Leader oughts to know all
Every year, Chen and his friends take three or four trekking and climbing trips to remote areas. Chen refuses to find travel partners on backpacking BBS or websites.
"They are like blind date websites. Many people exaggerate their experience and when you actually travel together, a lot of problems can occur," he says.
People may turn out to be incompatible when they are roughing it, Chen says. "Knowing team members' personalities and physical abilities is important for a leader and the number should be small. It's better to go with people you know so everyone can help each other," he says.
In December 2010, 18 Shanghai tourists, most of them Fudan University students, got lost in a storm on Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province. A young policeman lost his life during the rescue.
The case made headlines because the group was inexperienced and unprepared.
"The organizer of that trip was just too inexperienced," Chen says. "If the weather or situation is bad, the group should find the nearest place to camp. Instead he chose to go forward at night," he says.
Professionals say there should be one leader for every 10 team members, otherwise a group can be too difficult to guide and control.
Altitude sickness can be a problem, and hikers and team leaders should be familiar with the signs and immediately move to a lower elevation.
Chen recalls that on one trek in a valley at 5,000 meters above sea level, a team member was suffering altitude sickness. "In such low air pressure, it's almost impossible to fall asleep. It's like you take four deep breaths and feel nothing. So you have to take enough medicine for altitude sickness."
Despite disappointment, it's better to retreat and climb down, he says.
"Travel is for relaxing, but safety is the foundation," says He Yiwei, vice manager of Shanghai Datong Travel Agency. "Going to some exciting undeveloped place is like drinking, you may get hurt and affect others."
Travel agencies are getting better prepared for adventure travel, planning safe routes carefully, and educating travelers before they set out.
Popular destinations among adventurers
Dasi
Located in the south of Xi'an, capital city of Shaanxi Province, Dasi is an obscure village 1,700 meters above sea level. Nestled within the Qinling Mountains, this village forms a retreat from the modern world for many travelers. During the route, tourists will experience a long journey at an altitude of 2,600 to 2,800 meters.
Yading
Renowned for the three holy peaks, Yading was the "Shangri-La" first discovered by Joseph Rock, an American missionary in 1982. This Tibetan holy land in Daocheng County, southwestern Sichuan Province, is a paradise for trekkers. Altitude sickness may affect some hikers as the trip takes place at altitudes from 2,500 to 4,800 meters.
Sichuan-Tibet Highway
The most beautiful highway in China starts in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, and ends in Lhasa, Tibet. Nevertheless, this highway is also called the "Road of Death" as it crosses 14 mountains towering more than 5,000 meters above sea level and deep valleys carved out of the mountains by rivers.
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