We joined our friends from Wilder for a three-day trip to Jiaming Lake, entering through the Jiemaosi Trail. The weather changed the moment we reached the trailhead. Heavy rain poured down the mountainside, turning the entrance into what looked like a temporary waterfall. Everyone exchanged a few helpless glances, put on their rain gear, and continued forward. There was little else to do.
The Jiemaosi route is known for its relentless climbs and descents. For hours, we hiked through the rain, gradually gaining elevation until we were moving at the same height as the clouds themselves. As we climbed higher, the sky slowly began to clear. At Xinwulu River, the first major rest stop and water source, we paused briefly to refill bottles and recover. Many hikers choose to camp here for the night, but we decided to continue toward Volleyball Field Campsite. After a short break, we shouldered our packs once again and pushed onward, hoping to catch up with the teammates already ahead of us.
The scenery along the Jiemaosi Trail feels almost unreal at times. Clouds drift through valleys, ridgelines appear and disappear behind mist, and the landscape changes continuously with elevation. By around 3 PM, we arrived at Volleyball Field Campsite. Our faster teammates had already pitched their tents. After a full day of climbing, there was little energy left for conversation. We settled in, ate dinner, and turned in early.
The following morning, we discovered that one of our hiking shoes had begun to separate from its sole. With no practical way to repair it properly, we secured it with tape and continued. Near the base station, we reached Golf Course Campsite. The open alpine terrain surrounding the campsite offered expansive views in every direction. With no other groups camping there, we decided to pitch our tent and spend some time photographing the landscape before continuing toward our final destination. Jiaming Lake.
Lieliao Campsite serves as the only reliable water source between Volleyball Field Campsite and Jiaming Lake. After refilling our bottles, we resumed the climb. The forest gradually gave way to low alpine shrubs and open grasslands. With every step, the horizon expanded. Mountain ridges stretched into the distance, while the trail traced its way across broad slopes and exposed terrain.
We reached Jiaming Lake on the afternoon of the second day. The lake sat quietly among the surrounding mountains. Standing on its shore, the scale of the landscape felt far greater than any photograph could convey. Vast alpine meadows extended toward the horizon, while clouds drifted slowly across the sky above. We stayed for a while without saying much. There wasn’t much that needed to be said.
On the morning of the third day, sunlight gradually reached the campsite. Tents came down, backpacks were packed, and preparations for the descent began.
The journey would end the same way it started, following the Jiemaosi Trail back down the mountain.
Looking back, the memories were not defined by a single destination, but by the trail itself: the rain at the trailhead, the long climbs, the campsites, the water sources, and the changing landscapes encountered along the way.
