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Chapter 383: Chapter 381: Arrival at Base Camp, Above the Snow Line!

“When hiking as a team, especially when some members are inexperienced, you need an experienced person leading at the front and another experienced person bringing up the rear to ensure no one falls behind. Today, I’ll have Rob lead, and I’ll cover the rear.”

Bi Fang pulled his trekking pole from the dirt, climbed on a rock, and from today onward, they would be ascending, with at least a six hundred meter climb ahead of them.

“When we walk uphill, we should take small steps and lean forward. Try to keep your stride as consistent as it is on flat ground. When walking downhill, also take small steps, lean back, and keep your knees slightly bent to reduce the pressure on your knees from the backpack’s weight. Moreover, taking a zigzag path on steep slopes will save more energy.”

“If the soil on the incline is loose, such as sand, gravel, or snow, it’s best to side-step and stop in a side-stepping position because it’s more stable. This reduces the likelihood of slipping, and you must be mindful of your footing to avoid slipping on loose rocks. In addition, carrying a trekking pole is necessary—it can help you maintain stability.”

Sir, listening intently up front, couldn’t help but admire: “I’ve walked many paths but never considered the reasoning and simple rules behind them. It seems your adventures aren’t just about individual heroics but also a display of wisdom.”

Bi Fang scratched his head and smiled bashfully.

[Serious teaching that’s laughable — not needed at all.]

[Homebody who never left the city.]

[I want to travel too, climb snowy mountains, but my wallet won’t allow it.]

[What won’t allow? It’s just laziness! Follow Master Fang, need nothing, find a tricycle, head to the Primeval Forest, wouldn’t that be wonderful?]

[Clearly an old fan here.]

Just then, Rob’s voice suddenly came from the front: “We’re going to cross a bridge, so stow your trekking poles to avoid getting them stuck in the bridge gaps.”

Bi Fang packed away his trekking pole and looked ahead. It was still a narrow bridge, one of many they’d encountered along the way. The bridge was so narrow that two people couldn’t walk side by side, and it hung high in the air, enough to make one nervous. But after crossing several times, one grows accustomed, shifting from initial trepidation to driving with ease, presenting no difficulty at all.

After the bridge, Bi Fang took out his trekking pole again and continued, “In open terrain, we should advance in single file, with each individual within arm’s reach of one another. The advantage of this is that if a blizzard hits and visibility drops dramatically, no one will get separated from the group.”

“Phew, ha, I can’t do it,” Wang Yongbo suddenly started gasping for air up ahead, appearing as though he had been holding his breath for too long. He gulped a large mouthful from his water bottle and then leaned on his chest, breathing deeply.

“This is for your own good.” Bi Fang raised his hand to check his watch. Only twenty minutes had passed. “To put it bluntly, among us, CEO Wang’s physical condition is the worst. It’s very possible that you won’t even make it to Camp 1, so now you must practice diaphragmatic breathing.”

“Inhale and swell the belly, exhale and deflate the belly,” just like smelling the fragrance of a flower, “inhaling” the breath into the lower abdomen, breathing at a normal rate for half a minute will significantly increase the blood oxygen saturation, an immediate and foolproof effect.

This was taught to everyone this morning, especially to Wang Yongbo.

Following Bi Fang’s method, if he kept at it patiently, correctly, and consistently, his blood oxygen saturation wouldn’t fall below 95%. In just a few minutes, he would feel significantly relieved or not feel the lack of oxygen at all.

However, if diaphragmatic breathing stops, blood oxygen saturation would drop within half a minute, so to maintain an oxygen-rich state, one needs to form a habit.

It generally takes more than a month for an average person to master this through practice, and one must overcome restlessness and resistance with strong willpower. Once the habit is ingrained and becomes subconscious, everything gets easier.

“I’ve stressed this many times, breathing is important, breathing is important. If the body is an engine, then oxygen is the fuel, and the way you breathe represents combustion efficiency. Diaphragmatic breathing is about the quality and depth of breath. We need to improve the quality to adapt to low-oxygen environments.”

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Wang Yongbo sighed, “That’s easy to say, but it’s really exhausting. I relax a bit and forget. I forget as I walk, and even hopping over a rock makes me forget. I just can’t remember it all.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be watching, and if I notice your breathing change, I’ll remind you. Now is the best time to practice because at four thousand meters, you won’t be able to practice anymore.”

“Alright, alright,” Wang Yongbo waved his hand and changed his breathing method again.

The group once again crossed a river, and the noisy sounds of people came from ahead.

A few donkey carts driven by their owners approached, and everyone, including Bi Fang, moved to the side, quietly waiting for the carts to pass; Sir even took off his hat and bowed politely.

“When you are hiking in the countryside, you must pay attention to protecting the natural environment and respect the other people you meet along the way. You should yield to other walkers, cyclists, or horseback riders, take all rubbish with you, and avoid trampling or disturbing crops or livestock. If you have a dog with you, keep it on a leash to prevent these situations. Lastly, watch out for vehicles and always walk on the outside to react in time.”

After letting the donkey carts pass, everyone set off again. The paths through the fields crisscrossed; despite being on a plateau, the landscape flourished as if it were a plain.

Nearly every piece of flat and open land was cultivated with various crops; strings of prayer flags hung across the hillsides, and Buddhist temples and walls carved with scriptures stood tall among the peaks.

All were sojourners.

Locals planted crops between ridges, and travelers headed towards the snowy mountains they dreamed of.

Living in the here and now.

“Let’s take a break.”

After crossing another mountain peak, Rob directed everyone to take a brief rest. They all entered a teahouse and ordered a pot of the local masala tea.

“Every time I see the locals living in harmony with nature, I feel it’s the most beautiful moment in life. I’ve said before that there are about 4 million different species of flora and fauna in the world. Thus, there are 4 million different answers to the question of how to survive. Now, it seems to me, 7 billion humans have 7 billion different answers to how they want to live,” Sir reflected, planting his walking stick into the earth as he watched the Sherpa people working the terraced fields.

Bi Fang looked up, squinting his eyes, and played along by asking, “And what’s your answer, Sir?”

“Me?” Edinburgh paused to think, then said, “For me, nature is the greatest joy, the ultimate visual feast, and the fountainhead of intelligence. It’s the source of many things that make life meaningful for me. What about you? What’s the reason for your relentless adventures? You always set one goal after another for yourself, and I think they are not easy for you to achieve, right? Such goals are meaningless, but since they are difficult, there will inevitably come a day of failure. Will you feel disappointed then?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[Ah, reasons, they stem from a high school annual party (sarcastic).]

[Master Fang can never fail!]

[I feel this is really tough this time, no-oxygen ascent, and I’ve never seen Old Fang climbing mountains.]

[This thing should require continuous training, right? Master Fang is always live streaming. After it’s over, he rests. When does he have the time to train for mountaineering?]

[I boldly predict the beginning of Waterloo!]

Bi Fang loosened his backpack straps and changed the subject, “I’m actually inclined towards Adlerian philosophy. Sir, have you ever heard of the phrase ‘living in the moment’?”

“The moment?”

“Yes, the Adlerian philosophy strongly supports this viewpoint. Some people’s route to happiness is to progress first, believing that only by advancing can they find happiness. Others prioritize freedom first.”

After taking a sip of the masala tea to moisten his throat, Bi Fang was about to continue when Saito Tomonobu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected, “What’s wrong with the roadmap of progress?”

Bi Fang gave Saito a surprised look but shook his head, “Fundamentally, there’s nothing wrong with it. No one has the right to oppose the way others seek happiness, but happiness is ultimately subjective. I don’t agree with the roadmap to progress because you’re always on the road, just like mountaineering, Mr. Saito. You attempted to conquer Everest four times but didn’t succeed, even wanting to treat summiting as a birthday gift. Is that because you think only the peak is happiness? Is the process of climbing merely the price of happiness?”

Suddenly Saito fell silent; he did not agree or disagree.

Seeing that everyone’s gaze was fixed on himself, Bi Fang finished his tea in one gulp and quickly countered, “But what if I can’t reach the top? What if, after reaching the top, I find there’s an even higher mountain? This kind of life feels like being led by a certain goal, and I don’t think that’s either happy or free.”

“Adlerian philosophy holds that life isn’t merely a line aiming for a certain destination—life is a sequence of countless ‘points.’ Each present moment, each instant should be cherished, experienced, and enjoyed. It’s like traveling, where it’s not about reaching a destination to be considered a journey; the journey begins the moment you step out of your house, and every single detail along the way is worth appreciating.”

You want to become a piano master, that’s fine. But it’s not that you’ll only be happy once you’ve become a piano master. Adler doesn’t tell you not to strive for goals, he tells you to enjoy every moment of practicing the piano.

In other words, Adler wants you to live earnestly. Being earnest is not equivalent to being profound. Life doesn’t need to be profound—earnestness is enough. If you can’t live earnestly, always on the road, always disliking your current self, then you may really never achieve happiness in your lifetime.

Being earnest is the most basic attitude—it’s an attitude toward oneself. I never treat various goals as burdens, but as markers on my pursuit of freedom and happiness. They signify that I have been here, that I have appreciated this place, and not as turning points from suffering into happiness. They aren’t burdens, they’re my motivation, and even if I fail in my challenges, I won’t be too saddened. Of course, reaching a goal will be a peak moment of happiness, and that is where the true meaning of my pursuit lies.”

Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang on the shoulder, gasping, “Damn, that sounds so awesome.”

“Read more books.”

Yao Jun: “…”

On the side, Wessels sniffed, “But if you don’t reach the summit, nobody will remember you.”

Bi Fang was very calm, “I’ve said it before, happiness is very subjective. If you make fame and fortune your pursuit, that’s your business.”

[Master Fang, I’ve had an epiphany]

[I’m going to write novels, even if I face failure every time, even if I’m starving, I’ll persist, ugh ugh ugh.]

After finishing their tea, everyone set off again, perhaps touched by Bi Fang’s words, the team’s pace quickened that afternoon, and they managed to arrive at Nanki before dusk.

They could rest for another night.

…

Day three: Nanki 3440m – Tangboche 3860m

Departed at 7:15, first sight of Mount Everest, which was obscured by clouds, on the right was Lhotse Peak, and the weather was good the entire journey, with Mount Everest accompanying along the way.

Tangboche is a local religious center. This monastery was the first place where we received hada scarves.

Rob led us to a nearby monastery and hoped the lama there would bless our journey. When receiving the hada offered by the lama, our leader also reminded us not to forget to give a little donation for the oil money, and I paid five Ugly Gold.

The lodge that night did not provide hot water or free charging, charging once cost 300 Rupees, no matter it was a power bank or a phone, there were no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets, and I specially took time that night to shave.

Day four: Tangboche 3860M – Dingboche 4410M

Here we could clearly see the famous peak on the journey, Ama Dablam Peak. In such high-altitude areas, as soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops faster than a dive; it’s very cold both morning and evening.

As most team members had never reached such an altitude before, I planned to have them acclimatize on the following day, staying two nights in Dingboche to improve everyone’s adaptation ability. Yao Jun had been sleeping restlessly the last few nights, always getting up 3 or 4 times a night.

Rob was a competent guide, but his basic skills needed polishing, and he seemed unable to keenly observe everyone’s physical condition; I needed to pay more attention.

The lodge didn’t provide free charging, there were still no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets; since the lodges were built of wood, but having reached this altitude, to have these amenities was already quite good.

Day Five: Dingboche 4410M – Nakashan 5616M – Dingboche 4410M

Today was an acclimatization day, where we needed to climb to a higher altitude during the day and then return to a lower altitude to rest at night, which helps to speed up the adaptation to the low-oxygen environment.

I tried to climb Nakashan to get a bird’s eye view of Dingboche, with the surrounding hills all over 5000M.

But due to the weather, the higher I climbed, the thicker the clouds became and the visibility was almost non-existent. In the end, I only climbed to about 4820M before turning back. It felt easy, with little difficulty, but the real challenges lay ahead.

No matter how good the photo, it can’t capture the expanse of being there in person, the feelings that can’t be moved without being there.

Starting from 4000 meters, people’s bodies began to slowly show signs of stress, whether it was insufficient blood oxygen, or bloating, lack of appetite, and a few began to have runny noses; thankfully there were no other particularly uncomfortable symptoms.

There was both good news and bad news. The good was that Wang Yongbo’s feeling of heart constriction had completely disappeared today (his blood oxygen continued to drop, and maybe C1 would be his endpoint), which eliminated one potential cause of altitude sickness. And Sir’s physical reaction was better than I had imagined, quite impressive indeed.

The bad news was Gelman… smeared… Bellman… okay, to be honest, I admit I don’t really remember that person’s name. His only pair of climbing boots had split open.

Probably because the descent from Nakashan was too steep today, he only noticed the split when he returned. Faced with almost 10 more days of travel, it was a looming concern.

But our spare boots didn’t fit him; his feet were at least one size larger than all of ours. Asians have two phalanges in the little toe, while Ugly Europeans have three, with two fewer bones per foot in total. Are Ugly European feet really generally bigger?

Fortunately, we will part ways after reaching base camp.

Rob helped him by applying strong adhesive tape and bandaging it, hoping he would be fine.

I had no discomfort, with all my body’s indicators being normal.

The air was very fresh.

Day Six: Dingboche 4410M – Lobuche 4910M

In the stone hut ruins surrounded by mountains, without the colorful flags, it had a slight Northern European vibe.

In the memorial area for climbing heroes who rest eternally at the foot of Mount Everest, there were stone monuments everywhere.

At 4 p.m. outdoors it was only 1 degree, from tonight onwards I will sleep wearing a down vest. Tomorrow we’re reaching EBC, slightly behind schedule, leaving me maybe less than twenty days for my training pull.

Day Seven: Lobuche 4910M – Gorak Shep 5140M – Everest Base Camp 5364M

On April 28th, we reached base camp.

“Snap!”

Bi Fang capped his pen and stuffed the notebook into his lining.

Gazing at the distant peaks, Bi Fang took a deep breath, the icy air rushing into his lungs as he set foot on the snow line, leaving a deep footprint.

Altitude,

5364 meters!