Team members raise their glasses to celebrate a birthday party
Special correspondent Zou Jin
Around 22:00 yesterday, just after filing his report, Yuan Fudong excitedly ducked into the tent and invited me to a PARTY.
“What’s the good news?” I asked, puzzled, while Dongdong played it mysterious. Lujie, the Party group secretary of the mountaineering team, chuckled beside us: “Dongdong’s ‘birthday.’ His fourth ‘birthday.’”
Now I got it. Four years ago on May 8, the Beijing Olympic torch was successfully relayed to the summit of Everest. As one of the torchbearers, Yuan Fudong shouted that now-famous line, “Beijing welcomes you!” from the peak. Later, this student from China University of Geosciences became a celebrated figure among Chinese college students.
Returning to Everest, how could we miss such an important anniversary?!
Coincidentally, our newspaper colleagues had just brought some Zhou Hei Ya (spicy duck) and a big bag of snacks, which we contributed to share the joy with our teammates.
Due to the team’s rotation schedule, only about ten members remained at Everest Base Camp. Gathering in the activity tent, even tea served as wine brought warmth and cheer.
Holding up paper cups, Tsering Dandar was the first to jump in, “I was also on the summit of Everest four years ago today.” Right, back then he was at the most dangerous Position 1, filming for CCTV’s live broadcast as the high-altitude cameraman.
Also joining in the celebration was Zhang Yu, who in 2008 was also a CCTV cameraman stationed at Advance Base Camp at 6,500 meters.
“Let’s do a toast, let’s do a toast!” Everyone cheered. Dongdong, Dandan, and Dayu exchanged smiles, raised their paper cups, and downed them in one go. Then they chomped on a duck wing—so satisfying.
Lujie explained that within this DiDa Everest mountaineering team, there were several heroes from the 2008 Olympic torch relay. In addition to the three partying members—Dongdong, Dandan, and Dayu—there was also team captain Ciluo and team member Deqing Ouzhu, among others.
Eating, drinking, and chatting, while snowflakes danced outside the tent, warmth filled the inside. Before long, several high-altitude guides, including Dorgyid, also joined in. “Several of them were also on the mountain four years ago,” said Tsering Dandar. “They all contributed to the torch relay.”
About an hour later, the “birthday party” was drawing to a close. The three “birthday boys” stood up and stated solemnly: “This time, as we climb Everest to celebrate our alma mater’s 60th anniversary, although none of us are on the summit assault team, we will definitely do our jobs well and be the best ‘paving stones.’ Please rest assured.”
“Great!” A cheer erupted in the tent. Everyone stood up, raised their glasses, and then dispersed happily.
Special report from Everest Base Camp, by special correspondent Zou Jin