Specific reasons for the 14 accidents in Xinjiang in 2011
Recently, the "2011 China Outdoor Safety Accident Research Report" was released, compiled by members of the Outdoor Accident Research Group of the China Emergency Rescue Alliance with data provided by the alliance and online media.
Among the outdoor accidents collected from 30 provinces and cities last year, Shandong had 63, Beijing 53, and Zhejiang 38, ranking the top three, far exceeding other provinces and cities. Xinjiang ranked 13th with 14 outdoor accidents occurring throughout the year.
Netizens are puzzled:
Is outdoor activity safety in Xinjiang high?
In this over 500-page report, 492 outdoor safety accidents across mainland China in 2011 were collected, showing a significant increase compared to the 182 cases in 2010.
Xinjiang had a total of 14 outdoor accidents in 2011, involving 89 people, with 5 deaths (including missing persons). These outdoor accidents mainly included natural disasters such as floods and other hiking-related incidents. Among them, 7 accidents involved hikers from inland areas visiting Xinjiang, accounting for half of the total, and only 1 accident involved a certified guide. The overall accident count ranked 13th in the country.
After seeing this research report, many netizens were somewhat puzzled by the 13th place ranking. “Does this ranking mean there are few or many accidents in Xinjiang?”
Netizen “Lost Sheep” believes that ranking 13th among 30 provinces and cities is somewhat risky.
Chen Rong, 27, an employee at a supermarket in the capital city, doesn’t go hiking herself, but she has a boyfriend “Qiangzi” who loves it. Every time he goes hiking, she feels a bit worried.
“When he goes hiking, I still have to worry. The mountain environment is unpredictable, and I’m afraid something might happen,” Chen Rong said.
The doubts of netizens and residents seem unnecessary to hikers. “Dalang,” a hiker with three years of experience, is quite confident about outdoor safety in Xinjiang.
“Shandong had 63 accidents, which is 4.5 times that of Xinjiang. This ranking shows that outdoor activities in Xinjiang are relatively safe,” said “Dalang,” who started hiking in 2009 and now goes hiking with fellow hikers every two weeks.
Outdoor rescue teams:
7 accidents involved hikers visiting Xinjiang
With its unique scenery, Xinjiang attracts a large number of hikers for mountaineering and exploration every year.
Among provincial capital cities nationwide, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Urumqi rank high in terms of the number of outdoor activities.
“Of the outdoor accidents in Xinjiang last year, not all 14 were actually caused by outdoor activities,” explained Yang Jun, head of the Xinjiang Mountaineering Friends Rescue Team. Among the 14 incidents, some involved being trapped by floods; others involved skiers entering restricted areas without authorization and being buried by sudden avalanches; and there were also cases where people successfully rescued themselves. Strictly speaking, these do not belong to outdoor accidents.
Yang Jun noted that there are over 180 outdoor hiking routes around Urumqi alone, and the number of outdoor activities posted weekly on the Xiaoyang Army website ranges from sixty to eighty in summer and forty to fifty in winter. Given the frequency of outdoor activities in Xinjiang, this ranking is quite normal.
A person in charge of the Xinjiang Red Cross Blue Sky Rescue Team explained that almost all of the 14 outdoor accidents last year occurred without the guidance of a professional leader. Among them, seven accidents involved outdoor activities organized by tourists from out of town within Xinjiang.
Safety tips:
Hikers should stay close to their guides
Some of Xinjiang’s more well-known routes, such as Chezhi and Langta, especially Langta C, Shata, and Bogda crossings, carry certain risks due to high altitude, long distances, and the need to traverse uninhabited areas.
In the accident research report, the statistics on the causes of outdoor accidents in Xinjiang showed that getting lost accounted for 5 incidents, or 38.47% of the annual total. Nearly all of these outdoor accidents occurred without the presence of experienced local guides or tour leaders. There were also cases where hikers organized via QQ groups spontaneously changed routes, causing the group to get lost.
According to statistics, there are nearly 300,000 outdoor enthusiasts in the city and surrounding areas, with nearly 60,000 people participating in outdoor activities through websites each year. The numbers from other channels are unaccounted for.
For outdoor activities, a leader is indispensable.
“Xiezhi,” a certified leader from a certain club, started leading small groups in 2005 and only began leading larger groups of hikers in 2007. Last year, “Xiezhi” led about 20 outdoor trips.
“Some hikers from out of town come to Xinjiang and, unfamiliar with the routes, choose not to follow local guides,” said “Xiezhi.” “Outdoor dangers are relative. The key is knowing where the risks lie, how to prevent them, and having contingency plans or mental preparedness to deal with those risks.”
"When it comes to outdoor activities, besides the necessary gear, it's essential to go with a guide," said Yang Jun. For outdoor enthusiasts, participating in such activities not only requires knowing one's limits but also demands professional team support and comprehensive travel planning.