"The azure sky and the endless 'mirror' reflection blend together, merging the entire world into one boundless expanse. One female teammate gently played the guqin in this limitless world, each note seemingly drifting between heaven and earth—an awe-inspiring beauty." This isn’t someone’s imagination or a dream recounting, but a simple recollection by Gore Outdoor Hero and Travel Channel host Ashé of a scene from the recent Bolivia "Mirror of the Sky" trip, supported by the Gore-Tex brand.
The Salar de Uyuni in the western plateau of Bolivia’s Potosí Department is a paradise-like white salt flat spanning 150 kilometers in length, 130 kilometers in width, and covering an area of 9,065 square kilometers. Every summer, as the lake water dries up, a mineral crust primarily made of salt forms on the Salar de Uyuni. After rain, the lake surface becomes a mirror, reflecting dreamlike, stunning reflections—this is the legendary "Mirror of the Sky" that countless people yearn to see. Ashé, who has traveled to over 70 countries and embarks on an "Around the World in 80 Days" journey annually, is no exception. "I’ve long dreamed of visiting the 'Mirror of the Sky' and have been once before, but the view was so breathtaking that I’ve always wanted to go again. This longing has only grown stronger over time, and with the support of the Gore-Tex brand, I finally returned to this dreamlike place," said Ashé.
Upon arriving at the destination, Ashé and his team were immediately struck by the overwhelming beauty of the Uyuni Salt Flat. The azure sky was reflected by the "mirror," making the earth look like a reflection of the sky, utterly enchanting. With the clear sky, open ground, and lack of reference points, Ashé and his friends instantly experienced an illusion: "Most of us played with a resin base as kids—it had a glass dome, and when you shook it, snow would fall inside. The moment I arrived here, it felt like I was inside that glass dome. Forget 3D, even multi-dimensional effects can’t fully capture what I felt at that moment!" Ashé exclaimed excitedly. Alongside the breathtaking scenery came hidden "dangers": having previously suffered the "painful" experience of severe sunburn that caused his face and body to peel, Ashé knew the sunlight reflected by the "Mirror of the Sky" would be even more intense, and with wind, it could be even more harmful to the body. Therefore, he had very high requirements for his gear this time. "I still chose a full set of Gore-Tex gear for this trip because the unique waterproof, windproof, and breathable features of Gore-Tex fabric not only protected my skin from the scorching sun but also kept me comfortable thanks to its excellent breathability. When the wind blew, it blocked the cold air outside, ensuring I wasn’t disturbed by the environment at all. Oh, and I also wore a Gore-Tex headscarf this time, wrapping my face tightly to avoid peeling and ruining my looks—once bitten, twice shy!" Ashé said.
The azure sky reflected by the "mirror" left everyone enchanted by the sky’s reflection
More surprises followed. Later, as they waited for the sunset, they were once again deeply moved: as the sun gradually descended, the colors of the sky kept changing—blue, then purple, then red. As the time intervals grew shorter, countless colors intermingled. "The changing colors of the sky may not be rare, but usually when we watch a sunset, we face one direction. On the mirror, no matter which way you look, there are colors—it’s truly a marvel. This ‘sunset’ is really not the same as any other ‘sunset’!" At that moment, everyone was left speechless in astonishment.
As the sun gradually descended, the colors of the sky kept changing
On the mirror, no matter where you look, colors stretch out as far as the eye can see, like a dream
The beautiful scenery was endless, and Ashé’s camera and camcorder never stopped. With the accompaniment of his Gore-Tex gear, he waded into the water, lay on the ground, and moved freely to capture every stunning view. "Neither the water nor the wind interfered with my movements at all. I could shoot wherever I wanted, in whatever pose was convenient—and not only did I witness nature’s incredible wonders, but I also captured these precious scenes in my lens and memories. I think if it weren’t for the Gore-Tex gear, this trip might not have been so perfect!" As night fell, under the clear sky, when the stars filled the heavens and the ground seemed like an endless sea of stars, it felt like walking through the Milky Way. One woman in the team, a guqin enthusiast, had her husband custom-make a guqin for her before the trip. In this "fairyland" where heaven and earth merged, as the strings were gently plucked, countless notes seemed to float in the primordial world, captivating everyone once again...
With the accompaniment of Gore-Tex gear, Ashé took photos, wading into the water and lying on the ground, etching the beauty deeply into his lens and memory
"I’ve been to many countries and places, like the North and South Poles. The scenery there is indeed shocking and carries a lot of spiritual meaning, but the thrill of the 'Mirror of the Sky' is the most unique, the most unparalleled—one that can’t be experienced anywhere else in the world. Here, you forget all your identities, titles, worries, glories, and everything else attached to being a 'person.' You feel that in this moment, you are just a pure human being, just as you were when you first came into this world. This experience is incredibly precious to me, and to everyone in this team. I really hope that if given the chance, everyone can come and experience it!" Ashé exclaimed. "The experience is limitless." Just like Ashé’s incredible encounter with the "Mirror of the Sky," the Gore-Tex brand has for many years supported outdoor heroes like Ashé on their journeys, hoping to share their understanding of outdoor sports, survival skills, and gear selection through their firsthand experiences—leading more people to experience more, go further, and help realize "every outdoor dream."
Tips:The Gore-Tex brand, as a renowned outdoor fabric brand, has since entering China in 1997 upheld its promise to consumers of "guaranteed dryness" with its high-end windproof, waterproof, and breathable features, supporting the healthy development of outdoor activities in China and standing alongside Chinese outdoor enthusiasts through thick and thin. Gore-Tex fabric offers durable waterproof performance and high breathability. Its core technology—the Gore-Tex membrane—has over 1.4 billion micropores per square centimeter. These micropores are 20,000 times smaller than water droplets but 700 times larger than water molecules, allowing the Gore-Tex membrane to completely prevent external water from entering, avoiding the intrusion of damp cold, while also enabling internal sweat vapor to escape, ensuring optimal waterproof and breathable performance.