[VLOG] 쓰구냥산 해자구 백패킹 四姑娘山海子沟背封 Backpacking at 3,880m in Siguniangshan Haizigou

#Siguniangshan #Mt. Siguniang #Backpacking ✨ Siguniangshan Haizigou Backpacking: Things You Must Know! Located in western Sichuan Province, China, Mt. Siguniang is renowned for its majestic and beautiful scenery, often called the 'Alps of the East'. Haizigou making it a sacred place for high-altitude trekking and backpacking. This video vividly captures our 1N2D backpacking journey exploring the deep heart of Haizigou, starting with altitude acclimatization at a 3,046m hotel. 🔥 A Struggle with Altitude Sickness, and the Reality of My First 16km Trek! This time, as it was high-altitude backpacking over 3,800 meters, we arrived the day before for acclimatization. We first completed a day-trip hike at 3,840 meters in "Shuangqiaogou Valley," then descended to a 3,046m hotel! We washed away our fatigue with a hot yak hotpot and began our altitude acclimatization. Following our guide's advice, "Don't shower or even wipe with wet wipes as altitude sickness can worsen!", we didn't shower. Haha. After stamping our fingerprints on a solemn pledge, the tension for high-altitude backpacking peaked! I went to bed early to manage my physical condition and, fortunately, slept soundly thanks to the Shuangqiaogou trek. The next morning, we began our first backpacking expedition, totaling 16km. (The original goal was 14.5km... 😅) Carrying backpacks and ascending at high altitude under the blazing sun made even breathing difficult, but the overwhelming scenery that unfolded after the pain made us forget everything. The best tip for altitude sickness is warm water! It was a bit heavy and a burden to carry a thermos, but I brought the lightest one I could find. Whenever I felt tired, I drank warm water little by little and tried to breathe as deeply as possible. Then, my headache gradually disappeared, and I started to adapt to the high altitude 👍 🏞️ Nature's Gift After the Pain Even when I was out of breath, just looking up revealed a dazzling blue sky! The increasingly beautiful scenery drew gasps of admiration. Accidentally discovering Cordyceps during backpacking even felt like a windfall! It took a total of 9 hours and 20 minutes to reach Zhongliangzhe at 3,880m! That's an amazing record for a first proper backpacking trip, isn't it? Haha. The next morning, the majesty of the 5,270m Second Sister Mountain (二峰) unfolding in front of our tent became an unforgettable memory. It was a journey where I truly felt the genuine charm of high-altitude backpacking. 💡 Essential Tips & Preparations for Siguniangshan Haizigou Backpacking! 1. Altitude Acclimatization: Upon arrival at the hotel, which is over 3,000m above sea level, sufficient rest and warm hydration are essential. Be careful as showering or excessive activity can induce altitude sickness. 2. Guide Accompanying: According to regulations, a local guide is mandatory for 1N backpacking in Siguniangshan. Backpacking is not possible without a guide, so the first thing you need to do if you want to backpack in Siguniangshan is to find a guide. We searched various platforms in China, like Baidu and Xiaohongshu, and contacted three guides to coordinate routes and prices. Two of them offered pre-packaged tours that gathered groups, but fortunately, we found our final guide who allowed us to create a fully customized backpacking trip with our desired route. 3. Trekking Difficulty: The 16km high-altitude trek consumes more energy than expected. Before going to Siguniangshan, I ran for an hour every day for almost a month. You need to prepare sufficiently physically and also bring energy snacks to replenish energy intermittently. After completing the trek, I was so exhausted that I couldn't even eat dinner. It's good to eat energy snacks frequently. 4. Meals: Energy replenishment is crucial at high altitudes. Prepare a mix of local food and personal emergency rations, such as yak hotpot, self-heating meals, cup noodles, and combat rations. Boiled water is very precious in high-altitude areas, and in China, most rest stops provide hot water for free. Siguniangshan also had hot water at the Dajianbao (打尖包) rest and snack point at 3,750m. I had prepared bread and energy snacks, but if I had known there was hot water... I would have brought cup noodles or combat rations. 5. Clothing & Equipment: Even in June, it was quite chilly. While trekking, it's warm, but by the time the sun sets and you reach the campsite, you'll feel cold. Warm/waterproof clothing suitable for snow mountain trekking, comfortable trekking shoes, and body warmers are useful. Especially since mountain weather changes rapidly, don't forget to bring a raincoat! My first backpacking trip was a huge success! Experience the grandeur of Siguniangshan Haizigou and the charm of high-altitude backpacking through the video. 👍 If you found this video helpful, please subscribe, like, and turn on notifications! Share your questions or experiences about Siguniangshan backpacking in the comments.