Lessons learned from crossing the Kubuqi Desert - the importance of risk assessment

In 2014, I just started working. There is a leader in our unit who is a senior travel enthusiast. He has been to many places and has rich hiking experience. During the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday this year, he and his companions planned to cross the Kubuqi Desert. They had been there before, so they decided on the route and time. When he saw us young people, he asked if we wanted to exercise. The four of us had no experience in hiking in the wild, but we were young and happy, so we said we were willing to go. Then we went to buy equipment after dinner (we said in the evening that we would leave the next day. I guess the leader said it politely, but I didn’t expect that we wanted to go).

We didn’t have any experience, so we asked the leader, who told us some necessary things. Since we were leaving the next day, we just bought food and water, and took sun protection. As for professionalism, We don’t understand the equipment, and we don’t have time to buy it. The leader said there was no need to worry. He said that the route we chose was the shortest and that one day would be enough. There were colleagues picking us up from both ends of the desert and our task was to walk through the sand.

The next day, the four of us were ready to go. When everyone gathered together to take a look, good guys, except for the four of us who were amateurs and had amateur equipment, everyone else was wearing professional clothes, backpacks, etc. Yes. I felt like a novice, walking through the sand in a daze without even checking what was going on in the Kubuqi Desert, especially since I was here with my aunt.

It’s been almost five years, and what I still can’t forget is that the four of us were really at the end. The others were one or two sand dunes farther away than us. I also had a stomachache, and I was really crying. As I walked, I was afraid that I would fall, and there would be nothing but sand around me. Although the leader gave us the cane, we really couldn't walk. They would wait for us, but for a while, the leader urged and encouraged us.

When we walked out of the desert, it was already dark, but there were colleagues waiting for us there, picking us up for dinner, and chatting with the leaders at the dinner table. Only then did we understand why they walked so fast. If we didn’t follow their instructions, Even if the distance is short, it is still relatively unsafe if we cannot walk before dark, so special care is taken of us four young people.

My experience of hiking through the sand this time is really unforgettable in my life (face covering), and it also taught me profound lessons:

1. Must Only when you know what you want to do and estimate the risks will you be able to judge whether you are capable of completing it. I successfully walked through the sand, but it left a shadow on me. I walked more than 20 kilometers in the desert in one day, and it made me very tired. When I came back, my aunt was not normal, and my legs were weak for ten and a half months. Pain, backache. Of course, since then, I will never play with sand when traveling.

2. Equipment for going out is very important. Having professional equipment can really protect yourself and provide convenience for yourself. Therefore, when playing, especially when it is risky, you must buy professional equipment and professional training is the best.

3. Make a good strategy. To put it bluntly, you must plan and be prepared to complete a risky activity. Now that I think about it, I feel ridiculous for my stupidity. I didn’t know anything about the Kubuqi Desert, so I went to walk through the sand. If I tell others, I will laugh out loud. Fortunately, our leader has full control over the entire process, otherwise I would I definitely won’t be able to leave until I cry.

So when each of us is doing something, we can try to estimate the risks, be fully prepared, and avoid some mistakes.

However, many people in our lives are unwilling to make a risk estimate. For example, since the beginning of winter, the media has repeatedly reported that someone drowned while skating on the river, and rescuers also died; Shanxi A Ningwu car accidentally fell into a lake while drifting on the ice, causing three people to sink to the bottom of the lake. Taiyuan fire divers fished out three people under the ice and shivered for 20 minutes; accidents involving people drowning due to racing on ice occurred in Tianjin and Heilongjiang one after another.

The sky is unpredictable, and people are prone to misfortunes and misfortunes. We cannot predict the future, but we can assess risks and prevent dangers that should not occur or can be avoided.

If these people can estimate the risks before seeking excitement, they may be able to avoid accidents. For example, is the location you choose safe? Check the freezing degree of the ice on the river surface. Does the ice thickness meet the standards? Does the driver have the ability to drive?

These are the most basic judgments. However, these people did not consider it. They just selfishly sought self-satisfaction. Not only did they kill themselves, their families, and friends, but the rescuers were also hurt, even young people. Firefighters sacrificed their young lives. This makes people feel very sorry, and even more angry.

Because you lacked consideration and did not estimate the risks of this activity, you let innocent people pay for you. It is stupid and selfish.

I hope my experience of crossing the sand and the frequent accidents in recent days can give everyone some inspiration.

***Mian!