THE wealth of beautiful mountains in and around Hangzhou can be a dangerous environment. Xu Wenwen meets members of the team who devote their time, money and energy to saving people who become lost or injured in this challenging terrain.

After crossing a swift current in canoes, tens of volunteers in orange survival suits fasten ropes around their waists and promptly drop from a cliff to reach caves on the side of a hill.

It is a practice maneuver by the Ramunion Rescue Team of Hangzhou, a volunteer squad launched by the Ramunion Outdoor Sports League and affiliated to the Hangzhou Sports Bureau.

Of all volunteer actions, being an emergency rescue volunteer who helps save people lost or injured in dangerous places is one of the most demanding.

The Ramunion Rescue Team, formed in May 2009, is especially responsible for the search and rescue of people lost in the mountains in and around the Hangzhou area.

Currently, it is comprised of more than 180 brave volunteers, all strong, experienced and highly skilled outdoor sports enthusiasts, with an average age of 30.

"Hangzhou is a model for east China, and even the country," vice team leader Xu Lijun says proudly. "The team sets the pace for its peers in the whole country, both in skills and equipment.

"Every team member is a skillful outdoor sports enthusiast, and many of them have had more than 10 years' experience of outdoor sports," says Xu. "They are from all walks of life, but typically are doctors, team leaders of other outward development clubs and entrepreneurs."

Thanks to these heroes, 17 people's lives have been saved in the past two years.

In October 2009, eight outdoor sports enthusiasts were lost in a primary forest on Wuyi Mountain in Fujian Province. Risking mountain torrents caused by heavy rain, the team rescued them in three days.

Rescue success

At the end of 2009, nine climbers who lost their direction were stuck in an untraversed section of Niutou Mountain in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. The volunteer squad, coupled with local police, got the nine people out in 24 hours.

"Those experiences allow the team and its members to grow up," says Hua Wei, the team leader. "We used to be immature and inexperienced, but today we have a set of rules and everything's getting better."

In the volunteer team, the division of labor is clear-cut, each member being charged with specific responsibilities, such as radio communication, climbing, driving, giving medical treatment and contacting the local media.

This year, the team divides its members into five squads. The first and second squads are the main force, featuring 50-plus of the best members, while the fifth squad provides backup. The third squad is for logistics, such as purchasing equipment and preparing training classes, while the fourth consists of sniffer dogs and their trainers.

As for equipment, the team boasts advanced GPS, SUVs, maritime satellite communications and uniforms among their vast array of resources. All this equipment is sponsored or donated by enterprises or volunteers themselves, although the team is affiliated to the local government.

"For us, shoes and trousers are costly," says Xu Yin, a senior member who has attended all rescues. "Two of my pairs of trousers worth more than 1,000 yuan (US$152) each have been torn during rescues, and the pair I am wearing now has been patched."

He Jun, one of the initiators and the chairman of Ramunion Outdoor Sports League, donated a V8 truck worth 700,000 yuan last year and knows the high cost of maintaining the team.

For example, the clothing for one member, including helmet, safety vest and harness, costs 5,000 yuan. "Including the regular training and maneuvers, we need 3 million yuan a year," He says.

"At least we don't need to raise money before we can carry out a rescue, like other rescue teams have to do, which is very frustrating," concludes Xu Lijun, a surgeon.

"Since many of our members are entrepreneurs, we keep receiving donations, and because we are affiliated to the government, it is easy to win more social support."

Their dedication is not only about money. Time and energy are also required.

"The days I have off work to rescue are counted in my annual leave," says Xu Lijun. "And I know some volunteers' wages are deducted because they are taken as 'being absent from work'."

Frequent training

Even though only a few rescues take place each year, volunteers have to have frequent physical fitness training and learn skills such as how to operate GPS and radios and map reading.

"Hangzhou has 188 mountains, it is necessary to have a well-trained rescue team in the city," says Wang Lei, one of the initiators of the team.

"At the very beginning when we created the squad, we didn't take it very seriously, as we knew it would be very hard, due to the financial aspect and the high requirements on the volunteers," recalls Wang.

"But soon we found we had to be very serious because of pressure from the outside and inside," he adds. "On one hand, society is watching us, waiting for our achievements. On the other hand, the team members are expectant, they want to exert their expertise."

It is impressive. Unlike how it is shown in the movies, carrying out a rescue is more risky than it is exciting. For example, a policeman died during a rescue in Yellow Mountain, Anhui Province recently.

"I could have died in a rescue when I ascended a cliff," recalls Xu Lijun. "Many people get wounded during rescues."

So why do they continue to devote their efforts?

Some say "I do because I can," others say "I just want to help," while a young guy, Deng Feng, says the fact that one of his friends died on a lone travel inspired him to save other people's lives.

"There are many, many warm-hearted, passionate and enthusiastic people in society, hoping to contribute their power to public welfare," says Xu Lijun. "And the increasingly influential social force symbolizes the country's civilization."

Currently, the squad is planning to compile a series of emergency rescue manuals that will be suited to the terrain and conditions in east China, so other cities in this area can copy the model and set up their own volunteer teams.