As winter vacation approaches, winter training sessions for outdoor mountaineering clubs at universities will soon begin, and the issue of mountaineering safety continues to draw public attention. While scaling peaks and challenging oneself, rational mountaineering and safety first have become goals pursued by many university mountaineering teams. The true essence of rational mountaineering is to return home safely, without causing loved ones to worry.
Conceptually: Rational Mountaineering, Safety First
For mountaineering teams, nothing is more serious than safety each year. First, in selecting mountains, teams have developed a clear understanding of the previous mindset that “prioritized height and challenged difficulty,” actively communicating with relevant experts to establish a scientific approach to mountaineering, thereby ensuring safety at the root. During regular training, detailed team logs and scientifically rigorous physical training also ensure safety from a technical standpoint. In addition, before every departure, a defense meeting is held where experts from mountaineering associations provide guidance, followed by the activation of the school’s risk assessment and decision-making mechanisms. The annual autumn mountaineering report meetings summarize experiences and lessons in areas such as technique, equipment, and logistics, providing references for the following year.
After years of development, university mountaineering teams have established systems and disciplinary regulations that span the entire process from training to climbing. In addition to adhering to the regulations of mountaineering associations, each team formulates new rules based on their specific circumstances each year. Liu Xin from the Lingfeng Society at Beihang University, a member club of the University Student Travel Practice Camp, explained: “Mostly, we just make minor adjustments. After all, the traditional systems are already quite comprehensive. The new rules are created in response to possible or previously encountered special situations, such as romantic relationships within the team.”
In addition to institutional safeguards, instilling a genuine sense of safety awareness among members is equally crucial. Mountaineering is fundamentally a team effort, and the most important things are to stay with the group, follow instructions, and use equipment properly. Xiang Xiling from the Fengyun Society at China Agricultural University, another member club of the University Student Travel Practice Camp, said: “Some precautions are passed down orally, such as staying with the group and following commands. Before climbing, we sign a safety agreement with both parents and team members. But ultimately, what truly ensures safety is the safety awareness cultivated within the team members themselves.”
Organizationally: Cohesion and Strict Discipline
Mountaineering is an activity that embodies team cohesion, and improving cohesion requires establishing reasonable and comprehensive club organizational mechanisms. This allows everyone to feel like an owner of the club, assigning tasks based on individual interests and abilities. On one hand, this enables every member to perform their duties and fully utilize their talents. On the other hand, it helps each member find a sense of belonging, naturally fostering a sense of ownership. This is the key to maintaining a vibrant and cohesive club.
This is how the mountaineering team of Beihang University’s Lingfeng Society is organized. Team captain Song Siyang explained: “The mountaineering team is led by4captains. The team captain is responsible for overall coordination, the climbing captain oversees the ascent, and two logistics captains manage supplies such as food. To ensure safety during climbs, contingency plans are developed based on the unique characteristics of each route—for example, identifying potential danger points in advance and preparing corresponding responses. During execution, climbing safety is supervised by the team captains and professional coaches from the mountaineering association. Contingency plans also cover altitude sickness and other emergencies in high-altitude environments.” With some mental preparation for emergencies, team members remain much calmer when facing unexpected situations.
2011During the summer of that year, when the Lingfeng Society climbed Yuzhu Peak, team member Tang Yun had a persistent high fever for several days. His teammate Du Jianwei gave up the chance to reach the summit to accompany him down to Golmud and voluntarily took on the responsibility of caring for his teammate. Daily games of Sanguosha and the care of fellow teammates made Tang Yun feel almost “waited on hand and foot.” Throughout the climb, dealing with such emergencies effectively trained the team members’ adaptability, built strong teamwork and trust, deepened friendships, and strengthened team cohesion.
Since university students generally have less practical experience and psychological resilience compared to seasoned mountaineers, the team’s decision-making mechanism plays a vital role when emergencies arise. The team captain, climbing captain, and coaches are the decision-makers. In case of an emergency, the primary advice comes from the experienced coach and captain, and team members are expected to follow absolutely. During the “2011year’s5・1” climb to Gangshika in Qinghai Province by the mountaineering team of China University of Geosciences, a member university student practice camp, the team faced steep terrain, strong winds, and low temperatures, leading to two failed summit attempts. Though somewhat disappointed, the team upheld its unwavering discipline—choosing to leave with regret rather than risk safety.
Action-wise: Say No to Romance
University mountaineering is a collective activity that emphasizes team pride, something individual or small-scale mountaineering teams rarely achieve. From daily training to life outdoors during expeditions, everything revolves around the group. However, due to the close daily interactions, romantic feelings may sometimes spark.
Yet, mountaineering is a rational activity that requires strict discipline. Team members caught up in romance might act irrationally, “blinded by love,” which can pose risks to themselves or the entire team, even leading to loss of control or team division.
To minimize risks during climbs, many university outdoor mountaineering teams prohibit romantic relationships among members to ensure safety. Some universities even expel and publicly announce any romantically involved team members. Xiang Xiling from Fengyun Society stated: “One of our team rules encourages normal interaction but strictly forbids romantic relationships within the team. During the selection process, we also avoid choosing couples together. Everyone understands and supports the no-romance rule because no one wants personal issues to affect the entire team, and we all enjoy being part of this close-knit group.”