In Gansu’s outdoor circle, Cao Shuping is quite well-known. As a mountaineering enthusiast with nearly 10 years of outdoor exploration experience, she has measured new heights step by step — from Sichuan’s Banji Peak at 5,430 meters, Sichuan’s Que’er Mountain at 6,168 meters, Xinjiang’s Muztagh Ata at 7,546 meters, to Manaslu at 8,163 meters. Yesterday, she set off once again to fulfill her ultimate dream of reaching the top of the world.
Currently, fewer than 200 people in China have climbed Mount Everest, and even fewer of them are women. According to surveys, if she succeeds in this Everest climb, Cao Shuping will become the oldest Chinese woman to have reached the summit. Yesterday, Cao Shuping departed from Lanzhou to pursue the dream in her heart.
Cao Shuping, 46 years old, is an ordinary office worker and also one of the seasoned hikers in Lanzhou’s outdoor sports scene. The dream of climbing Mount Everest has always been in her heart and has never wavered. “Successfully climbing Everest is the ultimate dream of every hiker. It’s not for anything else, but simply to challenge and push oneself,” said Cao Shuping. To prepare for a successful summit this time, she has been getting ready for years, enriching her mountaineering experience. Reporters learned that in 2007, Cao Shuping began trying mountain climbing, having scaled peaks such as Mayaxue Mountain at 4,447 meters and Huabaoshan Mountain at 4,484 meters. Last year, she climbed Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest peak located in the central Himalayas within Nepal, at an altitude of 8,156 meters...
Mount Everest is the main peak of the Himalayas and the highest peak in the world, standing at 8,844.43 meters. The mountain is shaped like a massive pyramid, majestic and imposing, with extremely treacherous terrain and highly complex conditions. The period from early April to late May and early September to late October is the transitional season between the windy and rainy seasons, during which better weather may occur, making it the best season for climbing.
Cao Shuping said: “I will fly from Lanzhou via Kunming to Kathmandu to meet up with my team. After arriving, on the 13th, we will start trekking from Kathmandu to the starting point, Lukla. Then my team and I will head to the Everest South Base Camp (5,430 meters) for seven days of acclimatization training, during which we will adjust our bodies to the best possible condition. Between May 7th and 15th, we will make our first summit attempt. If unsuccessful, we will prepare for a second attempt between May 16th and 25th. This Everest climb is fraught with danger, but it hasn’t shaken my determination to reach the summit. All these challenges have instead strengthened my confidence to challenge myself. Whether I succeed or not, I will do my utmost to fulfill this long-cherished wish.”