Two Chinese climbers gave up their chance to ascend the Qomolangma (Mount Everest) only 400 meters beneath the summit, to rescue a comatose mountaineer in the “death zone,” a touching story which made headlines in China as netizens praise their kindness and courage in such an extreme environment.
However, it did not unfold to the satisfaction of all, as the rescued, surnamed Liu, also from China, was reportedly only willing to pay $4,000 of the $10,000 commission fee and an extra $1,300 as tip to the Sherpa guide who helped bring Liu safely down to base camp.
Many criticized Liu as being ungrateful. “She set a very bad example as next time, climbers may choose not to rescue others in danger.” The expedition company Liu is affiliated with said on Sunday they would pay for the rescue fees.
This case, occurred at a time when outdoor adventure sports is booming from being a niche hobby to more mainstream, triggered wide discussion over self-responsibility and governance of outdoor adventure sports, many of which come with a high risk of injury or death.
After talking to outdoor enthusiasts, outdoor guides as well as outdoor club operators, the Global Times found the industry, prospering in China in recent years, faces both obstacles and opportunities.
Qomolangma is the dream of all mountaineers, but it is also one of the deadliest destinations for all outdoorsmen and women. During this year’s climbing season from March to May, Nepali government issued a record 478 permits and among the climbers, 12 were confirmed dead and five were still missing during attempts at the summit.
Meanwhile, the average price of an expedition in 2023 is $58,069 while some can pay three times the average or more to have more Sherpa guides, oxygen cylinders and other supplies, to ensure higher chance of reaching the summit.
“As long as you can pay enough money, Sherpa guides can carry you up to the summit” was a well-known saying. True or not, it tells the commercialization, perhaps over commercialization of international Everest climbing.
Yet similar situations happen to other domestic destinations, such as the Yubeng, a high-altitude hiking route in Southwest China’s Yunnan.
One route in Yubeng which has become popular social media platforms known as Xiaohongshu witnessed multiple severe injuries and deaths in 2022 alone.
Mengfan, an outdoor enthusiast, told the Global Times that many online posts only emphasized the beauty of nature without reflecting its danger and unpredictability.
Eyeing on the profits brought about by sudden popularity, some new outdoor organizers advertised products without verifying participants’ capabilities or clearly disclaiming the risks. Sometimes the guide him or herself is not qualified to lead such an expedition, a Chengdu-based mountain guide nicknamed Xiangye told the Global Times.
Inexperienced or bold hikers could mishandle different situations including altitude sickness, avalanche, slide and fall, hypothermia and exhaustion among others on this route averages 4,000 meters, according to Xiangye.
An outdoor platform operator told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that some routes must have a certain ratio of experienced guides and team members to ensure safety. But during peak seasons when it is hard to find enough local guides, some organizers could lower the ratio, leading to higher risks of injury or death in face of unexpected situations.
Even weekend hiking can turn deadly – every year there are people falling to death on the Jiankou section of the Great Wall in suburb Beijing, a protected heritage prohibited from climbing. “Not all organizers abide by regulations,” the operator said, pointing out a reality that outdoor sports first developed in China unrestrained in early days and the administration usually lags behind.
Another famous route, Aoshan-Taibaishan crossing in Northwest China’s Shaanxi, passes through virgin lands inside the massive Qinling Mountains.
The crossing route was officially banned in 2018, yet every year there are people “sneaking into the mountains to make a challenge,” Mengfan noted. “To face challenge is part of outdoor spirit, but does not mean recklessly risking one’s life.”
Another common controversy linked to outdoor explorations is its environmental pressure. When a route becomes popular, even responsible organizers repeatedly emphasize the “leave no trace” principle, it is almost impossible to make ensure all hikers observe this practice.
The activity could also bring about national security risks, which fall beyond public anticipation. An outdoor enthusiast Xixi found an app 2bulu (meaning two steps), which is popular among adventurers, removed a road network function. The function could integrate all trails of a route uploaded by users and generate a map.
For general users, such a map is helpful in most cases, can be misleading in some circumstances; but for people seeking intelligence, could potentially expose too much information around sensitive institutes or facilities.
Though outdoor expeditions account for only a relatively small part of all outdoor activities including “more relaxing” camping and suburb hiking, the market has been developing at an impressive pace, observers said, referencing other problems the industry need to cope with to develop on a healthy path, such as environmental pressure.
(Global Times)
