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'Donkeys' hike for fun and challenge
"Are you sure you want to join us? This kind of trip is not for everyone," said the Captain (nickname online) with a catchy smile in his voice.
Different from the people in other travel agencies, it seemed that the Captain, the manager, did not want to drum up as many participants as possible, listing instead the kind of difficulties to be encountered on the adventure. He did this because it is not an ordinary tour, but a combination of several risky sports such as rock climbing and rappelling down a cliff face. After a half-year-long cold and boring winter, I was eager to go outside, where I could quicken my pulse, tighten up my thighs and fill my lungs with fresh air. The trip was what I was looking for. I signed up on the club's website.
The last and most attractive difference is that all participants look after their own costs. This meant that I did not have to pay for tour guides or go to some stores to buy useless items, as in tours arranged by travel agencies. Old and young 'donkeys' On a Saturday morning, we met at 7:30. There were over 20 "donkeys" taking part in this outing. The Captain said that the Chinese word for travel, luyou, sounds similar to "donkey friends," again luyou, though written with different characters, a term that those who carry their own heavy bags on challenging routes like to use to refer to themselves." There were seven hikers in our bus with four fresh "donkeys." The only veteran was Dahua, a neat fellow in his early 40s. So we called him the "Old Donkey." Then there was Qiushi, a stocky man in his 30s, with sun-tanned skin. It seemed that he was a little doubtful about our adventure, as he kept looking out the bus window and said nothing during the entire ride. I was rather disappointed at our first stop. In early Spring, there were only straggling bits of green relieving the grey of the barren rocks. But I had no time to think about this, as I was asked to grab my knapsack and start looking for a suitable cliff face for our rappelling adventure. In just a few minutes, I began to regret bringing so much food. The straps began biting into my shoulders and my shirt was already soaked with sweat. God help me. I started thinking about the advantages of an early lunch. After one and a half hour's walk, we finally found what we were looking for, a canyon with two vertical cliffs. I suggested lunch and seized the opportunity to share my food with the other "donkeys," successfully getting rid of about half of it. Courage and confidence Our first event was rappelling backwards down one of the cliff faces. Because most of us were green "donkeys," the Captain chose a 6-metre cliff to warm us up. "Only those who can manage this cliff will be allowed to try the real challenge," the Captain announced. But to the Captain's surprise, this group of fresh "donkeys" were all rather courageous. Within two hours we had all successfully rappelled down the face of the beginners' cliff, albeit in rather clumsy fashion. Of course, no one was satisfied with this height and we were all asking for tougher challenges. Qiushi, who had remained silent all the way out in the bus, was jumping from one rock to another like a young goat. But the second cliff was decidedly a step up from the first one. It was over 20 metres high. When we looked up at it, the cliff didn't seem terrifying at all. But once we climbed to the top and looked down, we got an inkling of what vertigo was all about. Everybody was hesitant at first. Qiushi came forward to have a try. It seemed that he was getting into the sport. "Outdoor sports are green heroin," said the Captain. I agree with him. They are really fun. Then it was my turn. "I can do it," I kept encouraging myself. But it was easier to think than to do. When I finally climbed to the top and stood at the cliff edge, I couldn't stop trembling. To jump, or not to jump? That was the question. At that moment my childhood nightmare of falling from a balcony came back to me. I began to experience acrophobia. "This rope can lift a ton and the safety rope that ties you to me can take two tons," said the Captain. "Do this once and you conquer yourself and can be your own master." I made up my mind - I was ready. The first trembling step was the most decisive and difficult. Step by step, I worked myself over the edge of the cliff and began the descent. I was very nervous, but luckily found myself in a trance-like state, as if I were an onlooker observing myself and thinking: "He's just about to rappel down that cliff" But the "he" was "me," and off I went. The feeling of weightlessness was unbelievable. Words can't describe it. Probably the best bit was swinging in the air - knowing you'd taken the plunge and looking at the stunning cliff below, while waving to your fellow "donkeys" down below. "Actually I can do anything I want," I thought, "as long as I stay attached to the rope." I was starting to get into the swing of things, and shouted: "I did it!" about half way through the freefall. It happened so quickly, and it was so good! I went back again, and again, and again, and again. The snap at the bottom was unbelievable. It's a real mind game at the top - you go from being completely petrified to absolute euphoria in a split second. I was so excited that I did not notice my right hand was badly bruised. Only Goldfish, a lady in her 30's, couldn't conquer her fear of heights when the moment came. The afternoon's jumps were one of the most exciting things I've ever done in my life. That night for the first time in my life, I slept soundly in the wild with a group of strangers. Self-punishment Happy times always flee on a steed of light. Daybreak arrives early in the outdoors. I woke up at 5 am to the chirping of birds. After a brief breakfast came the morning hike. This was the most demanding part in this trip, according to the Captain. And before we set out, he once again announced that the "donkeys" could give up. "This kind of trip is not for everyone. It is more demanding and challenging. I hope you have a clear estimation of yourself," said the Captain. A few girls chose to quit at this point and the rest of us began the punishing hike. The 7-kilometre-hike took us to a nearby hill. The only fun was slipping down the hill, then laughing at each other's dirty trousers. Except for the Captain and several old "donkeys," all of us chose this way to get down from the hill. Beginners like me, slid hither and thither over the bumpy terrain. My lightened knapsack became heavier and heavier. When we ran out of clean water, we filled our canteens with water from the pristine streamlet in the valley. Qiushi, totally in his element, ran ahead of the team and collected herbs along the road. "This is absolutely green food," said Qiushi. "It's totally free of pollutants." Happy Xiaohong was also among the eager "donkeys." I could not believe that she is the mother of a 3-year-old boy. At our begging, some of girls even sang songs. As time went on, their songs were punctuated by exclamations as the hiking became more demanding, and thrilling. The only focus was the road. It seemed that my brain had stopped following its usual paths and at the moment was busy commanding my mechanically rigid legs to bend themselves to the bumps of the uneven path. The best way was to follow the steps of the "donkey" in front of you. "This is why I came on this trip," declared Happy Xiaohong, as we enjoyed a respite on the ridge. "I have not felt so exhausted for a long time. I want to reach the point where I can't even move my little finger when I go home tonight." We all burst into laughter, joking that she certainly was the master masochist among us. We were back in the city at around 11 pm. All of us were dog-tired. But the majority still thought it was not challenging and exhausting enough. "Oh, it was too easy. I won't take part in such an activity anymore," said Qiushi. "But if there is a more demanding and challenging route, please e-mail me," added Happy Xiaohong. Interview with the Captain Q: Why did you set up this outdoor sports club? Captain: That's a long story. I am a biology professor at Shenyang Normal University and I have travelled all around China for study and research. I have gotten lost in the wild several times but was able to find my way back. Those experiences gradually stirred up my interest in survival in the wilderness. Moreover, my brother, Liang Chuansheng, a neurosurgery expert at the China Medical University, is also crazy for outdoor sports. In 2002, he climbed the 7,500-metre-high Muztagh-Ata Mountain accompanying the China National Climbing Team in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Some of our friends became interested in outdoor sports. At first, only several of us went out on the weekend. Later, more and more people heard about us and expressed their desire to join us. So we set up this club three years ago. Q: What is your aim with this club? Is it for profit, or something else? C: Our aim is very simple: to temper the will and pursue a new lifestyle. I am not in it for the money and, as you can see, the charges for each outing are transparent. Q: What do you get out of this activity? C: I feel happy and satisfied when I see others can benefit from such activity. And I have been deeply moved by our club members. At present, there are about 1,200 members, which include people from different backgrounds. On the last trip, there was a 52-year-old woman who had to rappel backwards from the cliff. She was afraid to do that. So I accompanied her and said I would stay with her while others went ahead. She finally did it. That night, she stood up and made a speech. We learned that she had recently retired and wasn't happy and had even considered suicide. There is one sentence she said that I still remember: "I always thought that I was useless. But today I know I was wrong. You can stay young forever if your heart is young." Q: Do you have any problems balancing your club duties and your family life since you are away every weekend? C: Oh, my wife. She has become an outdoor sports fan. We sometimes go on excursions together. Q: Who are the people joining this club? C: Most of them have high education levels. There are white-collar workers in joint ventures. Most of them have specific aims for the activity, such as reducing weight and relieving tension. And most of them achieve what they set out to do. Q: What is your dream for the coming years? C: I want to climb mountains over 6,000 metres, but I need more time to prepare. Outdoor sports are not just exercise for the body. They are a combination of exploring your potential, rallying your courage and calming your mind. Outdoor sports are a way of life. |
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