Cycling in Tibet, Encountering a 500kg Iron-skinned Truck Hiking Man from Shaanxi
During my journey along the reverse Sichuan-Tibet Highway, I encountered many cyclists and hikers speeding past me. Compared to the New Sichuan-Tibet Highway I had previously traversed, this route was much busier, and I spent nearly half my time chatting with people on the road.
I remember when I reached the first pass of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Dongda Mountain, I met such a hiking enthusiast. Dongda Mountain's altitude is 5130 meters. Starting from Luogong County, it's a continuous uphill climb. I planned to complete the 40-kilometer journey in two days, and I spent half a day in Luogong County repairing and preparing. After a feast of food and wine, I formally began climbing Dongda Mountain at 2 p.m., and I spent the night at 22 Dao Banfang.
When I arrived at Dao Banfang, I found a veteran packrafting hiker already staying there. Seeing his packraft for the first time, I was filled with shock and admiration. The hiker was not tall, but his packraft was almost as long as a bed. Like other hikers, he liked to stick various advertisements on the outside of his packraft, which could reveal the hiker's life story. After circling the vehicle and equipment, I learned that he was from Shaanxi. His plan was to hike from Xi'an to Lijiang, Yunnan, along the Qingzang Highway and the Dianzang Highway. He had been traveling for nearly six months when he reached Dongda Mountain, which was truly impressive. What he carried was diverse, including food, clothing, accommodation, and various medicines. He also brought two adorable dogs and a warm doghouse. The vehicle and equipment, plus his cargo, weighed almost 500 kilograms. Compared to what I carried, his equipment was ten times greater. I sincerely admired him.
While climbing Dongda Mountain, the hiker's two dogs were still energetically helping him pull, although it seemed a bit chaotic and ineffective at times, sometimes jumping around and causing trouble. However, their unwavering perseverance alongside their owner was deeply moving.
Dongda Mountain's altitude is over 5000 meters, with high altitude and oxygen deficiency. There were few supply points along the way. The summit is perpetually covered in snow, and the temperature drops to zero or below. Dragging a nearly 500-kilogram iron-clad vehicle, he climbed step by step. His willpower and determination far surpassed that of most people. I was humbled by his perseverance. I had gone through so much hardship and sweat, and I realized that only he truly knew.
Because of the difference in speeds between cycling and pushing a cart, we traveled together for a few hours before parting ways. There were many hikers on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and many were accompanied by dogs. Some even had a common goal: to hike and earn money through live streaming. As a budget traveler, I could understand them to some extent. From an outsider's perspective, this self-flagellating travel style is incomprehensible, and it almost feels like being overly indulgent. Of course, sometimes people looked at me the same way, but it didn't matter. After all, my mind was always focused on making money.
