By linking my account to the check-in system, I became a leisurely traveler.

Chapter 145 Immersive Hiking and Camping (Second Update!)
It's very pleasant; you could say it's extremely pleasant right now.

Li Younan looked around at everything with a leisurely gaze.

How could one not feel comfortable?
Although I had a similar experience during my last time traveling through time, this time was different.

Last time, I mostly drove. Although there were times to camp and get out of the car, compared to this kind of long-distance hiking, I missed out on the feeling of being there along the way.

At this moment, Li Younan was measuring the land with his own two feet.

The altitude here has reached about 3600 meters.

To be honest, it's already considered a high-altitude area.

Although it's April, you still need to wear a thick down jacket. In some further areas, the snow hasn't melted yet, and most places are still a barren, yellowish-brown landscape.

To say that such scenery is exceptionally beautiful is an understatement; it's not necessary to force poetic language to embellish it.

But only those who have truly experienced it can feel that even if the scenery isn't that beautiful, the feelings at that moment are genuine.

But in this beautiful moment, Zhu Qingyue asked out of the blue, "Are we lost?"

Li Younan was momentarily stunned.

Zhu Qingyue's question startled even him.

Then, he carefully looked at his current location and saw Zhu Qingyue's serious and earnest expression, and was immediately speechless.

For beginners, there may indeed be such potential risks.

Springtime weather on Mount Gongga is unpredictable. Dense fog can cause a sharp drop in visibility, and the sun can cause glare when it passes through the clouds, making it easy to misjudge direction and distance.

However, for mountaineering experts like Li Younan, such so-called troubles can basically be ignored.

Li Younan took out a compass and opened the map on his phone.

There's practically no signal at this location; the main purpose of using the phone is to look at maps, take videos, and take photos.

Of course, to ensure safety, in addition to the electronic map, they also have a paper map.

For people who live in the wild year-round, being able to read a map is very important.

In cities or areas with roads, GPS wireless maps are quite useful, but for hiking enthusiasts or hardcore fieldwork groups like the military, being able to read maps is almost a required skill.

Of course, the map they use is not the ordinary tourist map; it has strict standards and specifications.

Li Younan asked Zhu Qingyue to come over and teach her how to use contour maps and compasses to determine the direction of cloud movement by wind speed, and even to locate herself by the sound of melting snow and streams.

Li Younan said with a smile, "When we were kids, we must have learned in our textbooks to determine our location by the density and lushness of trees. But in the wild, determining location is just the most basic skill."

He unfolded the contour map: "You need to know how to read a contour map. The next step is to use these methods to find our corresponding location on the map."

Li Younan spoke very carefully and attentively, and Zhu Qingyue listened very attentively as well.

After Li Younan finished speaking, he smiled and said, "We've been walking for almost half an hour now, let's rest here for a while."

Zhu Qingyue nodded.

Because it was early spring, there weren't many travelers. They rested there for a while and didn't see any other hikers, partly because it was already afternoon.

Having rested enough, Zhu Qingyue prepared to shoulder her backpack and continue her journey. Then, she frowned slightly.

Well, the altitude was high enough to cause some discomfort. In fact, she was already feeling a little unwell when she got off the bus, mainly with a slight headache.

Zhu Qingyue looked at Li Younan with some doubt.

There was absolutely no sign of altitude sickness on Li Younan's face.

She had read some online comments yesterday, some saying that people with better physical condition might be more prone to altitude sickness because their muscles are more developed, which means they consume more oxygen. But she didn't see this tendency in Li Younan at all.

Li Younan noticed that Zhu Qingyue seemed unwell, assuming it was because she was carrying too much stuff and was a little tired, and said, "Let me help you carry some things."

Zhu Qingyue stubbornly shook her head and stood up: "Let's go, let's continue."

Continue upwards along Yulin Gully, cross the ridge covered with low shrubs, and soon you will be able to see the direction of Gexi Grassland.

The shady spots along the way were covered with remnants of snow, mottled like faded wool blankets. Meltwater seeped down from the foothills of Zheduo Mountain, forming trickles at the bottom of the ravines, the sound of the water very soft. As the two men rested and drank, they could see two argali sheep flash by on the opposite slope.

The higher you go, the wider your view becomes.

Looking back, you can see the entire Yulin Valley. In the distance, the Tibetan-style houses of old Yulin are scattered along the riverbank, and prayer flags on the rooftops flutter in the wind.

The wind was a bit stronger than in the ditch, but overall it was very refreshing.

The slope wasn't steep, but Li Younan could sense that Zhu Qingyue wasn't in very good condition, so he deliberately slowed down.

As Zhu Qingyue passed a Mani stone engraved with the six-syllable mantra, she gently ran her finger along the engraving on the stone's surface, and suddenly her mood became somewhat sensitive.

She gazed at Li Younan, and said dreamily, "My aunt must have been here too. Could one of the Mani stones here have been piled up by her?"

Li Younan paused for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

Zhu Qingyue also piled one up, and then solemnly offered her blessings: "Wishing Li Younan great wealth and ever-improving health!"

Li Younan couldn't help but laugh.

A thin layer of clouds covered the area, and the sun occasionally peeked out, illuminating the mountain ridgeline on the other side of the Gexi Grassland.

As we crossed the mountain pass, the aroma of roasted barley flour suddenly wafted towards us on the wind.

Time flew by, and Li Younan was not bothered by any physical exertion, but he kept observing Zhu Qingyue.

Although I had a slight urge to see just how far Zhu Qingyue could go, I knew I had to do it under the premise of safety.

Zhu Qingyue showed none of the affectation he had imagined, walking ahead with very firm steps.

The sun sets very early on the plateau.

Before long, the sun had already begun to set in the west and was completely blocked by a dark cloud.

However, the view suddenly opened up before them—the Gexi Grassland stretched out below, its tawny pastures extending all the way to the foot of Yala Snow Mountain, with several yaks drinking water by the stream, like ink dots sprinkled on rice paper.

I found a flat spot next to the prayer flag post, sat down, broke open a compressed biscuit, and slowly chewed it with water, not in a hurry.

In the distance, smoke rises from the black tents of a shepherd, a wisp of pale gray.

The wind carried the faint sound of cowbells and the flowing water of the Zheduo River, and the two of them sat there for a long time.

Judging from their condition, it seemed unlikely they would reach the campsite directly today. Li Younan didn't plan to travel at night, so he said to Zhu Qingyue, "Let's set up camp there after we go down." Zhu Qingyue nodded.

Actually, she had wanted to rest for a long time; her legs were incredibly sore, and she still hadn't adapted to the effects of the high altitude. But the belief that "I don't want to be a burden to Li Younan" kept her going.

The two strolled down the path at a leisurely pace. Just then, Li Younan's gaze suddenly fell upon the bushes beside him and the shrubs behind him. His expression brightened slightly, and he took off his backpack, saying to Zhu Qingyue, "Wait for me a moment."

Zhu Qingyue looked puzzled.

Li Younan handed his backpack to Zhu Qingyue, then took out a handy knife from the side of the backpack and crawled into the bushes.

Zhu Qingyue tilted her head and couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going?"

Li Younan said with a smile, "Let's have some extra food when we set up camp tonight."

Zhu Qingyue's eyes widened, she hesitated for a moment, but still didn't say anything.

Li Younan quickly disappeared into the bushes, but his figure didn't completely vanish; his clothes could still be seen peeking out from among the bushes. Mountain climbers often wear brightly colored clothing, which, from a fashion perspective, is extremely ugly, but it's also a crucial indicator of whether a complete novice is a beginner.

The main reason is that these two colors contrast very sharply with the main colors in the wild, making them easily noticeable.

Realizing that Li Younan didn't intend to go far, Zhu Qingyue breathed a slight sigh of relief. Then she focused her gaze on Li Younan's backpack. To be honest, Li Younan had already checked her backpack, but she still didn't know what was inside.

Zhu Qingyue believed that her backpack was definitely one of the heaviest among all girls, and she was a little proud of that, thinking that she was no less heavy than the average boy.

Out of curiosity, she tried lifting Li Younan's backpack with her hand.

Then, with his eyes wide open, he reluctantly put the backpack back in its place.

Not long after, Li Younan returned, carrying a rich spoils of war. Zhu Qingyue looked at the object in Li Younan's hand with a strange expression; it was a bunch of green plants.

Zhu Qingyue didn't recognize the object and asked in confusion, "What are you holding in your hand?"

Li Younan said with a smile, "Well, this is a kind of natural, nutritious and delicious green ingredient. The local name is Cilongbao, which is a kind of wild vegetable that is quite common in the plateau area."

Li Younan didn't explain much. His knowledge base contained far more detailed and comprehensive information about this wild vegetable, including how much carbohydrate, protein, and unsaturated fatty acids it contained. He knew all of these nutrients very well.

During the last trek with the team, this skill of his wasn't particularly advantageous. But now, on a hiking trip, this skill is much more useful.

Zhu Qingyue looked at him with some doubt: "Is this thing really edible?"

Li Younan said, "Don't worry." He casually put the Thorn Dragon Pack into his pocket and then put away the knife. A hand came over and lifted his backpack, easily twisting it and slung it over his back as if it were weightless.

This scene left Zhu Qingyue speechless for a moment.

Good health.

Li Younan, oblivious to Zhu Qingyue's shock, pointed to the grassy slope below and said, "I just observed it, and that location is perfect for camping. The terrain is very flat, far from dangerous geological environments, and there's a mountain stream just a few dozen meters away, making it easy to get water. More importantly, it's a leeward slope, so even if there's wind at night, it's very limited."

Li Younan and Zhu Qingyue arrived at the campsite shortly afterward. Li Younan inspected the site again to confirm that everything was alright. Then, he took out an entrenching tool and quickly drained the water before leading Zhu Qingyue to set up camp.

Li Younan chose a hardcore heavy-duty tent that sells very well worldwide. Although it weighs less than two kilograms when folded, it is a genuine two-person tent.

Li Younan's choice of a two-person tent wasn't because he intended for two people to share it. In fact, most hardcore, heavily armored adventurers choose two-person tents because they offer more space, can accommodate more equipment, have better interior planning, and are more sturdy.

Zhu Qingyue clearly lacked experience in this area. The list Li Younan gave her didn't specify whether it was for two or single people, so she foolishly chose a smaller single tent. It was sturdy enough, but the space was a bit cramped when putting away equipment. However, this didn't matter much, as Zhu Qingyue was already quite small, and the cramped environment actually made her feel warmer.

Li Younan first demonstrated to Zhu Qingyue how to set up his own tent, which was both stable and secure.

On this point, Li Younan did not intend to overstep his bounds and do all these things for Zhu Qingyue. On the one hand, it would drastically reduce her experience of time travel. On the other hand, although Zhu Qingyue seemed unapproachable, she was still a girl with a strong sense of self-respect at heart, a fact that Li Younan was well aware of.

After Li Younan finished setting up his own tent, he patiently watched Zhu Qingyue set up hers, planning to only help her if she couldn't manage it.

When choosing a campsite, Zhu Qingyue hesitated for a moment, then placed her tent right next to Li Younan's tent... right next to it.

After choosing a location, he secretly glanced at Li Younan again. Seeing that he didn't react, he felt relieved and continued to set up camp.

Overall, setting up a tent doesn't require much skill. Zhu Qingyue quickly set up the tent independently, and Li Younan only helped a little when tying the guy ropes at the end.

After that, it was time to prepare dinner.

They naturally brought a lot of marching rations, all of which were compressed foods rich in essential nutrients. These foods didn't actually taste very good. And they didn't plan to eat such food tonight.

The environment along this stretch of the journey is relatively suitable, far from harsh. The altitude is also less than 4000 meters, so we can easily cook for ourselves and process the semi-finished food we brought.

Li Younan didn't let Zhu Qingyue bring a stove; instead, he took out a high-altitude gas canister from his backpack.

These high-altitude gas canisters are virtually impossible to explode unless thrown directly into a large fire. One canister can last for about four hours. Li Younan prepared two canisters, which should theoretically be enough to cook one meal a day until the end of the entire journey.

Li Younan opened the accompanying small pot, melted the hot oil, and began cooking.

Seeing Li Younan busy, Zhu Qingyue didn't sit idle either, carrying a water jug ​​to fetch water from the stream.

In such high-altitude areas, streams are mostly fed by melting snow from glaciers and snow-capped mountains.

This type of water source is the most ideal for outdoor use. It contains almost no impurities, eliminating the need for filtration; once boiled, it is generally safe to drink directly.

Of course, the altitude here is relatively high, and the boiling water temperature is far below 90 degrees Celsius, so a mini pressure cooker is necessary, and Li Younan naturally brought all of these things with him.

Their dinner was very simple. Rice steamed in two large pots, each person could eat a mouthful directly from the pot, followed by two cans of heated luncheon meat and wild vegetables that Li Younan had picked.

But even such a simple meal, eaten in such an environment, brings immense satisfaction.

Zhu Qingyue held the small pot, eating slowly, and then tasted the wild vegetables that Li Younan had brought. She had to admit, this all-natural, green food tasted excellent, much better than any vegetables she had ever eaten before.

She asked with some doubt, "This vegetable is so delicious, why isn't it grown on a large scale?"

Li Younan casually said, "The reason is simple: the environment they need to grow is difficult to simulate in greenhouses, or rather, the cost of simulation is too high. It's far better to collect them directly from the wild." He smiled and added, "So, this is a rare opportunity, so cherish it."

Zhu Qingyue nodded silently. She noticed a grain of rice stuck to the corner of Li Younan's mouth and smiled with some relief.

She looked into the distance.

This place is quite far from the campsites of other hikers or off-roaders in their cars, so it's undisturbed and very quiet.

She no longer felt as nervous as she had when she first entered the place.

So far, the experience is not much different from a camping trip that goes a little further away. If I had to say something, it would be that it's more immersive and more relaxing.

The only reason he had this experience was the man in front of him.

For a moment, she felt a strange sense of happiness, which lingered slightly in her heart.

(End of this chapter)