The "Bike to Climb" series, sponsored by VAUDE, officially kicks off today. From June 10 to June 15, 2013, the first leg of VAUDE's Green China campaign will recruit 20 team members to summit the main peak of Qiyi Glacier through hiking and cycling. This climb will rely on no mechanical power whatsoever, taking environmental protection in outdoor activities to a more thorough level.
In recent years, an increasing number of people who love life and nature have joined the ranks of outdoor enthusiasts. Whether it’s the glaciers of high mountains or the depths of the ocean, human footprints can be found everywhere. Pristine lands are becoming rare, and untouched territories are virtually nonexistent. Humanity expresses its love for nature through conquest, which not only causes irreparable harm to the environment but also distances people from nature.
VAUDE has long been committed to the development of environmentally friendly mountaineering. Green China is one of VAUDE’s ongoing series of eco-outdoor initiatives, now in its fifth year. Each year, VAUDE actively explores the relationship between environmental protection and mountaineering.
In 2009, Italian mountaineers Diego Giovannini and Franco 'Franz' Nicolini climbed all 82 peaks over 4,000 meters in the Alps without using any mechanical power. They traveled between peaks by bicycle, becoming the first pair of climbers to achieve this feat.
Currently, the concept of "bike-to-climb" is still relatively unknown in China. This approach to mountaineering has prompted deep reflection among mountain-loving climbers: what does it truly mean to cherish the mountains? After each expedition, VAUDE-sponsored climbing teams share observations of human-caused pollution and damage to the mountains within the outdoor community, serving as a wake-up call.
In 2013, with further reflections on eco-friendly mountaineering, VAUDE chooses "Bike to Climb" as a new starting point for practicing Green China, and its green journey is about to set off once again.