CUG mountaineering and scientific expedition team successfully surveys "Point Ⅲ7"
Discovers a "message in a bottle" left by peers seven years ago
After a day of rest, the CUG Everest mountaineering and scientific expedition team set out again yesterday. After more than eight hours of effort, they successfully conducted an on-site survey of the Everest measurement control point designated as "Ⅲ7."
"Point Ⅲ7" is specifically used for transmitting Everest elevation data and played a significant role during the 2005 remeasurement of Everest. On the 24th, expedition team leader Professor Chen Gang led three members to attempt an on-site survey of this point but regrettably missed it due to inadequate preparation.
After a day of rest, the expedition team set out again yesterday. This time, the team was expanded to nine members, including Chen Gang, Wang Bing, Chen Zheng, Zhang Jun, Cao Zhikai, Wen Qiuyuan, Zhang Jiarong, Ma Chao, and Mo Yanchao. Unlike the first attempt, which involved mountain climbing and traversing, yesterday the team chose a route that headed south before ascending, which proved successful. They set out at 11:00, located "Point Ⅲ7" by 16:00, carried out about one hour of surveying and scientific research, and finally returned safely to the Everest base camp around 19:00.
According to Chen Gang, the team brought with them a BeiDou navigation and positioning receiver independently developed by South Surveying & Mapping Technology Co., Ltd., which has very high measurement accuracy. During the survey, they also found that the appearance of this measurement control point had been artificially damaged. "This is illegal," he noted.
"Interestingly, we also found a 'message in a bottle' left by peers from the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation's First Geodetic Surveying Brigade during the 2005 Everest remeasurement. The glass jar, placed in a crevice in the rocks, contained a piece of paper that has now severely carbonized. However, some words are still faintly visible, including the name of the organization and phrases like 'mandarin orange in a can.' It's quite interesting," Chen Gang said.
It is reported that apart from "Point Ⅲ7," there are four other measurement control points around Everest. During this Everest climb, the CUG mountaineering and scientific expedition team will conduct on-site surveys of each of them. (Special correspondent Zou Jin, correspondent Cao Zhikai)