On October 29 last year, 43-year-old Li Shaojun went missing during a hiking trip in the Qinling Mountains. More than four months later, on March 11, two netizens discovered his body in Dianzhen Village, Jixian Town, Zhouzhi County.
Li Shaojun, whose online alias was “Lone Ranger,” was a teacher at a university in Xi’an and had been hiking alone in the nearby mountains almost every Saturday for nearly a decade. On October 29 last year, he did not clearly inform his family of his specific hiking route before setting out, and subsequently went missing. His wife, not seeing her husband return for a long time, turned to the Xi’an Rescue Team of the Shaanxi EPV Outdoor Rescue Corps for help. Despite a collective rescue effort involving nearly 100 people over the course of a week, there was still no sign of Li Shaojun. On March 11, two netizens found a body in a gully at the edge of a cliff about 5 kilometers east of the Louguantai Temple in Dianzhen Village, Jixian Town, Zhouzhi County. It is believed the deceased may not have seen the cliff and accidentally fell while trying to find a way. Police have also inspected the scene and confirmed the deceased is Li Shaojun, the hiker who went missing last year.
After Li Shaojun’s body was found, his family said that although he was no longer alive, being able to recover his remains was somewhat of a comfort.
A staff member with long-term experience in mountain rescue said that hiking is a potentially life-threatening activity that needs to be taken seriously. If one wishes to climb snowy mountains safely, finding a suitable guide is not enough — the climber themselves must also possess certain qualifications. The charm and danger of hiking both lie in the details. In addition, one must have a full understanding and anticipation of weather changes and how routes differ across seasons.
He advised that before attempting high-altitude climbing, one must have sufficient outdoor living experience to adapt to this type of activity, which requires independently managing various daily necessities. It is best to undertake climbing through formal commercial services and seek out mountaineering agencies with a good track record.