I. What Is the Meaning of the Outdoors? What Is Its Spirit?
Most people might think, is it necessary to get so philosophical right from the start? My answer is yes, it is necessary, and very much so. Browse the forums a bit and first take a look at the differences between Himalayan mountaineering and Alpine climbing.
My experience might be similar to that of most people. I used to be a quasi-homebody with a wild heart, but back in school I couldn’t afford to spend money (I didn’t have any, and was too embarrassed to ask my family), had no one to go out with—there were all sorts of reasons why I rarely traveled. Enough rambling, let’s not dwell on these. No matter what, once the conditions are right and you’re able to go out and have fun,
your first time out might go something like this—or how most people’s first time does:
1. No one to go with? Alright, there are people online. I signed up for an event, and someone’s leading it. The cost isn’t much, or it’s even split evenly (AA).
2. I managed to gather gear, either borrowed or bought, and now I feel like I’m a real hiker too.
3. I joined a QQ group, where everyone is super friendly, so going out for adventures is sure to be a blast.
And so, an untrained rookie hits the trail. If anything goes wrong, god bless you.
Now, let me share my personal understanding of the meaning of the outdoors:
The outdoors involves risks—you are responsible for yourself.
1. Difficulty level?
Most events on Green Field (Lvye) indicate a difficulty level. The first thing you should do is understand what these levels mean. In truth, you won’t really get a sense of them until you’ve gone out at least once. So my advice is to assess your physical condition comprehensively and start from zero.
2. Why does Green Field do this?
In the outdoors, in the face of nature, every individual is small and vulnerable. Many times, you’ll get angry—why isn’t anyone helping me? I’m just walking a bit slower, how could they leave me behind?
Let me give you an example from my own experience:
On April 21, having completed the 1.5-rated Qingming Kubuqi hike, I thought 1.5 wasn’t a big deal. I signed up for an xx Outdoor event: a one-day traverse from Dajue Temple to Fragrant Hills, also rated 1.5. I could keep up at first, but about halfway through, around the 12 km mark, I started falling behind. I ended up walking alone in the mountains for an hour before the rear group picked me up. When hiking uphill, especially in dense forests, you can lose sight of the person in front of you in just 10 meters. A normal walking pace is 1.5 m/s, and outdoor hikers tend to walk even faster. That means in about 6 seconds—just the time it takes to take a sip of water or snap a selfie—congratulations, you’re now trailing the group. Then think about it: everyone else is out there to have fun too; no one’s going to turn back to look for you. I decided to descend on my own and head home, but I had to find the way myself. My phone had no signal, I didn’t know the frequency for the walkie-talkie, it was newly bought and my first time using it, I didn’t know how to operate it, I didn’t know the route, and I was physically exhausted. At that point, any small factor could lead to danger—because I was already extremely tired, barely in control of my body. One slip or a stumble over a small rock, and I could’ve fallen into a ditch.
Yes, this happened near Fragrant Hills, in spring, when the weather was warm and there was no wind. Even then, it was somewhat dangerous. And my physical condition isn’t bad—I’m 26 years old, run 6 km every day, and can do 50 push-ups in one go, 3–4 sets without getting tired.
From the above, you can see that even with the same 1.5 difficulty rating, different groups have different interpretations and styles. During the Qingming Kubuqi trip, I felt like a strong hiker, but during the Dajue Temple–Fragrant Hills hike, I couldn’t keep up with the group at all. The outdoors always carries risks, and people differ individually. When you’re completely exhausted, others might just be warming up. You never know who has a medical history or what issues they might have—the only person who truly knows is yourself. So at all times, assess the risks and rely on yourself.
Here’s my personal takeaway:
Love nature, enjoy life, stay alert to risks, never push yourself too hard, act within your abilities, and put safety first.
Understand your own physical condition and choose an intensity level that suits you. If you’re camping or hiking at a non-leisure difficulty level, it’s best to buy some insurance—for your own sake and for your family’s (for any non-leisure trips, I always buy it; I’m not being paid to say this, I swear!).
Neither a wise man nor a beauty stands under a crumbling wall.
II. Who Should You Go With?
1. Choosing a Team
There are many outdoor clubs nowadays. Just search online, and you’ll find plenty. They go to all kinds of places, and the people involved come from all walks of life—different education levels, ethnicities, even foreigners, and varied family backgrounds. Everyone’s out there having fun. Different clubs have different styles, and so do individual team leaders and QQ groups. So if you plan to stick with this long-term, compatibility is crucial—not just in terms of gear, but more importantly, people. Anyone who’s played games knows: you don’t fear a god-like opponent, you fear a pig-like teammate. When you meet someone who really gets you, a thousand cups of wine are not enough; when words don’t click, half a sentence is too many. Choose to go out with friends who share your interests—that’s when it’s truly fun. If it’s not a good match, that’s okay too—be a little more understanding. We’re all out here to have a good time.
Finding the right playmates comes down to joining more activities and finding ones that suit you. You’ll only know once you try. Only teammates who truly understand each other can make the most accurate decisions in critical moments and offer timely, much-needed support.
2. Choosing a Team Leader
I browsed around online and found that the requirements to become a tour leader aren’t very high, which means there’s some risk involved. Looking at the incident where hikers died in Beijing’s Lingshan Mountain, there were two factors: the leader wasn’t experienced enough, and the participants were overconfident. So while managing your own risks, you also need to choose a reliable leader. First and foremost, knowing the route is essential—otherwise, you might get led astray. If the leader often leads that specific route, then they’re probably more trustworthy.
III Conclusion
When out on an adventure, people usually help each other, and many are happy to share and lend a hand. When I was at Xiangshan, I didn’t lock my gear properly during a training hike, a branch snagged my backpack and tore it open, causing me to lose my windbreaker. Later, Brother Huangchenggen Buyi from the rear group and Sister Congrong helped me find it, saving me over a thousand yuan in losses. So, be willing to share, help others, and learn from one another. I hope all hikers can have fun and stay safe. That’s a lot of rambling from a newbie hiker—thanks for your patience.
该贴已经同步到 悟能出圈的微博