Teen lost in China mountains survives on toothpaste, melted snow

A Chinese teenager almost died during a solo hike on one of China's most treacherous trails in sub-zero temperatures.

For days, Hubei native Sun Liang survived on toothpaste and water from a stream and melted snow, before being rescued on Feb 17.

The 18-year-old started his trek 10 days earlier on Feb 8 morning along the Ao-Tai Line, an infamous trail that since 2018 had been closed to climbers by the Shaanxi and Taibai provincial authorities.

From 2012 to 2017, at least 46 people died or went missing after embarking on the Ao-Tai crossing, according to a local investigative report.

The ban has not stopped some adventure-seekers from looking to conquer the trail that can stretch more than 170km connecting the Ao and Taibai mountains.

Liang was one of them. He took around two weeks to plan an 80km route, he wrote in a Weibo post on Feb 19 after he was rescued.

He had around a year's worth of hiking experience around China. These adventures left him wanting to climb the Ao-Tai trail, what he called the "graduation project of Chinese mountaineers".

"Other touristy mountainous treks are like taking a walk," he told Chinese media, adding that he wanted to prove that he could undertake the trek by himself without the need to "be responsible" for any climbing companions.

Liang had armed himself with around 40,000 yuan (S$7,390) worth of heating, charging and emergency equipment that weighed more than 32kg, as well as a downloaded map on his navigation device so that he would not be dependent on mobile signals.

But he was not prepared for the rapidly changing weather the trail is known for.

"One peak could be sunny, but the next would be snowing, raging storms, thick mist and have low visibility," he said.

"I did not expect my power bank to stop working in freezing conditions," he added, and he was forced to continue his trek based on instincts.

He spent a night jumping on the spot to keep warm and avoid being blown off the edge of the trek, he said.

But worse was to follow, and Liang fell from a height on the fifth day of his hike, knocking him out cold for a night.

He awoke the next day to discover that his food supplies and navigation device were lost, and he had fractured his wrist.

He said he knew he was closer to the end than the beginning of the trail, and was determined to get to a spot where it would be easier for him to be found.

For the remaining four days and five nights of his trek, Liang said he had to endure hunger as he did not want to risk eating wild fungi and moss on the mountain.

Instead, he relied on water from a stream and melted snow for hydration, and a toothpaste as a source of sugar, despite it making him nauseous.

Liang said he came across antelope corpses, a sight that made him realise his fate could be similar if he did not make it out of the trek.

On the 10th day, Mr Sun caught a whiff of smoke from a fire and shouted out loud, which led the rescuers to him.

They gave him instant noodles and water as quick replenishment and stayed a night before the team descended the mountain.

Liang's family, who had lost contact with him after two days, was already waiting for him, having sought help from the authorities.

His family also had to fork out 80,000 yuan for his rescue.

One rescuer said Liang was the first climber to have been rescued in around five years, thanks largely to the young man's mental fortitude.

The ordeal has left Liang with a sense of fear and guilt. He said the image on his mobile screen of his mother crying is will stay with him for a long.

He has also learnt to be humble. "I cannot conquer the mountains, but it is the mountain that let me off," he said.