Merry-I'm so lucky to have met you

Number of days：7 days
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2021.11.05

(Sticky) Deqin County

(Footprints) Meili Snow Mountain

It's been a month since this whole thing ended, and I've only just picked up this post today. After what happened to Meili last year, I was very reluctant to go to Meili Snow Mountain during this National Day holiday. But you can't be picky about work, and it rained for six out of seven days last year, which was really daunting!

Packed my bags and got ready to go! I drove from Chengdu to Ya'an with another leader (Liuxing) to pick up my junior (Zhouqiba), who was also the leader of this group. This time, we had four leaders and 23 people hiking, a completely different experience. Don't ask where the other leader is; he's waiting for us in Yagong Village! The fourth leader (Nongbu) is a local, hehe! As the saying goes: "Those who are close to the water get the moon first." Having a local leader is much more comfortable. We all use outdoor names when we go hiking, and mine is: Hengchuan. (And yes, I have a younger brother named: Malu. We're the "Crossing Road Team")

Chengdu - Ya'an - Xichang - Lijiang

We left at 1:00 am and drove to Lijiang after meeting last Monday. Our group met in Lijiang on the 30th, and we departed from Chengdu on the 28th. We planned to arrive in Lijiang that evening, rest on the 29th, and get busy on the 30th! However, man proposes, God disposes, and things often go against one's wishes. Meteor and I took turns driving. Meteor was still unfamiliar with the operation of the manual transmission car, but I was relatively better at it. Seeing that we were about to take the winding mountain road after passing Panzhihua, I took over the driving. Who would have thought that it started to rain after just over ten minutes of driving, and the raindrops got heavier little by little, until it turned into a rainstorm in just a few minutes. The visibility also dropped from dozens of meters to two or three meters. In addition, driving at night, I could only ask Zhouba to help me keep an eye on the road conditions on the right and move forward at a snail's pace of 20/30. We arrived at the hotel we had booked in advance at 4 am. As soon as we got off the car, waves of cold surrounded us from all sides. We checked in hastily and lay down to sleep...

September 29th

It was noon when I woke up. My principle of doing things: finish the things at hand first and then let go and have fun! The three of us each took care of our duties and completed our tasks. That evening, we spent some time together exploring Lijiang Old Town. Since it wasn't a holiday and the pandemic wasn't a big deal, there weren't many tourists, and the atmosphere was a bit less lively (Lijiang Old Town is so commercialized that it's long since lost its vibrant atmosphere). We had a quick midnight snack and headed back to the hotel.

September 30th

Today, I'm waiting to meet up with the team members and double-check everything before the trip, as we're leaving on the 1st!

After explaining some taboos and precautions to the team members and checking my equipment, I was basically done.

October 1st

Our mission today: travel from Lijiang to Benzilan to Feilai Temple

The first day was relatively straightforward. We drove the entire way, and the weather was noteworthy. We also saw Haba Snow Mountain in the distance. In Benzilan, we enjoyed a delicious meal at Baijia Sichuan Restaurant (honestly, the food was excellent). We arrived at the hotel early in the afternoon, checked in the team members, and then got to work. Although there were no traffic jams during National Day, everyone knows that the mountains can be crowded. The horses at Yagong Village are limited, so it's first-come, first-served! As the saying goes: "The army moves before the horses, the food must go first!" We're now packing all our gear for the trip: food, camping gear, utility gear, team bags... The behind-the-scenes work begins today. We've already completed the necessary mountain entry procedures, fire prevention agreements, and waiver agreements! On October 2nd, we got the team to breakfast and pack up early for departure. The weather was exceptionally clear today, and we even saw the sun setting over the Golden Mountain from the hotel. It's said that seeing the true beauty of Meili Snow Mountain is a lifelong blessing! Let's hope so; after all, it's a beautiful vision, who can resist? The beautiful weather added to the good mood of the trip! Upon arriving at the village entrance, we were the first group to complete the mountain entry procedures. We have to thank Nongbu for that; I felt relieved to have him arranging the caravan. The first day's journey wasn't far at all, and Liuxing had already gone to camp to pack up, so the clear division of labor meant a much more efficient trip.

October 3rd

The good weather continued today. Today's hike was only 5 kilometers, making it one of the easiest days. We arrived at camp early. Along the way, the snow-capped Nairidingka Mountain lay to our left, its whiteness striking the azure sky in the sunlight. Arriving at camp, the Nairidingka Glacier was so close we could touch it. At first glance, it looked like mud from meltwater, but a closer look revealed its shimmering blue brilliance in the sunlight.

October 4th

Waking up early, we were greeted by a breathtaking view of the Golden Mountain in the Sunlight. It was truly magnificent! I couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of nature and the greatness of the Creator. Seeing such a secret wonder must come at a price! Only the breathtaking beauty you experience on foot is truly worth it! However, the view didn't last long. Half an hour after setting off, fog and wind rose! Sure enough, the temperature in the mountains is much colder than in the city! It was overcast when we arrived at camp, and a light rain began to fall after dinner in the evening. The team members gathered around the fire, sipped tea, and talked about their travels! The atmosphere was wonderful.

October 5th

Today we set out for the Yunnan-Tibet border pass. Initially, we thought the weather might be bad, but an hour later, the clouds and fog suddenly cleared. Good weather is a bonus, and the team members' enthusiasm was high! We were the first team to reach the pass. Looking out at the Nairidingka Snow Mountain across the way, a deep respect for nature filled our hearts!

October 6th

It's time to leave the mountains today! Everyone's steps are brisk, haha! Maybe it's time to return to the human world! Everyone was speeding up, but I had Liuxing head out first to the finish line to buy Coke as a surprise for everyone. Everyone must be thirsty and tired after walking for so long, so some sparkling water is definitely better than just plain water.

October 7th

Today marks our official return journey. We were filled with laughter and singing along the way, sharing our experiences and looking forward to our next trip! We arrived in Lijiang and got on the bus back to Chengdu! That's the end of the story! Good luck to me, I've been blessed to see such majestic snow-capped mountains. I look forward to seeing you next time.