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Giang Hoang has set foot in the Himalayas 7 times, witnessing the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015.
Vietnamese man conquers Himalayas 7 times and aspires to reach the North Pole
Initially, Giang Hoang (real name Hoang Le Giang, 28 years old) went primarily to indulge in his passion for photography, but later found inspiration and challenged himself with mountain climbing and glacier crossings.
Giang Hoang was on a mountain climbing journey in the Himalayas when a strong earthquake measuring nearly 8 on the Richter scale struck Nepal in April 2015. This was the strongest earthquake in the country since 1934.
“Life is impermanent, let's be kind to each other”
I remember when the whole group was having lunch at a basecamp (resting stations for mountaineers), a strong earthquake followed by a severe landslide occurred. It was the first time Giang Hoang understood the terrifying scale of an earthquake. The guide tried to call home but couldn't reach anyone because all communication lines had collapsed.
Some people demanded to return to the city, but after discussing, the group of about 6 members decided to continue forward with the reason that everything in the city at that time was in chaos, with thousands dead. If they returned, there would be no electricity or drinking water. Meanwhile, on the mountain, the electricity system was still working, and water from the spring was flowing.
While climbing, Giang Hoang saw thousands of people descending. Everyone advised his group to turn back because the way up had collapsed, but they persisted. The eateries along the way were all closed, and the owners had fled due to danger. The group persevered and stopped to rest for the night when it got dark.
“That night there were aftershocks, a strong tremor. People were sleeping but ran outside. I was too tired, so I slept through it. When I woke up, I saw everyone sleeping outside,” Giang Hoang recalled.
The group continued to ascend to Annapurna Base Camp at an altitude of 4,130 meters. Due to landslides, the path ahead was narrow. However, it was not completely impassable as others had said; with careful observation, they could still see a way up. For safety, they left all their bags outside, wore only warm clothes, carried water, and proceeded. After several days of hardship, they finally reached their destination.
Returning to the city, although the government had cleaned up somewhat, the scene of devastation still prevailed. Giang Hoang no longer recognized the once beautiful Nepal.
“Looking at the desolate scene after the earthquake, I realized how impermanent life is. I reminded myself to always be kind to others. We never know if it's the last time we'll talk to them. I might leave, or they might leave. No one knows what will happen,” Giang Hoang shared his perspective on life after the earthquake.
Crossing glaciers and marveling at the starry sky
Giang Hoang chose mountaineering to satisfy his wanderlust. He said he was initially passionate about photography, finding mountains more picturesque. Mountaineering requires fitness, so he immersed himself in sports. When training intensely, he wanted to push his limits, so he climbed higher, went farther, to magnificent, spectacular places.
Giang Hoang also admitted that he loves the feeling of standing amidst thousands of mountains, with no noise, only the sound of footsteps. Occasionally, while setting up camp, he hears laughter, horse neighs, sounds of preparing meals. At night, just opening the tent flap reveals a sky full of stars, something natural but never visible in the bustling city due to light pollution.
Giang Hoang also enjoys crossing glaciers, sometimes even jumping into the icy river just to feel truly free. But it is these glaciers that make him more aware of environmental changes and the significant impact of global warming.
Once, Giang Hoang and his team were preparing to cross a glacier. If in previous times the river froze solid for safe passage, this time there was snowfall on the river. For adventurous mountaineers, snowfall means the weather is not very cold, indicating thinner ice than usual. Not to mention the recent snowstorm that made it impossible for the exploration team to see the hardness of the ice. They could still go in, but there was no guarantee the ice would be solid enough to return. With this situation, it is expected that by 2030, there will be no more snow in this area.
Therefore, when returning to Vietnam, Giang Hoang is very conscious about calling for environmental protection and participating in activities to help people understand more about the impact of global warming.
The dream of conquering the North Pole
Challenging himself with 7 climbs of the Himalayas seems not enough for Giang Hoang. He is striving in a competition to turn his dream of reaching the North Pole into reality. If lucky enough to win, he wants to bring Vietnamese cocoa beans and coffee to introduce to friends around the world.
Giang Hoang's dream of reaching the North Pole has been brewing for a long time, inspired by the movies he watched as a child, where exploration teams were together day and night, learning skills like setting up camp in snow or digging snow to sleep warmly. However, Giang's larger purpose is to experience it firsthand, to call for attention to environmental protection activities and inspire young people to live free, purposeful lives.
Giang Hoang's future plan is to organize workshops, write books, create videos about mountaineering for enthusiasts. For him, all the skills he learns from mountaineering (including trekking and climbing) can be applied to life.
Tips for mountaineering:
Mountaineering typically involves two forms: trekking and climbing. Trekking is a steep journey, but does not require specialized protective gear; climbing requires ropes and technical gear like crampons to securely grip the surface.
At altitudes above 3,000 meters, altitude sickness begins to set in. For every additional 500 meters, a day of rest is required, otherwise the body will struggle to adapt, oxygen levels decrease as altitude increases, and atmospheric pressure decreases, making the weather very cold.
To facilitate mountaineering, climbers need to train in sports such as running, cycling, and swimming to increase endurance. Before climbing, it's important to drink enough water to avoid altitude sickness and carry honey for drinking to disinfect the throat and prevent inflammation.
The principle of 'just a little more effort' is always applied by mountaineers. Sometimes you may feel tired and feel like giving up, but just a little more effort and you will conquer the long journey you set out for.
Don't choose cheap mountaineering services but consider them reasonably, because the important thing is not reaching the destination, but returning safely.
Source: Thao Nghi/Vnexpress
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourDecember 9, 2016
