From the "birthplace" of dreams to the "destination" of dreams
Dreams are among humanity’s greatest creations. They may not always be real, but that doesn’t stop them from taking root and growing in people’s minds. The most fundamental difference between dreams and ideals is this: an ideal is merely a beautiful vision of the future, whereas a dream is the driving force that propels you forward for a lifetime.
To help dreamers realize their outdoor aspirations, GORE-TEX
Over the past seven years, people from all walks of life have participated in the event, realizing their outdoor dreams. Though their initial motivations varied, they all came together through the "Outdoor Dreams Realized" campaign, setting off from the "origin of dreams" toward their "dream destinations."
Group photo of the 2010 "Tracing the Snowland Postal Route" team.Group photo of the 2010 "Tracing the Snowland Postal Route" team
Luo Yichuo, nicknamed "Mule Yi" for his mule-like perseverance, has always "taken the road less traveled" in the outdoor community. At 52, when he learned about Ni Ma La Mu, a national model postal worker who braved dangerous roads to deliver an admission letter, survived a landslide, and was injured by falling rocks but still insisted on delivering the letter to the student, a force compelled Luo Yi to set out. As the leader of the 2010 fourth edition of the Gore-Tex™ Outdoor Dreams Realized champion team "Tracing the Snowland Postal Route," Luo Yi led his team members through three seasons—from summer to winter—following in Ni Ma La Mu’s footsteps. They paid tribute to her husband Nongbu and her successor Lazhu, and delivered school supplies to local children. This dream-realizing journey became not just a physical challenge but also a spiritual journey.
In 2013, Yin Hongbo’s team hiked through the Yinping Ancient Road, following in the footsteps of their ancestors to uncover historical truths.
Yin Hongbo, the leader of the 2013 seventh edition "Experience Without Limits—Gore-Tex™ Outdoor Dreams Realized" hiking group champion team "Hiking the Yinping Ancient Road to Uncover the Mystery of the Fall of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms," is a history teacher. Whenever he taught his students about how Wei general Deng Ai secretly crossed the Yinping route to invade Shu, his students were never satisfied. So, he led his team to retrace this "nine-deaths-for-one-life journey into Sichuan" and vividly retold the story to his students.
After traversing extremely treacherous sections such as Liujia Ping, Dengjiaba, and Motian Ridge, Yin Hongbo and his team successfully crossed the Nantianmen Pass to reach Qingxi Town in Guangyuan, Sichuan, becoming the first team to complete the full crossing of the Yinping Ancient Road. This remarkable journey, blending breathtaking scenery, history, culture, and environmental awareness, not only opened up an excellent hiking route for outdoor enthusiasts but also fulfilled Yin’s team’s promise to their students, their respect for history, their care for nature, and their realization of their own outdoor dreams.
The 2010 "Return to Yushu" team made a charitable donation to a tent school
Stories like those of Luo Yi and Yin Hongbo are just a few among many over the seven years of the Outdoor Dreams Realized campaign. In 2008, Qu Zhixing, the leader of the "Exploring the Mystique of Southeast Guizhou’s Miao and Dong Cultures" team, ventured into the ancient and mysterious lands of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups and established the first Gore-Tex™ brand camp focused on education support and disaster relief. In 2010, Yu Feng’s "Return to Yushu" team supported Yushu’s reconstruction through "travel" and made charitable donations to orphanages and tent schools. In 2012, Deng Xianghui, the leader of the "Revitalizing Gongga" team, called on more people to protect the outdoor environment by hiking up Gongga Mountain and picking up trash along the way. Everyone’s dreams were different, but they all reached their "dream destinations" through outdoor adventures.
In 2012, the "Revitalizing Gongga" team picked up trash while hiking, calling on everyone to travel green.
The Outdoor Dreams Realized campaign has achieved not only dreams but also countless friendships and invaluable experiences. The eighth edition of the event will make its fresh debut in March. As in previous years, Gore-Tex™
To enable more outdoor enthusiasts to participate in the event, seize the opportunity to realize their dreams, and experience the boundless charm of outdoor sports, starting in 2011, the event introduced satellite platform applications. Consumers could apply through platforms other than the Gore official website. In 2014, Gore Inc. will collaborate with well-known industry websites to establish five major satellite application platforms: Sina, 8264, Green Outdoor, Feathered Camera (Fengniao), and iKa. While creating broad application channels, these platforms also cater to the varied interests of outdoor enthusiasts and allow participants to meet others who share their passions.
The dream collection is divided into five categories based on consumer needs: Professional Mountaineering, Wilderness Trekking, Outdoor Hiking, Outdoor Photography, and Self-Drive Adventure. Whether you're a professional outdoor athlete, a seasoned enthusiast, or just an amateur, as long as you have an outdoor dream, you can sign up via the Gore official website or any of the event’s five satellite platforms, choose the appropriate category, and submit your travel plan.
It is worth mentioning that the eighth edition of the event specially added a “New Explorers’ Dream Destination” voting segment. For the majority of outdoor enthusiasts who may not be adept at crafting travel plans, simply voting for your desired destination and sharing the origin of your dream gives you the chance to join an eight-person dream destination exploration team led by professional mentors. This allows you to explore your dream destination and fulfill your outdoor aspirations. In addition to the main site, users can also participate in the “New Explorers’ Dream Destination” vote on each satellite platform. The selection method for the winning plan is based on rules from previous editions but has been expanded to include mentor recommendations and online public voting for shortlisted plans, allowing even more people to take part in the event.