As the first snow fell in the north, while the rice ears and treetops in the south remained a golden hue, the final stop of the 2015 Kailas China Climb Search,in the warmand quietBeiliu, Guangxi,was brought to asuccessful close.
The scenery here is delightful. The Kailas China Climb Search team, a mix of veterans and newcomers, managed in just 8 days to carve out another world for climbers on the Tongshiling Mountain in Beiliu. Nature seems to favor Beiliu so much, not only giving us grand and towering cliffs, but also golden rice fields as far as the eye can see and an array of mouthwatering cuisine. Throughout these days, we were spared both the northern snow and the southern rains. Each day, we climbed upwards under blue skies and white clouds, seeking new routes on the red mountain cliffs. Developing a new climbing area means getting dirty, enduring hardship, and tiring work—but who doesn’t love naturally formed, high-quality routes? Yet you can't fully appreciate the sense of achievement from devising a route on ancient, unchanged rock that's been around for 100,000 years or more, or the thrill of discovering a hidden crevice behind vines that leads straight to the summit. Clearing away vines, bushes, and loose rocks, we stayed dusty all day yet never tired of it. This is creation—using thought and technique to turn cracks and fissures into a paradise for climbers.
In this incredible world of climbing, we can develop traditional routes of varying widths and lengths, as well as sport climbing lines on these red cliffs. Xie Weicheng established a 35-meter-long line called “Big Party” on the ridge. From there, you can gaze far and wide, taking in the full view of the Tongshiling landscape, while breezes from below carry the scent of rice ears and fields up the cliffs. And most importantly, the traditional climbing team developed several key routes: Tongshi Rock (30m, 5.12-), Xiao Guo’s Cliff (5.12-), Eggbeater (5.9), Heart Towards the Light (5.11-), and many others suitable for both wide and thin cracks. At this stop, the climbing team developed and organized approximately 30 routes, and this is just the beginning. We aim to turn this place into a haven for both traditional and sport climbing, right here in our midst.
Let’s talk about us—the veterans: Xie Weicheng, Zhang Yong, Su Feng, Zhao Zhongjun, and the “rookie members”: Boss Tang, Douzu, A Liang, Bayue, plus a large group of equally passionate fellow climbers: Luo Kuang, Jiayao, 95, A Wen, Yaotu, and so many more. Our daily routine of route development never elicited complaints. In those 8 days, there were no breaks, no nightlife, no signs of fatigue—just route setting, resting, and route setting again. Yes, we were developing and harvesting in a breathtakingly beautiful place, but one downside of such stunning scenery is that it’s easy to overlook the hard work and exhaustion of the developers. But we gladly accept it. We are just individuals, but when individuals with the same aspirations and ideals come together, they unleash immense energy—that is the Kailas China Climb Search team.
Autumn is meant for harvest—of abundant nature, of tough climbs, every day, every moment, everywhere. Whether it's scaling tower-like formations in foreign deserts, the determination amid the precipices of Mount Huashan, braving rain and snow on the 318 Highway, the shouts of effort on the cliffs of Yangshuo, or even the visual feast of outdoor films at cinemas and festivals. This is late autumn 2015—a season that may seem ordinary, yet you can feel the power of more excitement and a longer journey about to begin. And you and I are witnesses and participants of this very moment.
Let’s look forward to Kailas China Climb Search 2016 together！
