The Ultimate Showdown at Siguniangshan Station: "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Mountaineering Season Grand Finale

       Golden September, Glorious Harvest
       As the final and most challenging stop of the event, the southwestern division’s qualifiers were elite athletes carefully selected through multiple rounds of screening by the organizing committee. Each participant possessed extensive high-altitude mountaineering experience, along with professional skills in climbing, outdoor adventure, and wilderness survival. Chengdu’s charming young man "xx Little Frog," who has led teams to summit Siguniangshan’s first, second, and third peaks over 30 times and trekked across the Gongga region more than 20 times, boasts an impressive track record. Female participants were also well-represented, including the talented "Laugh Without a Trace" from Beijing’s largest outdoor club, Xianyou Outdoor. The event quickly became a gathering of outdoor masters. Compared to the previous three stops, the excitement here was undeniable — not to mention the assembly of top athletes, the stunning scenery along the way was alone enough to feast the eyes. The trip to Sichuan offered rewards not just for the spirit and soul, but for all five senses as well.
       At 8:30 a.m. on September 15, the athletes set off punctually from Rilong, beginning the first day of the mountaineering journey — Rilong Town to Dajianbao to the Base Camp of the Second Peak. The day was cloudless and crisp, with breathtaking views along the route from Rilong to Dajianbao. Participants admired the clear lakes of Haizi Valley, the unique alpine flowers and grasses on the meadows, and fully immersed themselves in the enchanting atmosphere of Siguniangshan in September. Breezes carried the fragrance of grass, captivating the athletes, who eagerly captured every beautiful scene with their cameras. The section from Dajianbao to the Second Peak Base Camp gradually increased in difficulty, and just as the challenge intensified, nature tested the athletes further — light rain began to fall as they neared the campsite. But this minor obstacle did nothing to dampen their spirits, as they were fully immersed in the joy of mountaineering.

       During the climb, the organizing committee interspersed the "Search for the Leaf at the Summit" photography activity, encouraging participants to capture fleeting yet beautiful natural moments with their cameras. Upon reaching the Second Peak Base Camp, the athletes had taken numerous stunning shots. While setting up camp, they couldn’t wait to show off their photos to teammates. "I didn’t expect the scenery of Siguniangshan in September to be so gorgeous — I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Although the whole route was tough, seeing so many incredible views made it all worthwhile. I can’t wait to summit tomorrow!" said an athlete from Chongqing.
       Summit Challenge, Continuing Glory
       As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait — and endure. That night, heavy snow began to fall in Siguniangshan, blanketing the mountain paths. By morning, everything was covered in a pristine layer of white. The unexpected snowfall undoubtedly added difficulty to the summit attempt, but faced with the athletes’ enthusiasm and anticipation, the organizing committee resolutely decided to lead everyone in meeting the challenge head-on. "Before coming to the Siguniangshan Station, I was fully aware of the overall difficulty of the route. Even with this severe weather, I really wanted to challenge myself and hope to persevere until the end and reach the summit!" said one qualified athlete, already geared up and ready to go.
       With everything prepared, the group set off early at 4 a.m. Morning in Siguniangshan was shrouded in darkness and cold, with only the determined faces of the athletes under their headlamps and the deep footprints in the snow visible. Snow continued to fall, accumulating in some areas above the knees, while thick fog and snow reduced visibility and made the already difficult path even more treacherous. This was the greatest challenge the first three stops had never encountered — the harsh weather pushed the difficulty of reaching the summit to the limit. Halfway through, many athletes struggled with exhaustion. To ensure safety, the mountaineering guides decided to split the group, allowing those with better overall conditions to continue toward the summit while others returned to camp in an orderly fashion.

       Led by high-altitude support staff and guides, seven athletes braved the snow and pressed on toward the summit. As altitude increased and the snow grew heavier, when they reached the mountain pass, athletes "Mountain Snail," "Ktow," and "Super Boy" chose to stay behind and wait for descent, while the rest pushed for the final ascent. After enduring countless hardships, four athletes — Yang Bo, editor-in-chief of Outdoor Magazine, "xx Little Frog" from Chengdu, "Determined Walker" from Liaoning, and Heilongjiang native "Feeling" — finally reached the summit at 10:40 a.m.! This marked the most challenging extreme test of the "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Mountaineering Season. Joyfully, despite the immense difficulties, the athletes succeeded in summiting Siguniangshan’s second peak through unwavering determination.
       Standing atop the Second Peak, how proud and exhilarated they felt. Beneath their feet, clouds churned like seas, and in the distance, the "King of Sichuan Mountains" — Mount Gongga — could be faintly seen. Unable to contain their excitement, the athletes took commemorative photos to capture this glorious moment. "Today is the most memorable day in my mountaineering history. I didn’t expect such heavy snow, and now, standing at the summit of the Second Peak and looking out over everything, it feels like a dream. I think only those who’ve endured such trials can truly understand how I feel right now. This journey was absolutely worth it!" said "xx Little Frog," unable to hide his joy.

       After descending back to the base camp, the snow gradually let up. The organizing committee led all athletes in the "Love the Earth Action – Leave Only Footprints, Clean Up Trash" environmental initiative, using environmentally friendly trash bags provided earlier to clean up waste around the campsite, truly giving green back to nature and memories to the heart. Additionally, the organizing committee distributed specially made "Leaves Accompany My Journey" magic scarves, featuring prominent environmental slogans that serve as constant reminders to uphold the spirit of green outdoor activities. Throughout this time, athletes also captured photos of their eco-friendly actions, preserving permanent memories of the event.
       With the conclusion of the offline activities at the southwestern division’s Sichuan Siguniangshan Station for the "Leaves Accompany My Journey" · 2012 Lafuma Mountaineering Season, the mountaineering events across all four divisions are drawing to a close. Next, athletes will enter the final stage of the competition. Everyone can upload travelogues, photos, videos, and more from the event day on the official theme website to share and exchange experiences, while also encouraging friends and fan groups to vote and cheer them on. Ultimately, combined with online scores from expert judges, various awards and division champions for the southwestern division will be selected. Who will win the final grand prize of a romantic seven-day trip to "The Homeland of Leaves" in France? Stay tuned for the southwestern division finals to find out.