If there is one snow-capped mountain I would return to again and again with unwavering devotion, it would surely be Gongga

The New Year’s Eve sunset at Lenggacuo in 2024 still warms my heart whenever I think of it. As the golden light slowly blushed the snowy ridges of Gongga, the world seemed to fall silent—leaving only my heartbeat and the majesty before my eyes. It was that very moment that made hiking a passion I could never abandon.

In 2024, I made the journey twice, only to be turned away both times by heavy clouds. Standing on the mountain road above 4,000 meters, staring into a sky of white, my heart brimmed with unwillingness…

This year, I set out once more. Not for anything else, but to fulfill the dream I once left unfinished—and to meet the version of myself who gives everything for what she loves.

This time, I chose the quiet and breathtaking San’en Cuo. From the entrance of the Bangmujide Scenic Area to the lake at 4,500 meters, the route spans 5 km with a 500-meter ascent. Rocky paths, muddy trails, and icy slopes took turns testing me, but thankfully I wore the Pelliot MT-Master hiking boots.
The Vibram sole with shark-tooth lugs held the ground with remarkable grip, steady on snow; the eVent waterproof upper kept my feet dry even as the snow melted; the Fitgo dial tightened with one hand, while the Arch Tech support braced my ankles firmly—through dense forest and steep climbs, every step felt anchored. The Lycra-and-foam collar offered unexpected warmth in the biting cold.

When sunset came, the sun finally pierced the clouds and washed Gongga in gold and crimson.

I gazed at the snow mountain, and it seemed to gaze back. In that instant, I understood: the missing, the waiting, the persistence—none of it had been in vain. Not only was this trek to the snow mountain complete at last, but it also fulfilled a long-distance conversation with the steadfast version of myself from the past.

And only later did I realize that the journey was never just toward a single mountain. It was toward the self who refuses to give up along the way, toward the courage to go all in even knowing I might return empty-handed, toward that unwavering belief that what the heart clings to will someday answer back.