Sun Yiquan, the Youth Painter and Image Ambassador for Mass Fitness in Shenyang, who set off on his journey to climb Mount Everest from Shenyang Taoxian Airport on the 10th of this month, called our reporter yesterday from Nepal. After transferring in Kunming, he has arrived in Nepal. Sun Yiquan told the reporter that at 5 a.m. local time in Nepal (7:15 a.m. Beijing time today), he will take a helicopter to the first stopover point, Lukla. He will then begin a 6-day trek before arriving at Everest South Base Camp at an altitude of 5,700 meters.
Since mountaineering requires a large amount of specialized equipment, and the challenge of climbing the world’s highest peak—Mount Everest—is beyond imagination, Sun Yiquan has made the most thorough preparations. Prior to departure, reporters were already amazed by the sheer weight of his six large packages. Sun Yiquan said, “Most of these packages contain equipment needed for the climb. One big bag holds food because during training and the 'summit push' at the base camp, the variety of available food is very limited, and it can't ensure proper nutrition, so I’ve specially prepared a lot of food. Also, there are professional mountaineering gears, including clothing, shoes, ice axes, and other climbing equipment.” Each of these packages is very heavy, “These professional gears have all been shrink-wrapped before being packed.”
Yesterday, after arriving in Nepal, Sun Yiquan took a day to rest. Because this year marks the 60th anniversary of the first human ascent of Everest, Sun Yiquan told the reporter, “There are now more than 300 mountaineering enthusiasts from around the world gathered in Nepal, and there are also over 100 media outlets from across the globe.” “These 6 days of trekking will definitely be tough, but they will serve to train my physical endurance and adapt me to the high-altitude environment, minimizing the chances of altitude sickness as much as possible.”