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On July 22, 2011, five men, who met on popular Chinese photography website , set out for Siguniang Mountain (Four Girls Mountain) in Southwest China's Sichuan province for a ten-day hike destined to reach a 5,062-meter peak. This is an updating report on where they have got to and what they have found. This is an updating report on where they have got to and what they have found. |
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Latest News | ||||
| August 7 | ||||
| Climbers get to the peak safely "We started out at 3 am in the morning, managed to reach the peak at noon, and got back at 8 pm. Everything went well today."
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| August 5 | ||||
| "The weather is great today. We set out right after breakfast, and according to our plan, we're going to challenge the 5,062-meter peak tomorrow." | ||||
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| Our breakfast | What a beautiful day! | On the road | ||
| August 4 | ||||
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| On the road | ?The icy peak of Changgou | The 'Golden lotus' | ||
| August 3 | ||||
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| Camping out | A chart shows the changing altitude of the itinerary | Doing yoga in the sun, which?is my way to?relieveacute high altitude sickness. | ||
| August 2 | ||||
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| 3.53pm: 'Snow tea', a kind of mountain plants, which can be made into tea | 3.50pm:?A kind of edible wild plants, which the climbers had for supper | 4.15pm: The pass to climb over Changpinggou, 4,030 meters above sea level | ||
| August 1 | ||||
| He Chuan, team leader of the climbers, said by satellite phone: "It's been a happy day. Continuous rain and fog in the mountains. We've had a great supper including vegetable soup, and we chatted around the fire after lunch, enjoying the beautiful views of the mountains at the same time. We'll get back to Changpinggou tomorrow." | ||||
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| July 29 | ||||
| It's the seventh day since they started out – and we still haven’t received much of their messages. It was only at 9.11 pm on July 28 did hear word from one the climbers: " It's been a tough day with tough weather. Gong Xiaoyue felt not quite himself so he drank some soup and cereal. The itinerary may be changed due to heavy fog. | ||||
| July 28 | ||||
| Only at 9.07 pm on July 27 did get a message from the climbers: "It was raining cats and dogs last night, so we got up early this morning to dry clothes. Ye Feng's shoes were broken, so we set out around 1.00 pm to climb over Changgou. The view was stunning. We are a bit tired and short of water, and we will take a rest soon. More challenges are waiting for us tomorrow." | ||||
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| "Dad, we're really worried about you." - Ye Feng's son, photo taken on July 22, 2011) | Ye Feng talks to a reporter at the Beijing International Airport before?leaving for Chengdu on July 22, 2011. | Ye Feng's son learns to climb at the age of one. | ||
| July 27 (Photos taken by climber Zhang Yunping) | ||||
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Since the four climbers (He Chuan, Ye Feng, Gong Xiaoyue and Wu Peng) set out on the morning of July 25, we have had no contact from them because they have been travelling through the mountains and have had no signal. Meanwhile, another climber, Zhang Yunping, boarded a train in Guilin, the capital of South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, headed to Chengdu, where he will meet the four other climbers at Wang Yaomei's House on July 29, 2011. The following photos taken by Zhang show what he saw when he was traveling on the slow green train. | ||||
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| The train from Guilin to Chengdu | Passengers take a break outside when the train stops at a station | The?building of high-speed rails | ||
| July 24 : (Photos taken by climbers) | ||||
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| 9.23am:The place we stayed last night | 5.31pm:A beautiful lake | 5.28pm:A strange plant spotted | ||
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| 5.49pm:Yum! Fresh strawberries | 6.06pm:The mountains where our dreams orginated | 6.13 pm:Cole flower fields | ||
| July 23: (Photos taken by climbers) | ||||
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| 10.43am:The rain stops and we can finally start out! | 12.08pm:Drive to Shuangqiaogou | 11.02pm:A place to sleep tonight | ||
| July 22: (Photos taken by climbers) | ||||
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| 8.41pm:Wait to board the plane for Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province. |
1.12pm:Backpacks for the climbing expedition?are ready |
1.43pm:A backpack with food | ||
| Views?of Siguniang Mountain | Schedule |
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July 23: Travel to Shuangqiaogou July 24: Travel to Xiaogou, camping July 25: Climb over Xiaogou and stay at Gaoyanwo July 26: Climb over Changpinggou and stay at Changgou July 27: Climb over Changgou July 28: Travel to Chenjiagou July 29: Climb over Dahuangfeng Mountain and travel to Haizigou July 30: Travel to Hongshuigou July 31: Hiking Bipenggou August 1: Travel to Daogou? [More] |
| Siguniang Mountain |
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Siguniang Mountain (Four Girls Mountain)?lies between Xiaojin county and Wenchuan county of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province. It is the highest peak of the Qionglai Mountain Range at eastern end of the Hengduan Mountains. Siguniang Mountain consists of four continuous peaks that run 3.5 km from north to south, and rise 6,250 meters, 5,664 meters, 5,454 meters and 5,355 meters above sea level respectively. The four peaks are covered with snow all year round, just like four gracious girls wearing white gauze scarves, hence their name. The mountain attracts many climbers, but the complicated geological structures and weather conditions make it challenging terrain.The bodies of two Russian climbers who had been missing for more than a year were discoveredat an elevation of 5,350 meters on Siguniang Mountain in January this year. |
| The climbing team |
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| He Chuan | Ye Feng | Wu Peng | Gong Xiaoyue | Zhang Yunping |
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Age:32 |
Age:34
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"I started to hike in 1999 and I fell in love with it from the first time I tried…Hiking is an activity which involves freedom, passion, caution, trust, friendship and courage. I love standing high up on hills because at that moment, I feel it is worth all my efforts." |
Age:38Occupation:IT researcherHobbies:football, hiking, photography |
Born in the 1970s. Author of two traveling books: "On the Road, Yunnan", "On the Road, Shandong" Hobbies:traveling, football, hiking Motto:"To live in the moment and enjoy everyday." |
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