In the circles of mountaineering, there is a superman school comparable to the X-Men Academy – Tibet MountaineeringSchool.
Nowadays, few people know that the China’s first mountaineering school fostering professional mountaineering guides was originally founded as a poverty alleviation program in Tibet.
In 1998, OZARK sponsored the establishment of this “Hope School” in the circles of mountaineering. After nearly two decadesof vicissitudes, the school has become a cradle for Chinese professional mountaineering guides.
Like those great companies starting their business from garages, the great school was started from several broken tile houses…
In 1997, the word “outdoors” has just come into the vision of Chinese people hazily. At that time, Mr.Hans, who founded the brand of OZARK just one year before, met Nima Ciugene, who was the liaison officer of the Tibet Mountaineering Association. When they talked about the regrettable contrast between China’s rich mountain resources and the lack of professional mountaineering guides, Mr.Hans decided to invest to set up Tibet Mountaineering School, and the two men saw eye to eye on this.
In this way, Tibet Mountaineering School was gradually established from an embryonic form. With Nima Ciugene as its president, the school began its enrollment in 1998 and was officially set up in 1999.
The establishment of Tibet Mountaineering School
Tibet Mountaineering School, set up as a poverty alleviation program, initially targeted its enrollment at those poor children living in remote and underdeveloped pastoral areas. Entering into the school has changed the destinies of many children. It wouldn’t have come into their minds that someday in the future, on the snow mountains, their judgment for ascent to the summit or descent would determine the life and death of other climbers when they are climbing snow mountains.
To foster professional mountaineering guides of the highest level, Tibet Mountaineering School employed professional lecturers from the French ENSA school to Tibet for lectures and training, bringing the most advanced mountaineering techniques to China. Meanwhile, the school also invited a batch of domestic top climbers to teach at the school.
In 2002, Tibet Mountaineering School established Shengshan Adventure Company to provide employment opportunities for graduates. Now, the company has become the most specialized mountaineering guide company in Tibet.
Today, students graduated from Tibet Mountaineering School are all mountain guides of international style, not mere porters.
A group photo with a French lecturer
Student training in Tibet Mountaineering School
the first batch of OZARK equipments sending to the school
For nearly two decades, Tibet Mountaineering School, Shengshan Adventure Company and the Tibet Mountaineering Team have
insisted in using professional equipments provided by OZARK. They also recommend OZARK products to the friends of Tibet's
climbing circles from the bottom of their hearts.
Azhawangxi, who served as the Olympic torch bearer in 2008 and reached the peak of Qomolangma, said, “After continued
improvement, OZARK equipments have been very good. Our guides ascending Qomolangma all wear OZARK products, among
which the conjoined down jackets are almost perfect.”
professional mountain guides
