s mountaineering team, challenged Mount Everest. During the climb, Xia and his teammates encountered a severe snowstorm. With little food, they held out for two days and three nights before deciding to descend. While retreating, Tibetan teammate Tsering Dorje collapsed from exhaustion and lost his sleeping bag. That night, seeing his weakened comrade, the young and spirited Xia Boyu gave his own sleeping bag to Tsering Dorje and slept in his clothes. As a result, Xia lost all feeling in his feet, leading to frostbite and eventual amputation. One might say Xia saved his teammate’s life with his own feet.
One small mishap by a teammate could lead to a team’s collapse—or save the whole group. Always protect your teammates—that means protecting your team and yourself. No brothers, no climbing.
This doesn’t contradict the first rule: taking care of yourself is the foundation of survival; protecting your teammates ensures the success of your shared goals.
Reminder: Especially in technical climbs, many routes require rotating protection duties. Imagine the challenges you’d face if you were alone or helping an injured teammate.
Golden Rule #4: “Skill Level” Determines Which “Routes” You Can Join
Rookies who’ve never been to high altitudes attempting the Aoyu Trail, trekking the Wusun route, or heading to the Xiate Valley—this isn’t outdoor adventure, it’s playing with your life.
Are you capable? Have you been to high altitudes before? How many lives do you have? Before signing up for any activity, assess your abilities and skill level. Many newcomers complain that veterans won’t take them along, and some leaders take pride in bringing along lots of female participants. In today’s impulsive outdoor scene, many novice adventurers clamor for intense, challenging routes and later boast about them, claiming, “It wasn’t that hard.” If it’s a luxury (FB) trip, no problem—but for self-suffering (ZN) or technical routes, ask yourself: am I capable of joining? And those who’ve gone before—ask yourselves, was it just luck, or did your skills actually measure up? Don’t mislead others.
Often in an AA team, there can be a huge disparity between the strongest and weakest teammates, leading to severe asymmetry in information and experience: route selection, campsite choice, gear decisions, and handling of unforeseen challenges. Some may offer careful reminders, while others might not even realize certain issues. Is your gear warm and waterproof enough for the mountains? Can your shoes handle varied terrain? Did you bring an extra pair? Did you pack extra socks? Overlooking these small details could expose you to far greater danger and hardship than your teammates face.
Especially among female hikers, there’s often a tendency to rely on the leader or male teammates for safety—this is also why mountaineering accidents frequently involve women. The outdoors is inherently dangerous, and when everyone is pushed to their limits, survival instinct takes over. It's important to understand that during crises, trouble often starts with the weakest member. If you wish to take part in alpine-style climbing, first work on improving your own skills!
Golden Rule #5: Know Your Limits and Strengths
Outdoor sports not only pursue the athletic spirit of "higher, faster, stronger" but also emphasize participation, fun, and courage—seeking the joy and sense of achievement that come from overcoming mental barriers.
But in AA hiking or alpine climbing, always conserve some energy to tackle future challenges. The mountain will still be there—if you can’t do it this time, there’s always next time. As long as you’re alive, opportunities remain. “Speak less, observe more, reflect more” is one hallmark of a seasoned hiker. Meanwhile, teammates who chatter non-stop, spout nonsense, or jump around are usually annoying and waste a lot of energy.
Good physical fitness, ample stamina, and optimal health are the basic prerequisites for outdoor activities. Progress step by step—don’t take on activities beyond your physical limits, and never push yourself to the edge in the wild.
When heading out, it’s recommended that everyone have their own specialty, such as map reading, weather forecasting, communication, navigation, first aid, logistics, or technical skills. There may be a team leader, but they are merely the communicator and mediator, not the executor of every task. If you truly want to carve out a place in the climbing community, learn at least one specialized skill.
Golden Rule #6: Always Carry a Lifesaving Emergency Food Pack
Experienced outdoor enthusiasts usually have this safety mindset: always keep one or two packs of compressed biscuits. These serve as emergency rations in case of getting lost or separated.
The golden rescue window is typically within 72 hours. While water is somewhat available during mountain treks, food is hard to guarantee. In extreme situations, a pack of compressed biscuits can be the difference between life and death. Nothing in the outdoors is trivial—always prepare an extra layer of backup. Sometimes, just carrying an extra kilo could save your life. Don’t consume your emergency food unless it’s absolutely the last resort.
The Leader “A” Stands for Safety
Golden Rule #7: Safety Always Comes First
As reiterated in Golden Rule #2, you only live once. Many times, the life or death of a team rests on the leader’s judgment.
You only live once—make the "choice" wisely. Safety is always the foremost priority in outdoor adventures, and even more so for the leader. Always remember: Safety First. Safety First. Safety First.
Golden Rule #8: Always Respect the Weather
Bad weather can turn a sunny outdoor trip into a terrifying, deadly nightmare. Take the Ao-Tai route, for example—80% of fatalities are related to weather changes.
As a leader, it's crucial to judge the weather accurately. Sudden changes can leave the team unable to see anything. Snow or rain can make blood feel like it’s freezing, thought processes halt, and direction sense vanish. Suddenly, you feel the agonizing grip of death, utter helplessness. Your fingers and toes go numb. Ice forms on your pale skin, and you and your companions cry out helplessly in the wind and snow. It’s all too late. Don’t put yourself in such a situation. Carefully read weather forecasts, ensure you understand them, seriously consider possible changes, and prepare to “set up camp” or “descend.”
Bad weather can strike unexpectedly. Mountains have their own weather patterns, which cannot be precisely predicted based on today’s conditions—we can’t build a weather station on the summit. So leaders must trust weather forecasts but stay highly alert to actual changes in the field. Where possible, set up fixed ropes, carry a compass, and ensure camp lighting is safe. Prepare for any potential danger.
Golden Rule #9: Must Understand the Barrel Principle
Most people know the barrel effect principle—that a barrel’s water-holding capacity depends on its shortest stave. For a barrel to be full, all staves must be level and intact. If one stave is uneven or has a hole, the barrel can’t hold water. How much a barrel can hold is determined not by its longest stave, but by its shortest.
The same applies to a reliable outdoor team. On a mountain hike, a team’s overall strength is usually determined by its best leader. During team formation, the leader must fully assess members’ abilities and fitness. On the trail, constantly monitor everyone’s condition, adjust pace according to the weakest member, and modify plans based on the lowest capability—only then can the whole team stay safe. Any organization may face the issue where different parts vary in quality, and often, the weakest link defines the group’s overall level.
Such arrangements may seem unfair to some leaders. But if you choose to lead, you must factor in team members’ capabilities in your safety plan.
Golden Rule #10: Always Listen to Team Members’ Reasonable Opinions and Suggestions
The biggest fear in a team is an autocratic, stubborn leader. The leader is often the soul of the team—even the one who determines life or death. But no leader is omniscient; there are many moments when even they are unsure.
In fact, outdoor teams usually consist of veterans and rookies, and many veterans’ experience rivals or surpasses that of the leader—especially in situations like getting lost, sudden weather shifts, or team bonding. Therefore, team members should feel free to offer reasonable suggestions, and leaders should humbly accept them. Don’t pretend to know everything or show off—be honest about your own limits and those of the whole team.
Golden Rule #11: Two Types of Teammates “Not to Bring”
Don’t bring teammates lacking teamwork spirit: stubborn hikers, selfish ones, those who are disorganized, undisciplined, or driven by self-interest. They have their own methods, ideas, philosophies, or selfish motives, often resisting or rebelling against the leader’s decisions. Many act unilaterally and may even form cliques, which can severely disrupt team harmony and even lead to disastrous outcomes. So never take teammates the leader can’t manage.
Don’t bring teammates with vastly different skill levels (especially for ZN or technical routes): Big gaps not only slow the entire team down but may also cause discord. A comment like “They’re just a newbie, can’t you cut them some slack?”—whether the person is attractive or not, just say no. It’s better for the whole team.
Golden Rule #12: Build a Team “First Aid Kit”
A first aid kit is essential for every leader. But from the points above, you should know to build your own customized kit, rather than buying a ready-made pharmacy set—because those usually include tons of items you’ll likely never use.
You should prepare a first aid kit for the team based on the planned route so you know exactly what’s inside and how to use it. In many cases, such a kit can save your life or that of a teammate. Additionally, it’s important to emphasize: always carry a venom extractor.
Golden Rule #13: Always Buy Insurance
There’s no need to belabor the point—insurance won’t save your life, but for team leaders, the group, and individuals, it’s truly essential. Whether it’s a short trip of one or two days or a long journey lasting a month, anyone without insurance should be advised to stay home. Such teammates are irresponsible not only to themselves but also to their families.