Ever since I had a close call while climbing Xiling Mountain with Ao Xiang and joined Green Field years ago, about 80% of the activities I’ve participated in have been of an exploratory nature. Pioneer exploration is a great way to develop self-reliance. Through years of practice and reflection, I’ve seen modest improvements in various skills, which have also been preliminarily validated in real-world situations—something I’m quite pleased about....
      Speaking of pioneer exploration, it used to be a rather niche activity. The earliest leaders I followed never took more than seven participants. The reason was that it made emergency descents and hitching rides much easier, and even then, such teams might split into four or five smaller groups to descend the mountain. That’s why pioneer exploration is such a character-building endeavor. The unknowns and challenges attract many like-minded individuals, and the activity gradually grew, reaching its peak two years ago.
      Today, the experience-gathering phase of veteran leaders and senior participants has largely come to an end. Coupled with the increasing frequency of outdoor accidents, which puts immense pressure on AA (alpine-style, self-organized) leaders—since all pioneer exploration is AA-based—some teams have transformed, some leaders have stopped leading due to injuries, others only post activities in QQ groups, and some only take their colleagues hiking. With high demand but limited resources, getting a spot in a pioneer exploration trip has become incredibly hard.... The remaining leaders are now facing even greater risks than before!
    We used to joke privately: if you haven’t spent a night in the mountains, you’re not truly a pioneer explorer. In reality, we’re saying that pioneer exploration participants need to have ample wilderness survival experience. Some may ask, how can so many people endure nights in the wild? Actually, it’s not common—they rarely talk about it, or perhaps you’ve never asked.
    Pioneer exploration leaders and participants are a single unit; neither can function well without the other. Pioneer exploration participants must do their homework just like the leaders—lazy teammates need not apply. Leaders will share exploration plan maps, which are essentially homework assignments for participants. Some even provide planned route tracks. Isn’t that implying that even if you’ve done your homework, without GPS, don’t bother coming out in foggy weather? This also confirms that risks in pioneer exploration are ever-present. Someone once said they joined “just to sweat and lose weight...” Why join a pioneer exploration team then?
    The best seasons for pioneer exploration are autumn, winter, and early spring, when vegetation is sparse and trail marks are clearer, saving energy. However, during these times, daylight hours are short, temperature differences are large, and temperatures are low. Timing is critical—it can be a matter of life or death. So, for any exploration activity starting after 2:30 PM, I only look for descent routes. If the leader continues uphill, I’ll descend on my own.
    For pioneer exploration, you must bring a handheld radio, a headlamp, and spare batteries, all fully charged in advance. All participants who succumbed to hypothermia were not carrying fire-starting tools. Fire-starting options include lighters, fire starters, and matches—each has its advantages, so bring all. Not everyone knows how to start a fire, so it’s good to practice regularly. Those less skilled should carry a small Zippo with fuel—it’s safe, reliable, and easy to use... Also pack an emergency blanket, compressed biscuits, and extra water. Lately, I’ve noticed many pioneer exploration participants lack even these common-sense essentials.... Is trouble not far off?
    The difficulty of securing a spot has led to frustration—some have complained bitterly after lining up early but failing to get a ticket.... Eventually, the rules changed, switching to online ticket purchasing where speed matters. With the explosive growth of the outdoor community, what we witnessed in 2013 is something I truly hope never happens again...