Huanhuan | Becoming an Outdoor Team Leader

An outdoor guide leading guests into the familiar natural world around us — the most important quality is 'passion,' and only secondarily knowledge. If you are fully immersed yourself and can feel the beauty of nature, then you can pass it on to others.

This summer I had a part-time job as a guide at Cangshan Hiking Home, mainly leading: light hiking / stream trekking. When outdoors in nature with traveling guests, it's not my usual work identity — I am just myself. I really enjoy this relaxed state, so even though I'm truly busy, whenever I can get a job I always try to arrange time to lead a group.

The first time I led a group independently was the "6+ Taoxi Stream Trekking." That time there was only one guest, 13-year-old Shishi. On the way, he talked to me at a very fast pace about nature, insects, and science. His mind was so quick that I often couldn't keep up. Some rocks on this route contain mica minerals, and as it happened, he was very interested in that. It was really fulfilling to use the preparation I had done for the trip in practice. On the way back, it started pouring rain in the mountains. Shishi was agile and quick, and instead he became the one leading me to rush out. That was a very special first guiding experience.

When hiking, guests often run out of energy during the initial steep climb. I think of myself a year ago starting hiking as a total newbie. Because my heart is naturally a bit larger, my heart rate rises very quickly, often around 170-180 beats per minute. When I couldn't catch my breath and it hurt, I naturally wanted to shrink back and give up. But if you push through with willpower and let your body adapt to the rhythm, you recover quickly. Understanding the body's self-healing and adaptive process is itself quite challenging and fun. Sharing this experience with guests encourages them to challenge themselves, and at the same time I review my own growth.

This past year I went hiking in Yubeng, Cangshan Foding Peak, Cangshan Lianhua Peak, Shangri-La Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baoshan Stone Town, Lijiang Anaguo, Nanjiluo, the pilgrimage route on Jizu Mountain, Cangshan Xieyang Peak... and I walked several of Cangshan Hiking Home's own routes over and over. The first time I climbed an elevation gain of 700 meters, the process took 9 hours. The moment I saw the frozen lake, I truly cried.

The girlfriend of team leader Wangwang, Lao Hu, told me that the body is amazing: when your physical strength reaches its limit, your limbs bypass the brain for command, your hands and feet instinctively move forward, find footholds, and the body naturally follows. That's incredible. You should try it and feel it.

Wangwang is a fellow townsman from Wenzhou. He has long-term experience living in Tibetan areas and excellent physical condition. When he leads a group, he often has an effortless aura, and his knowledge of Cangshan vegetation is also very rich. He's a great guide. When I talked with him about hiking, he said:

"When I do long-distance hiking, I often say to myself in a voice only I can hear: 'Come on, come on, you can do it!' Then I accomplish one small goal after another. Each time, besides challenging the mountain itself, I deepen my understanding of my own physical limits and become the master of this body."

Since I mentioned Huanque trail meals, let me put up some photos to remember the joy and satisfaction of picnicking at the mountaintop!

(Photos by: @photographer Cheng Chang · Lijiang Anaguo)

This past year, I worked hard to balance work and life. I often returned home from the mountains at 1 or 2 a.m., then got up at 6 or 7 to go to the shop. Effort and reward are equal. My body becomes lighter and lighter, and I become more and more confident. It's probably the deep confidence gained after conquering one mountain after another that gives me the motivation to solve work problems.

In the awe-inspiring world of nature, one is especially tiny. If you can't get past a problem, take another path. If you can't figure something out, don't think about it for now. Throw yourself into the mountains and throw your worries outside. Everything will slowly get better, or rather, everything that is not good will pass.

Eat well and drink well, and just get walking.

[About personal experience sharing on hiking:]

1. Commonly used route and GPS apps: 2bulu / maps.me

2. Trail meal choice: Huanque hahahaha, the bagel sandwiches we make are simply the best option for trail meals, no exaggeration.

3. For long hikes, the weight of your pack should usually not exceed 20%-25% of your body weight. Reducing weight allows you to go farther, faster, and more comfortably.

Photos