At the beginning of the Year of the Horse, while people were still immersed in the festive rhythm, the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team had already successfully summited Africa’s rooftop and stood on the peak of Uhuru. On the 9th, outdoor and off-road leader brand CAMEL, together with the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team (Wuhan), accomplished the successful ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. As the exclusive outdoor gear provider and strategic partner of the CUG Mountaineering Team, CAMEL offered full professional outdoor product support for the expedition. It is reported that this activity was the third leg of the CUG team’s challenge to the “Nine Summits of the Earth,” and also one of the commemorative events for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania.
The CUG Mountaineering Team successfully reached the 5,895-meter summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at 6:45 AM local time (11:45 AM Beijing time) on February 9. It is understood that the climb faced severe weather conditions not seen in 20 years: departing from the Machame Gate on the 5th, the team encountered two consecutive days of heavy rain at the starting point of the Kilimanjaro climb; on the 8th, after moving into the Kilimanjaro Assault Camp at 4,700 meters, the rain continued, solar chargers stopped working, and the team entered a state of no electricity and no internet; at midnight on the 9th, they faced a snowstorm during the final push. Overcoming numerous challenges and enduring six hours of harsh wind and snow, the team ultimately summited successfully, marking an auspicious start to the Year of the Horse.
The collaboration with the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team is another strategic partnership formed by CAMEL with a well-known domestic university mountaineering team, following its partnership with Peking University’s Mountain Eagle Society. CAMEL stated that the role of the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team in promoting the development of mountaineering in China is evident. Supporting the growth of professional outdoor sports in China has always been CAMEL’s big outdoor goal, and this provided the perfect opportunity for the partnership.
It is reported that as part of the series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania, a joint mountaineering team was specially formed by both countries. Representing the Chinese side, the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team (Wuhan), with a total of nine members, all participated in the 2012 Everest climb. Their rich mountaineering experience gave the team great confidence for this summit mission.
Dong Fan, captain of the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) Mountaineering Team, said that summiting Kilimanjaro was only part of the mission—team members also undertook relevant scientific research tasks. Key focuses of the scientific exploration include the tectonic deformation movements near the northeastern border of Tanzania, adjacent to Kenya, the resulting vertical faulting activities, the crustal fractures causing magma upwelling in the East African Rift, and the subsequent formation of the Kilimanjaro volcano.
Interestingly, since the 9th fell on the 10th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the team members also sent New Year’s greetings from the rooftop of Africa to people across the country.
After successfully summiting Africa’s rooftop, Mount Kilimanjaro, the “Nine Summits of the Earth” plan of the China University of Geosciences Mountaineering Team (Wuhan) continues. Within three to four years, the team aims to tackle the remaining six summits and hopes to become the first university mountaineering team to complete the “7+2” challenge.
Serving professional mountaineering activities and supporting more groups and individuals in participating in outdoor sports is the ultimate goal of CAMEL’s collaboration with domestic professional mountaineering teams. With the new year just beginning, both parties, fully committed to supporting the development of outdoor sports in China, look forward to witnessing more remarkable achievements.