On December 13, traveler Zhao Xiaojun safely returned to Chengdu. Due to having to carry his bike on foot through the mountains, his hands were completely cracked.
See Zhao Xiaojun recount the dangers he faced while crossing Mount Gongga
□ "Tracking report: Solo biker goes missing while attempting to cross Mount Gongga area"
On November 28, Jiangsu-based traveler Zhao Xiaojun, who goes by the online name “Wanderer of the World,” lost contact with the outside world while cycling across Mount Gongga. The Garze Prefecture detachment of the Sichuan Mountain Rescue Team was ordered to enter the mountains to conduct a search and rescue operation. On December 12, Zhao Xiaojun, who had been out of contact for 13 days, walked out of the snowy mountains on his own, bringing great relief to his family and all those involved in the rescue efforts.
Yesterday afternoon at 3 p.m., after a bumpy day and night of travel, Zhao Xiaojun took a bus from Kangding back to Chengdu. Reflecting on this “traveling adventure,” he said that his attempt to cross Mount Gongga was very risky and served as a cautionary example.
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46-year-old Jiangsu traveler: Couldn’t sleep soundly after entering the mountains
At 4 p.m. yesterday, when meeting Zhao Xiaojun at a hotel in Jinniu District, the strong sunlight at high altitude had already tanned his skin dark.
His left hand, long accustomed to carrying heavy backpacks, was covered in calluses. Since entering the mountains on November 28, he hadn’t had a solid night’s sleep. But even then, his tense nerves hadn’t fully relaxed as he recounted the details of this solo trip.
Zhao Xiaojun said that he is 46 years old and works at a company in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province. He has long enjoyed traveling alone. He has attempted crossings such as the Dabie Mountains and cycling the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
After more than half a year of preparation, this November, Zhao Xiaojun took annual leave from his job and came alone to Chengdu, planning to attempt crossing Mount Gongga. On November 28, after arriving at Laoyulin, Zhao Xiaojun entered the depths of Mount Gongga, which were already in winter and rarely visited by people. Until December 12, when he emerged from the vast mountains, Zhao Xiaojun’s phone had no signal.
Zhao Xiaojun said, “Before entering the mountains, I met a local who warned me that the route I was taking would be very dangerous in winter.” But Zhao Xiaojun was determined and went deep into the mountains anyway.
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Got lost twice, nearly broke down, used trash to find way and stumble out of the mountains
“The total distance of my journey was about 80 kilometers, and the highest pass, Riyuqu, was around 4,900 meters above sea level,” Zhao Xiaojun said. Although he had prepared well for the crossing, he still got lost at Shang Riyuqu and at a place called “Winter Pasture.” The local mountain valleys had steep and treacherous terrain, with temperatures consistently below zero degrees Celsius. The two instances of getting lost nearly exhausted the little energy he had.
“At the time, I was desperate, thinking I’d never make it out,” Zhao Xiaojun said he managed to find his way out of the deep mountains bit by bit by searching for discarded items left by other travelers.
But what Zhao Xiaojun didn’t expect was that his originally planned 8-day crossing was delayed by 3 days due to getting lost. This caused great anxiety among his relatives and friends. When he called home to say he was safe the day before yesterday, his wife burst into tears. In order to search for the missing traveler, the Garze Prefecture detachment of the Sichuan Mountain Rescue Team also entered the mountains multiple times to conduct searches.
Regarding this, Zhao Xiaojun expressed deep gratitude to the rescue team members who came to search for him. At the same time, he felt guilty for the trouble his crossing had caused his family and the rescuers. He said that in the future, he would not take such risks when traveling.
Expert Advice
Winter crossings are very dangerous, one must not recklessly take risks
Gao Min, head of the Sichuan Mountain Rescue Corps, said that the climbing route chosen by Zhao Xiaojun was very challenging, and even more so in winter. Coupled with the fact that he had no companions and did not hire a local guide, the consequences could have been severe if he had gone missing.
“Fortunately, Mr. Zhao returned safely to Chengdu,” Gao Min reminded outdoor sports enthusiasts once again that winter crossings in high-altitude areas are difficult and one must act within one’s capabilities, prepare adequately, and not recklessly take risks.