Why are so many people dying on the Aotai Line? Aotai Line Route Introduction

Actually, outdoor adventurers only know that a few years ago, there was a route in China with the highest number of casualties, the Aotai Line. This route is now banned, but its legend continues to exist. This route is also a warning to everyone.

Why are so many people dying on the Aotai Line?

The entire Aotai traverse, the altitude rises from 1740 meters at the starting point in Taibai County to 3475 meters at the Aoshan landmark tower, passes through Taibai Liang at 3523 meters and finally reaches the main peak of Mount Taibai, Baishendai at 3767 meters, it takes about 6-7 days, most of which are in the no man’s land.

It seems like there is no difficulty? If you think so, then you are wrong.

Severe climate

Located in the Qinling Mountains, Aotai is the dividing line between the north and south of China. The climate of the two sides converges and collides here, creating a more variable and complex climate than other mountainous areas. “Four seasons in one day” is common, even in the middle of summer, it may snow. In winter, the lowest temperature can be lower than -10 degrees Celsius for a long time.

The most frightening thing is the strong wind and thick fog. As long as the weather is above cloudy, the thick fog will be quite frequent. Rain and snow will make you soaked. Overheating or humid thick fog will make you feel like you are falling into water. The strong wind that follows will quickly cause hypothermia, which is the most terrifying result.

Special terrain

Crossing Aotai, going west from Baishendai, you will pass some flat and wide-view sections, such as Dongyuan, Xiyuan, and Paomalang.

Yuan is a high ground formed by erosion in the loess plateau area of northwest China. Its characteristic is that it is platform-shaped, steep on all sides and flat on top.

When you walk up, although there are big and small boulders spread on it, it is too wide. Once you encounter bad weather such as cloudy or foggy, it is easy to lose your way. Especially on foggy days, you may end up walking in circles without realizing it.

In addition, located in the mountain pass, connecting Aoshan and Mount Taibai, the 2800 camp, many mountaineers have also encountered the situation of getting lost instantly and not finding their way. A trip to fetch water, you may get lost in ten or twenty minutes.

High-intensity no man’s land

Most of the Aotai is no man’s land. There is no supply, and it is very difficult to find water, so going to Aotai is always with heavy loads, which also determines the intensity and difficulty of Aotai.

The most deadly Jiu-Ceng-Shi-Hai (Nine Layers of Stone Sea) requires extremely high physical strength. Some mountaineers said that they thought it was climbing a steep slope made of stones, but when they climbed to a mountain top, they found that there was another mountain top in front of them, which was higher than the one they had just climbed, with harder stones and more difficult to climb.

Easy to get altitude sickness

Although the highest point of the Aotai route is only a little over 3700 meters, many people who go to Tibet and don’t experience altitude sickness on the plateau, experience severe altitude sickness when they go to Aotai.

On the one hand, because crossing the no man’s land requires carrying enough food, tents, sleeping bags and other equipment, a big backpack can weigh tens of kilograms. On the other hand, the weather changes dramatically on this route, and the altitude gains are also large, which can easily cause altitude sickness, followed by dizziness and reduced judgment. These can also lead to uncontrollable dangers on the stone sea and dangerous sections where it is easy to twist your ankle.

Falling and wild animals

Falling is often caused by panic due to thick fog and getting lost, leading to a fall. At the same time, there are many wild animals in the Qinling Mountains, such as black bears, bharal, leopards, etc. There have been cases of wild animals attacking people.

Aotai is already so “dangerous”, but there are always people who go there one after another, which is also inseparable from the people who go to cross it.

Overestimating your own ability

Many people who go to cross the Aotai Line underestimate the complex and cruel geographical environment, the distribution of flora and fauna, and the harsh weather conditions in Mount Taibai.

The Mount Taibai mountain body is huge and the climate changes in an instant. Even in summer, the temperature on Mount Taibai can be far below zero.

Furthermore, the crossing route at the top of Mount Taibai is through gaps between stone seas, and the entire route is above 3000 meters. The wind is strong and the oxygen content is less than half of that in the plains. Some tourists do not make sufficient preparations before going up the mountain, and rarely bring cold-weather clothes and emergency medicine. As a result, they are unable to adapt to the abnormal changes in the climate after entering the mountains, and cannot withstand the thin air pressure, which can easily induce diseases.

Curiosity and the adventurous spirit

Some hikers do not take the traditional tourist routes, and choose to walk through primeval forests, no man’s lands, and areas where wild animals roam. Some tourists, in order to escape the entrance fees to the reserve, climb up from Longdonggou, Damanghe on the south slope, and Sanchaxia on the north slope.

Longdonggou on the south slope is the key area for protecting the giant panda, a key wild animal in the reserve, and it is in the core area of the reserve. Excessive human activity will have a certain impact on the giant panda’s survival in the wild and population reproduction.

While Baiyunxia, Tangkou, etc. have no roads at all, they are primeval forests. Some sections walk along the riverbed, and there is always the danger of getting lost, being injured by wild animals, freezing to death from hunger, falling, and being swept away by floods.

Ignoring warnings and doing things your own way

Taibai County has repeatedly issued announcements at Aoshan and other mountain passes to prevent hikers from recklessly forming groups to climb mountains. The county’s ecological office also announces the closure of the mountains every year, and requires hikers to register before going up the mountain during the climbing season, but almost no one abides by it.

Moreover, the second item in the Mount Taibai safety notice also mentions: travel in groups along tourist routes and hire porters and guides. When leaving the tourist trails, please return on the original path immediately. The fourth item states: you should immediately stop tourism when there is heavy snow, thick fog, thunder, floods, night, floods, landslides, collapses, wild animals on the road, or slippery roads.

However, some people who enter the mountains ignore the staff’s warnings, argue unreasonably, refuse to retreat according to the staff’s arrangement, and create safety hazards.

Lack of necessary survival skills in the wild

Some climbers bring too little or no food, clothing, and emergency supplies, lack outdoor survival knowledge and skills, and don’t even know how to make a fire for warmth, collect water safely, and protect themselves from wind and rain. Once they encounter a special situation and don’t know how to deal with it, they panic and rush around, eventually disappearing in the vast primeval forest, leaving their friends and family with lifelong regrets.

Insufficient preparation

The difficulty of Aotai requires higher standards in terms of equipment matching, physical reserve, team coordination, information collection, and backup plan development. For those who are trying long-distance routes for the first time, there are many blind spots, each of which requires time to research, coordinate, and practice.

Aotai Line Introduction

If you talk about the route with the highest death rate in outdoor exploration in China, you may think of Wolf Tower C-Line, Wusun Ancient Road, Xiate Ancient Road, etc. These routes are indeed very “grueling”, but if you look at the death rate, probably no route in China can surpass the Aotai Line. Even compared with the death rate of climbing Mount Everest, it is on par. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to call the Aotai Line traverse an extreme polar exploration route.

The Aotai Line refers to the line that runs through the two main peaks of the Qinling Mountains, Aoshan and Mount Taibai. The straight-line distance is about 46 kilometers, and the total distance of the hike is about 140 kilometers. From the starting point at 1740 meters above sea level in Taibai County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, it rises to 3475 meters above sea level at the Aoshan landmark tower, passes through Taibai Liang at 3523 meters above sea level, and finally reaches the main peak of Mount Taibai, Baishendai at 3767.2 meters above sea level. It takes 6 to 7 days. Along the way, you have to cross 17 mountains above 3000 meters above sea level. Most of the time, you are walking in no man’s land. It is one of the most primitive and most self-punishing top traverse routes in China.

Aoshan is famous for its difficult climb and steep slope, and there are no supply points along the way. Mount Taibai is famous for its long route and beautiful scenery. It is the highest section of the main ridge of the Qinling Mountains and is known as the “adventure route that walks on the spine of the Chinese dragon.” The difficulty of this traverse route lies not only in the need to traverse a no man’s land for a long time without supplies, but also in the changeable climate and complex road conditions. The entire traverse is mostly done on a stone sea formed by glacial relics. When encountering bad weather, it becomes very dangerous. This has created greater safety hazards for the traverse, which is already prone to accidents and has no safety facilities and signs. Therefore, the Aotai Line is also known as the “End of Life” by hikers.

According to various media reports, over the past ten years, there have been no fewer than 30 hikers who died on the Aotai Line. In 2018, the People’s Government of Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, and the People’s Government of Taibai County jointly issued a notice prohibiting all units and individuals from entering the “Aotai Line” to carry out illegal traversing activities. At this point, this “death route” was completely blocked. Except for scientific research activities that have been approved and reported, this route has become a true no man’s land!

Over the past ten years, there have been no fewer than 30 hikers who died on the Aotai Line. In 2018, the People’s Government of Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, and the People’s Government of Taibai County jointly issued a notice prohibiting all units and individuals from entering the “Aotai Line” to carry out illegal traversing activities. At this point, this “death route” was completely blocked. Except for scientific research activities that have been approved and reported, this route has become a true no man’s land!