How did the Outdoor Skills Competition emerge, develop, and eventually become a tradition? Over the past decade, as the organization has matured, its operational tasks have become increasingly complex, requiring members involved in running the group to devote more and more time and energy. Every member of the executive committee’s academic performance has been affected to varying degrees. Almost every year, there is a heated discussion: do we need to streamline our activities, reduce unnecessary administrative work, and focus more time and energy on climbing itself?
It was against this backdrop that, starting with the first “Mountain Eagle Cup” Outdoor Skills Competition in April 2004, we have held six competitions over eight years (Editor’s note: in 2014, we will hold our eighth), making it a new tradition of the organization. The competition became part of the annual cycle of the club’s activities. Members were enthusiastic about organizing it, the rules became increasingly detailed, the number of participating teams grew, and the event gained support from the university and sponsorship from businesses. The Outdoor Skills Competition became a showcase for the Mountain Eagle Society and a platform for exchange among university outdoor clubs. It marked a successful innovation by a long-established and highly active student group.
Let’s go back to 2004 and see how the competition began. 2004 marked the 15th anniversary of the Mountain Eagle Society, which had planned events such as a national university tour and the production of the documentary “No Summit.” The Outdoor Skills Competition was part of the anniversary celebration, which is also why subsequent competitions have been held in April (the Mountain Eagle anniversary is April 1). How did the idea for the skills competition come about? Chen Guang, one of the competition organizers, recalled: on one hand, it was inspired by similar competitions held by Tsinghua’s Mountain Wilderness Club; on the other hand, because the climbing wall had been burglarized that year and a lot of equipment was lost, everyone hoped to “make some money” through the competition to build up the club’s equipment and funds. The club president and secretary that year were Chen Feng and Chen Hong, and the competition leaders were Er Guang—Chen Guang and Huo Guang. Chen Guang was then a graduate student in the Philosophy Department and a climber on the 2003 Yuzhu Peak expedition. He was quick-thinking and efficient, and had secured a lot of equipment sponsorships for the 2003 climb. Huo Guang had worked for a while in the Youth League Committee’s Club Culture and Sports Department. Both were pragmatic and goal-oriented, key factors in the first competition’s success. In fact, the Mountain Eagle Society had a long tradition in competitions. From its early days, it organized members to participate in climbing competitions, held internal climbing contests annually, and in 2001 hosted the first national university climbing invitational—the first national-level competition organized by a student group.
The 2004 competition set the template for the skills competition. The event lasted one day. Competition categories included equipment skills, orienteering, wall traverse (bouldering wasn’t yet a popular term at the time), and speed climbing. Half the teams were from the Mountain Eagle Society, and seven other university teams were invited. Each team had three members—two male and one female—who completed all the events together—a format that continues to this day. The event received in-kind sponsorships from brands like Osprey and Columbia. After the formal competition, an equipment auction was held. It was very successful, “earning” twenty to thirty thousand yuan.
On April 17, 2005, the second “Mountain Eagle Cup” Outdoor Skills Competition was successfully held. That year, the president and secretary were Liu Bo and Wu Qiquan, and the competition organizer was He Jinyou, also an expert climber. As an undergraduate, he was a climber at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), and joined the Mountain Eagle Society when he came to Peking University for graduate school. There were four university teams from Peking University, plus invited teams from Beijing universities, as well as groups from Tianjin, Hebei, outdoor clubs, and universities. The competition also lasted one day. A new event, simulated rescue, was added. As before, an equipment auction was held after the competition.
By 2006, the third competition received title sponsorship from Walker, becoming the “Walker Cup” Outdoor Skills Competition. That year, the president and secretary were Xu Yong and Tu Bin, and the organizer was Wei Hong. The competition expanded to two days, held on April 15–16. Sixteen university outdoor clubs from across the country sent eighteen teams: Peking University Team 1 and 2, China Agricultural University Lingyun Club Teams 1 and 2, Beijing Forestry University Shan Nuo Club, Minzu University Tourism Association, Renmin University Free Sports Association, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Wilderness Survival Association, Zhejiang University Travelers Outdoor, Xiamen University Mountaineering Club, Fudan University Mountaineering and Exploration Club, Wuhan University Pioneers Outdoor Activity Association, Nankai University Geography Association Mountaineering Team, Nanjing University of Science and Technology Mountaineering Club, Dalian University of Technology Outdoor Sports Club, Hefei University of Technology Tianji Club, and Zhongnan University of Economics and Law Challengers Alliance. The competition offered a richer variety of events: orienteering (moved from the Old Summer Palace to Xiwengzhuang), high-altitude skills (climbing a ladder and single-rope ascent), field skills (equipment use and fire-starting), bouldering, and speed climbing. This edition had more standardized organization.
The success of the first three editions generated huge interest, so the fourth competition was moved up to November 2006. Of course, the heavy preparations for the spring climbing expeditions were also a factor. But the early timing also showed that the skills competition had become a regular part of the club’s calendar, with plans made well in advance. This edition received title sponsorship from Lianchuang Ceyuan and apparel prizes from Walker. At the time, the president and secretary were Ji Ming and Yin Haiyou, and the organizer was Zhang Zhenhua—an extremely active member who participated in the 2006 Bogda climb and planned the 2010 Gore-sponsored Xuebao Ding west face climb. Twenty teams were invited: Peking University, Beijing University of Technology, Beihang University, Beijing Forestry University, Dalian University of Technology, Fudan University, Hefei University of Technology, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nankai University, Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, Xiamen University, Zhejiang University, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), University of Science and Technology of China, China Agricultural University, Renmin University, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and Minzu University. The events were improved: orienteering (moved to Baiwang Mountain), high-altitude skills (climbing the ladder, modified single-rope knots, and narrow passages), climbing (two bouldering routes replaced with ascent), and field skills (equipment and simulated rescue). The biggest innovation was the outdoor forum, providing a platform for university outdoor clubs to exchange ideas and voices. The forum theme that year was: Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of University Outdoor Clubs in China.
The fifth competition was also sponsored by Lianchuang Ceyuan. The date changed back to April, and was held from April 5–6, 2008. A bouldering wall, sponsored by the 1997 climbing team, was completed that year, so in addition to regular events, the “Wall Jade Cup” Beijing Bouldering Competition was added. The president and secretary were Zhang Qixing and Liu Zheng, and the organizer was Ren Wei. Twenty-four teams were invited: Peking University Mountain Eagle Society, Zhejiang University Travelers Outdoor Association, Xiamen University Mountaineering Club, etc. (Editor’s note: some details are slightly off here). Events included orienteering, climbing, high-altitude skills (climbing the ladder, narrow passages, single-rope ascent), and field skills (equipment and simulated rescue). The university outdoor forum continued, with the theme: Bottlenecks and Breakthroughs in the Development of University Outdoor Clubs in China.
In 2009, the Mountain Eagle Society celebrated its 20th anniversary. With plans for a 20th-anniversary celebration and a summer climbing conference for veteran and new members, the workload was heavy and energy limited, so no outdoor skills competition was held that year.
By 2010, the competition was already in the planning stages. Some members felt it required too much energy, and after discussion by the council, it was decided to cancel the event and replace it with an internal social gathering. Balancing large-scale events with limited time and energy—without affecting members’ studies—has always been a dilemma for the Mountain Eagle Society. Whether to hold the event or not, both sides had valid reasons. Looking back now, it’s a bit regrettable that the competition wasn’t continued.
Then came this year’s (Editor’s note: i.e., 2011) competition, held again after a two-year hiatus. Although fewer universities were invited than in the fifth edition, the sponsorship and organization were much more refined and systematic. Similarly, an outdoor forum was also held this year: The Role of University Outdoor Clubs in Promoting Student Outdoor Activities.
Looking back at the ten-year history of the Outdoor Skills Competition, we can see how this tradition took shape. The content has continuously improved—each edition brought enhancements, the events evolved, the outdoor forum was added, and each year’s forum theme reflected current issues. On one hand, the demand for university climbing called for a platform for exchange. In the first half of the Mountain Eagle Society’s history, members achieved challenging and successful climbs, becoming leaders in university—and even civilian—climbing circles. In the second half, with the rise of civilian climbing and stricter oversight of university members, the Mountain Eagle Society could no longer achieve major breakthroughs in climbing. The emergence of the Outdoor Skills Competition can be seen as an outlet for the innovative aspirations of successive generations of members.
Today, the challenges facing university climbing are very different from those of twenty years ago. What’s needed now is standardization, standardization, and more standardization—not exploration, exploration, and more exploration. Standardization requires exchange. The Outdoor Skills Competition provides an excellent platform for such exchange, bringing people together to share techniques and discuss ideas. On the other hand, the Mountain Eagle Society’s accumulated technical expertise and organizational capabilities over the years make us a suitable organizer. The tradition has taken root. We hope to continue this event, focusing not just on the skills competition but also on the exchange of ideas. All climbers form one community, including all of us in university outdoor climbing clubs. Only through exchange can university climbing thrive, offering young people the chance to engage with mountains and challenge themselves.
From 2004 to 2014, the Outdoor Skills Competition hosted by Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Society has gone through ten years—from its sprouting stage, to rapid growth, and now to a stable phase. These ten years represent a decade of bold innovation, hard work, and serious reflection. Soon, we will welcome the eighth Outdoor Skills Competition, where 26 teams from across the country will gather to share outdoor adventures, experience new formats, and jointly promote the development of university clubs nationwide. Here, we will see a more mature Mountain Eagle, and her bright, confident smile as she turns 25. Let’s all wish the eighth Outdoor Skills Competition a great success!
Author: Da Niu, whose real name is Liu Yanlin, joined the society in 2001. A 1999 graduate of the Biology Department, he was the 14th president of the Mountain Eagle Society. He has climbed peaks including Tibet’s Sandan Kangsang (6,590m), Qiongmu Gangri (7,048m), Xixiabangma West (7,292m), and Qinghai’s Yuzhu Peak (6,178m) in the East Kunlun Mountains. He is a well-known figure in the Mountain Eagle Society.
Participating Teams:
Beijing Normal University Green Camp Outdoor Sports Association
Wuhan University Pioneers Outdoor Sports Association
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Wilderness Survival Association
China University of Geosciences Shan Mingzhi Outdoor Sports Club
Shenzhen University Mountaineering Association
Chongqing University Flying Bird Mountaineering Association
Sun Yat-sen University Mountaineering Team
Nanjing University of Science and Technology Mountaineering Association
Hefei College of Finance and Economics Rock Climbing Team Yanfeng
Northeastern University Flying Bird Outdoor Sports Association
Tsinghua University Mountain Wilderness Association
Fudan University Mountaineering and Exploration Association
Renmin University of China Self-Travelers
Xinjiang University Chiji Society
Beihang University Lingfeng Society
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Wilderness Survival Association
Tianjin University Tianxingjian Outdoor Association
Southwest Jiaotong University Panshi Society
Zhejiang Ocean University Island Wilderness Survival and Adventure Team
Zhongnan University of Economics and Law Challengers Alliance
Beijing Forestry University Shan Nuo Hui
Chengdu University of Technology Science and Engineering Expedition Outdoor Association
Xiamen University Mountaineering Association
Beijing Institute of Technology Hyacinth Outdoor Club
University of Science and Technology Beijing Primitive Tribe
University of Science and Technology of China Scientific Expedition Association
Tianjin University of Sport Outdoor Footprints Club
Hefei University of Technology Tianji Outdoor Sports Association