City hikers discover they can’t hack 100

By Zhang Hui

A total 196 out of 217 hikers quit the first 100-kilometer hike organized by a non-governmental website for outdoor activities Saturday.

Even though the website had organized a rescue team and experienced hikers on standby to offer help to participants, only 21 finished the overnight hike on Sunday, said Zhou Qingsong, founder of 517huwai.com.

The hikers had set off from the south gate of Shijingshan Amusement Park at 7 am Saturday, passing through Mentougou district, Fragrant Hill, the old Summer Palace, Beijing Olympic Park and Houhai.

White-collar worker Zheng Dong was first to arrive at 1:30 am on Sunday.

"The most important thing is to participate," said the first-place finisher. Zheng attributed his success to a pair of proper hiking boots.

"About 90 percent of hikers will find their feet covered with blisters after the trek," Zheng said, adding that his boots saved him energy and avoided injuries to the knees and feet.

Zheng said he often cycles and jogs at the weekend. As most participants were new to outdoor activities, he believed it might have been wiser to make a more sober assessment of their relative strengths and abilities.

Han Meng, who finished at 6:50 am on Sunday, said he climbed mountains once a week and was familiar with the route beforehand.

The local knowledge had prevented him from getting lost, especially walking overnight in the Fragrant Hill area, he said.

Han suggested that if the route had taken into better consideration the endurance and experience of different participants, more than 21 people might have finished.

As hike founder, Zhou Qingsong said Beijing was well-suited to outdoor activities with its mountainous areas, history and culture.

The 517huwai.com will stage more hikes in English, Korean and Japanese to try and include a larger number of hikers, according to Zhou.

原文链接http://www.globaltimes.cn/www/english/metro-beijing/update/society/2010-04/523561.html