Fourteen students from the Tsinghua University Mountaineering Association began climbing the 6,590-meter Mount Samdain Kangsang yesterday from their 5,100-meter base camp in the Nyainqentanglha Mountains in northern Tibet.

It is the first expedition for most of the 14 students, including three women students.

Though summer is not the best season for mountain climbing, the students are still keen to challenge themselves.

"Mountain climbing enriches my life and realizes my dream of communing with nature," said Wen Shiqiang, expedition captain and a computer science postgraduate with the university.

Rainy weather has enveloped the mountains over the past two days. However, good weather is forecast for the next few days and will provide the mountaineers with their best opportunity to reach the peak.

With established climbing routes and a low difficulty rating, Mount Samdain Kangsang is one of the best training bases for novice mountaineers.

"Altitude is not the ultimate goal of our expedition and the experience is more precious than the summit," Wen said. "We will always put safety first."

The expedition has hired two Tibetan guides, and another two guides provided by the Tibetan Mountaineering Association will join them later.

Meanwhile, 16 members of Peking University's Mountain Eagles Club are also approaching a peak in the plateau, the 6,178-meter Mount Yuzhu in Qinghai Province.

Safety is also their top priority. Two local guides have been hired.

Five members of the Mountain Eagles Club died or were presumed dead after they were hit by an avalanche when they were trying to reach Mount Shisha Pagma's 7,292-meter western face in Tibet in August last year.

(China Daily July 14, 2003)