Ninety years ago, the Red Army crossed Jiajin Mountain, one of the most formidable stretches of the Long March. Snow, freezing temperatures and thin air pushed the soldiers to their limits as they battled their way across the high-altitude terrain.
Today, a new generation is returning to these same mountains, driven by a very different mission.
Based in Xiaojin County, Sichuan Province, many of the young mountain rescuers are professional guides and Red Cross volunteers. They venture into some of the region’s most challenging high-altitude terrain to rescue people in danger, while also clearing garbage left behind on the slopes.
The journey is different, but the mountains still demand courage, resilience and a willingness to help others.
For these rescuers, the spirit of the epic Long March lives on, not only in every life they save, but in every effort they make to protect the mountains they call home.