At 9:04 AM on April 30, the first member of the Spring Climbing Team from the Self-Explorers Association of Renmin University of China (hereinafter referred to as the Self-Explorers) successfully summited Mount Siguniang’s Second Peak, taking in the snow-capped mountain scenery and enjoying the beauty of the great land. In this spring climbing event, six team members overcame hardships and persevered to reach the summit successfully.
Successfully summited Mount Siguniang’s Second Peak
On the early morning of April 28, all eight members of the Self-Explorers Spring Climbing Team set off from Chengdu toward Rilong Town at the foot of Mount Siguniang. This day was quite challenging for the team members, as they had to take a bus from Chengdu, located in the Sichuan Basin, directly up to Rilong Town, which has an average altitude of 3,200 meters. Along the way, they also had to cross the Balang Mountain Pass at an altitude of 4,523 meters—one of China’s higher and more famous mountain passes—known for its stunning scenery. However, the weather conditions that day were harsh, with a blizzard starting at a certain altitude, reducing visibility to just 3–4 meters. After a long day of travel, the Self-Explorers team finally arrived at their lodge in Rilong Town around 3 PM. Thanks to their regular training and adequate pre-expedition preparation, the entire team was in good condition with virtually no cases of altitude sickness.
Successfully arrived at the campsite
After a night of rest, on the morning of April 29, the whole team headed energetically into the embrace of the beautiful Mount Siguniang. Facing the challenge of high altitude, the Spring Climbing Team trekked approximately 18 kilometers throughout the day, trudging through soft snow and muddy paths, and arrived at the campsite at an altitude of over 4,200 meters in the evening. Without resting, the team members immediately began setting up the campsite to prepare thoroughly for the final push to the summit early the next morning. Although some team members experienced altitude sickness, it did nothing to dampen the Self-Explorers’ determination to conquer Mount Siguniang’s Second Peak. To alleviate and prevent altitude sickness, team members had to reduce their sleeping time and wake each other up every hour to breathe fresh air outside the tent and increase oxygen intake. It was a tough night, but also the prelude to an exciting moment yet to come.
At 3 AM on April 30, the whole team got up on time, equipped themselves, and began heading toward the final peak—Mount Siguniang’s Second Peak—in the boundless darkness, with the starry sky twinkling above. What followed was several hours of arduous journey. Neither the biting cold wind nor exhaustion could stop the Self-Explorers from moving forward. No one gave up easily, and teammates encouraged one another, pushing onward until they finally reached the beautiful Mount Siguniang’s Second Peak. When the flag of the Self-Explorers and the flag of the Renmin University Mountaineering Team fluttered at the summit, the tired faces of each member couldn’t hide their joy as they admired the beauty and mystery of “the Four Sisters.”
Scenery at the summit of Mount Siguniang
Everyone should climb a snow mountain at least once in their life. The Self-Explorers Spring Climbing Team fulfilled this promise with their dedication and effort. Even the over twenty hours of hard-seat train travel between Beijing and Chengdu and the relentless hustle and bustle could not stop them from moving forward.
