Huaxi Metropolitan Daily: Although there was only one day off for New Year’s Day, outdoor enthusiasts wouldn’t miss the chance for an adventure. Yesterday, two groups of hikers got lost in the fog on Mount Zhao Gong. Fortunately, with the help of the Dujiangyan police, they all managed to escape safely.
Located at the border of Dujiangyan and Wenchuan, Mount Zhao Gong remains undeveloped and is renowned for its beautiful scenery, making it a popular destination for hikers seeking adventure. Currently, with its high altitude, slippery paths, remote location, and partial snowfall, the mountain is also regarded by locals as the "Ghost Trap Mountain"...
"Police, please save my family. They’re trapped on Mount Zhao Gong. It’s cold and slippery, and they can’t come down." At around 7 p.m. yesterday, the Dujiangyan Public Security Bureau’s 110 command center received a distress call. The caller, a woman, said her husband, Mr. Yan, and their child had gone hiking on Mount Zhao Gong the previous day but got lost in the heavy fog while descending. They ran out of food and water.
New Year’s trip: Hikers stranded on Mount Zhao Gong
"My friend’s family went to Mount Zhao Gong yesterday (December 31, 2013), and I haven’t been able to reach them since," said Mr. Zhang, a resident of Chengdu, who called the Huaxi Media Call Center 96111 at around 7 p.m. yesterday. He explained that his friends, who are all outdoor enthusiasts, had prepared for the hike and entered Mount Zhao Gong on the day before New Year’s Day.
From information he gathered from his friends, Mr. Zhang learned that it had snowed partially on Mount Zhao Gong yesterday, with temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. Moreover, the area, bordering Wenchuan, remains largely undeveloped, with dense forests and numerous hazards. Not only outsiders, but even local villagers dare not venture up the mountain recklessly.
"The more I think about it, the more frightened I get. I’d like to ask for your help to rescue them," Mr. Zhang said.
Overnight mountain search rescues father and son halfway down
In fact, the Dujiangyan police had already received reports from the public and begun rescue efforts. While Mr. Zhang was contacting this newspaper, at around 7 p.m. last night, a woman urgently called the Dujiangyan Public Security Bureau’s 110 hotline, saying her husband and 12-year-old child were stranded on Mount Zhao Gong. She added that it was dark, the path was slippery, and the father and son weren’t wearing anti-slip shoes, so they couldn’t descend. They hadn’t eaten, were very cold, and starving.
"The forest there is dense, the temperature is very low, and fog is setting in. The later it gets, the slimmer the chances of rescue," rescuer Officer Sang Xi told reporters. After receiving the distress call, three officers from Yutang Police Station immediately began searching with flashlights. Meanwhile, the station also requested assistance from village officials familiar with the terrain to join the search.
Due to the slippery conditions and heavy fog, a rescue team of over 20 people carefully made their way into the mountain. Finally, at 9:10 p.m., near Qingyun Temple halfway up the mountain, the officers found the shivering father and son and successfully escorted them down the mountain.
Police advisory
Exploring Mount Zhao Gong: Be fully prepared
This wasn’t the only rescue on Mount Zhao Gong yesterday. According to the Dujiangyan police, at around 5 p.m. yesterday, two female hikers were injured and stranded while descending the mountain due to the thick fog and slippery conditions. With the joint efforts of local officer Sang Xi and village cadres, they were successfully located and rescued.
In response, the Dujiangyan police reminded hiking and outdoor enthusiasts that the paths on Mount Zhao Gong are extremely rugged, remote, and largely uninhabited. Most trails are created by hikers themselves, surrounded by dense forests that even local villagers rarely venture into. Further in lies a virgin forest and no-man’s land.
Therefore, hikers are advised to avoid exploring Mount Zhao Gong. If you must go, report to the local government or police station, hire a local villager as a guide, and make adequate logistical preparations to prevent accidents.
Yu Li, reporter for Huaxi Metropolitan Daily; Yu Xing, photo report at 11 p.m. last night