On June 27, the second Camel Outdoor Festival, themed “Camel’s Quest: Exploring the Sacred Lake,” officially launched its mysterious treasure hunt activity in the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. From June 28 onward, the itinerary not only included extremely physically demanding daily treks but also featured a mountain treasure hunt competition, photography activities, outdoor knowledge lectures, and exploration of the ancient Dingdangga Village ruins.
Enthusiastic about extreme challenges, hikers joined CAMEL Camel to traverse this most mysterious region, exploring the “last frontier on Earth” and witnessing countless world-class natural landscapes such as stunning snow-capped mountains, ancient glaciers, alpine lakes, and primeval forests. On July 1, the event concluded successfully. With cherished memories of the sacred Mount Namjagbarwa and the breathtaking Lake Nalatso, more than 20 outdoor enthusiasts finally set off on their return journey with satisfaction.
Although compared to other famous mountains and rivers in China, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon does not attract many hikers, occasionally one can still find “foreign species” on the mountain such as discarded beverage bottles, adding a bit of “worldly atmosphere” to these transcendent sacred peaks and lakes. Therefore, during this adventure, Camel also arranged an environmental task for all participants: each person had to carry one kilogram of trash down the mountain. “This is very meaningful,” said Ale. Everyone was particularly conscientious, making sure not to produce any waste whether camping or trekking.
Mountain climbing is a sport that tests endurance and perseverance. Waking up at 7 a.m. to eat breakfast, setting off around 8 a.m., and having lunch — known as a trail meal — brought along and eaten on the way. A full day of walking would only end at 5–6 p.m. when reaching the campsite for rest. During the seemingly endless trek, hikers could only encourage and support each other to keep going. But when it came time to return, the team members all agreed that the trip was well worth it: Mount Namjagbarwa was even more beautiful than in photos, rhododendrons swayed gracefully in the rain across the mountains, the hot springs by the roadside near the descent were especially soothing, and singing around the campfire at night during camping... “Such outdoor activities are like a spiritual journey — you have to experience both the hardships and joys yourself to truly understand them,” said Ale.