Preamble:
The hands of time go back to December 1990, when the snow-covered peak was discovered, and a palpitating memory was buried in a lost hiking diary. The 17 mountaineers walked towards the intersection of collective destinies, but their stories did not disappear in that ice and snow. Instead, their eerie experiences leave behind an intricate string of words that chronicle an unspeakable adventure.
These journal entries reveal a series of seemingly supernatural events, making one wonder if there is some incomprehensible force hidden in the depths of the mountains. The written descriptions of the mountaineers always revolve around a sense of mystery, as if to warn future readers to be careful of this forgotten land of ice and snow.
What is it that led these 17 intrepid explorers to the same lost path? Are the words in the mountaineering diary their last call, or are they traces of some mysterious power?
The two countries join forces to open up the last "virgin peak" in Tibet
In 1986, when the Kyoto University mountaineering team submitted an application to the National Sports Commission of China to visit the Meili Snow Mountain, they were enthusiastic, after all, it was the last peak in Yunnan that no one had yet climbed. As the strongest Japanese university mountaineering team at that time, one-third of the members had 8,000-meter peak climbing experience, were supported by a number of companies, were well-equipped, and had Chinese vice-captain Song Zhiyi joining, they had reason to be full of confidence.
The Chinese side also readily agreed, after all, climbing the famous mountains of neighboring countries is a great step forward for sports exchanges between the two countries. As a result, the two sides soon signed a 10-year cooperation plan to develop this inland mountain into a new attraction for international visitors.
In the early summer of 1987, 17 members of the Chinese and Japanese team drove to the foot of the Meili Snow Mountain at an altitude of 3,000 meters and established friendly ties with the local villagers. The villagers were curious about these "city people" and warmly welcomed them to taste butter tea and air-dried meat, and the team members were also happy to chat with the simple mountain people.
However, as the mountaineering progressed, the villagers realized that the goal of the group of visitors was to climb their most sacred mountain, Kawagebo, which means "snow-covered sacred mountain" in Tibetan.
On the basis of full research, the mountaineering team determined the detailed route, entered from Guge Township at the northwest foothills, and finally completed the whole journey from the top of the southeast slope after detouring and climbing. They held a departure ceremony at Feilai Monastery, the holiest temple in Tibetan Buddhism, to sweep the purification site and worship the statues of the gods and goddesses in order to pray for the protection of the gods and Buddhas and the smooth climbing.
The team members were full of confidence, wearing the amulets they had asked for at the temple before they set off, convinced that with a strong backstage and top-notch equipment, the expedition would be a success.
However, they did not expect that while they were sincerely worshipping, 20,000 Tibetans wept bitterly on the other side of the mountain, kneeling and begging to stop them. For the first time, two very different civilizations came head-to-head, and the contradictions intensified.
The collision of beliefs, 20,000 kneeling believers wailed for the sacred mountain
In Tibetan belief, Kawagebo is the creator of all things, and the top of the mountain is dedicated to various mountain gods. They regard it as a source of life, and herders rely on meltwater from the snow-capped mountains to graze their cattle, while villagers worship this "mother of life" in ancient rituals.
Therefore, the villagers were surprised to learn that an alien mountaineering team was going to invade this sacred forbidden place. In their eyes, this is tantamount to defiling the faith and blaspheming the Divine. The village chief and elders pleaded with the team to abandon the plan, but they were unmoved.
As a result, 20,000 Tibetan monks and devotees spontaneously gathered at the foot of Kawagebo, knelt on the ground and cried, praying to the gods to punish and eliminate these "blasphemers". They were convinced that the majesty of God would not allow mortals to play with it.
The scale of the gathering of 20,000 people and the mourning of the scene were the first in local history. In this way, they expressed their grief and indignation, trying to engage in a mental confrontation with the mountaineering team, which was still advancing the plan. Many women cried bitterly with their children in their arms, shouting, "This is our sacred mountain, it has its own dignity! Why do you outsiders trample on your faith and defile our holy land!"
In the face of strong public opposition, China's sports department, under pressure from the Japanese side, approved the "groundbreaking" climbing plan. The two governments hope to boost regional tourism by reaching the summit and turning it into a high-end base for polar exploration. However, they overlook the importance of the mountain to the beliefs of the locals, and underestimate the ruthlessness of nature and the power of the gods.
The situation is complicated, and the heroic Chinese and Japanese mountaineering teams still set off resolutely
Despite the resistance, the Chinese and Japanese mountaineering team chose to ignore the pleas of more than 20,000 Tibetans and officially began the ascent in December 1990 as originally planned. The atmosphere was very solemn, they came to the Feilai Temple at the foot of Kawagebo Mountain before departure, and carried out a grand departure ceremony, the lamas in the temple prayed for them, presented amulets, and the team members also worshiped sincerely to pray for the success of the summit.
But they did not expect that even when they were in awe, the gods who had once trusted and worshiped so much had abandoned them under the plea of 20,000 people. This feat, which could have been achieved with courage and perseverance, seems destined to end in tragedy.
After a well-planned route, they successfully set up three camping sites along the way, reaching the closest position to the summit on December 28, at an altitude of 6,200 meters, which also set a new record for human ascent of this virgin peak.
"We're almost done! Keep it up!" The team cheered each other on through the walkie-talkie. However, less than 300 meters from the finish line, a violent snowstorm suddenly hit and forced him to abort the climb and return to Camp 3 for the night.
At the same time, the news reached Yamashita, and the angry believers vented their emotions on the "unreligious mountain god". Tens of thousands of people regathered at the Feilai Monastery, crying and praying, demanding that it immediately punish the "sinners" or they would rather abandon the church.
Unfortunately, faith is not a trade after all. What they don't know is that the real punishment has quietly come.
17 lives are lost, desperate records of survival
In 1991, when the New Year came, the Meteorological Observatory of the China Mountaineering Association judged that the next day would be a rare sunny day. So the mountaineering team decided to take the opportunity to fight for the peak again and complete the unfinished mission.
However, the weather was not beautiful, and the blizzard not only did not stop, but blew more and more fiercely. The 17 team members were trapped in Camp 3 at an altitude of 5,900 meters, and communication with the base camp was also interrupted in the wind and snow. The weather has gradually deteriorated to the limit of human survival, and the snow cover is as high as 1.6 meters, which seriously threatens life.
The team members waited in despair, hoping for help to arrive. The sober continued to reassure the Crashed, struggling to clear the snow and reinforce the makeshift shelters. Saving food is their number one priority, and each person receives only a small amount of food per day.
At 10:30 p.m. on January 3, the fate of the 17 people came to an end with the last communication disconnection. The next day, the base camp requested rescue to no avail, and it was not until January 20 that professional rescue teams arrived one after another. But the blizzard continued, and the rescue was forced to be aborted!
At the same time, a mother cried at home that her son was "trapped in a snowy mountain", while a diary recorded a female team member, Kiyoko Kitai, muttering "they are coming" in a state of confusion amid her illness.
However, no one cares about these inopportune nonsense.
Seven years later, 17 bodies that had been frozen for many years were unearthed at an altitude of 3,800 meters, and their belongings confirmed their identity. Sato's hiking diary records a strange dream that the team members had together before setting off, as well as the strange scenes they witnessed in a desperate situation......
However, the truth was buried, and 17 lives died tragically in the ice and snow, making it the second deadliest mountaineering tragedy in the world.
The wrath of the "sacred mountain", the lessons and the revelations
In the seven years since the accident, there have been frequent natural disasters at the foot of Kawagebo, and the villagers believe that it is a punishment imposed by the mountain gods. And the two vigorous mountaineering actions ended in the face of mysterious forces.
In 1997, Kyoto University announced that it would permanently abandon climbing Meili Snow Mountain. In 2001, the authorities banned all mountaineering activities, and Kawagebo remains the only truly "virgin peak" in China.
Time has passed, but the mountain is still towering. Every year, countless tourists come to make the pilgrimage, but they all leave in a hurry. And about that tragedy, people have different opinions and debates.
However, the preciousness of life should not be desecrated, and national beliefs should be respected. We don't know if there really is a god on the Kawagebo peak, but the punishment of fate is beyond doubt.
Perhaps one day, when technology is enough to conquer the cold and mountain sickness, when the wisdom and strength of mankind deserve to open the door to the peak, we will still stand there with humility and trembling, as reverent as the first believers knelt down to worship the mountain gods.