When the "little warriors" conquer the summit of Chu Nam mountain.

3 families & 6 little "warriors"

Mount Chu Nam, at 1,470 meters, is the highest mountain in western Gia Lai province, located in Chu Dang Ya commune, Chu Pah district. Despite its relatively modest height, the summit of Chu Nam offers panoramic views of the surrounding area: the Yaly hydroelectric power plant, Bien Ho Lake, Ham Rong mountain, Pleiku city, and more. Right next to Chu Nam is the old Chu Dang Ya volcano, the site of the annual Wild Sunflower Festival.

Because they wanted to give their young "warriors" a chance to test their skills on this mountain, the whole group agreed to wait until the end of the year – when the rainy season in Gia Lai has completely ended – to undertake the trip, as the youngest member is only 3 years old. Going at this time, the sea of ​​clouds on the summit of Chu Nam in the early morning wouldn't be as abundant as during the rainy season, and the wild sunflowers would have faded, but ensuring the safety of the children was the most important thing.

The entire group's preparations were also very thorough; the local guide team consisted of nearly a dozen young, healthy, and cheerful men, ready for the option of each "soldier" carrying a "commander" on their back if necessary.

The entire group departed from Saigon on a long-distance bus the previous afternoon, and by 5 a.m. they had arrived in the mountain town of Pleiku in the chilly early morning air of the year-end, while the rest of the city was still asleep. Mist hung thick beneath the yellow streetlights, and the early morning cold of the highlands couldn't compare to the excitement of the six little warriors – who had just moments before been woken up from their sleep to get off the bus.

The shuttle bus took the whole group to have breakfast at the famous Hong Pho Kho restaurant in Pleiku, then headed straight towards Tan Son Dam at the foot of Chu Nam Mountain. Everyone, young and old, strapped on their luggage and began to walk.

The "romantic" journey of the young warriors

The "starting" section of the trail, about 1 km long, slopes gently down the mountainside, with the Tan Son irrigation lake below, its water a beautiful emerald green. The early morning sun wasn't too harsh, and walking in the shade of the forest trees on a fairly smooth dirt road, the young warriors chirped like little birds along the way.

Leaving the main road, they immediately plunged onto a steep slope leading up the mountainside. The slope might make adults complain, but the children were very enthusiastic. Their steps were unwavering, relentlessly pushing forward. Little Ni, normally seen with her wobbly gait and tiny backpack swaying with each step, would need her parents' hands to prevent her from slipping and falling on the slope, but even then, it was just a handhold; she still managed to take unsteady steps to move forward on her own.

Halfway up the mountain slope, the tall trees had thinned, leaving only rocks and patches of tall grass. The heat from the sun and the steep path made the young warriors sweat profusely. Their backpacks were passed to their uncles or parents to keep their backs cool and make it easier to maneuver as they climbed.

Twelve-year-old Seko had no difficulty on the journey, and seven-year-old Coca could keep up with him just as easily. The rabbit sisters, Kin and her sibling, had already undergone numerous training and combat experiences with their father, so they were completely unfazed by the daunting challenge ahead. Only the two princesses, Kem and Ni, were too young, but they had the most domineering parents, always encouraging and motivating them rather than offering help unless absolutely necessary.

When Kem started stumbling and falling, her "prince charming" appeared. He was Kin. Kin's father had bought him a very comfortable hiking stick. Seeing Kem begin to stumble and fall on the grass, he deliberately slowed down, letting Thỏ walk with their father while he walked beside Kem. He used one hand to support himself with the stick, the other to hold the little girl's hand, his eyes attentively watching both the path and his responsible little friend. At times, they encountered thick, dry bushes about a handspan high blocking the path. Kem hesitated and stopped, but Kin let go of her hand, stepped forward, stomped on the bushes, then turned back and said, "I've cleared the way, Kem, go ahead."

The most pitiful sight was little Ni, who, still unsteady on her feet, trudged along the entire journey. Reaching a flat, grassy area under the cool shade of a tree, she suddenly sat down, then slowly lay back on the grass… and immediately fell asleep, snoring loudly. Everyone else stopped to rest, leaving her alone. After about half an hour, little Ni blinked, woke up, and, propping herself up, continued her journey.

on the summit of Chu Nam

We kept walking and resting, having lunch halfway up the mountain. By around 4 pm, the whole group reached a flat area on the summit of Chu Nam to set up camp. The afternoon sun was golden like honey, bathing the surrounding mountain slopes. The sky in the Central Highlands at the end of the year was a deep blue, with white clouds drifting lazily here and there. On the mountaintop, the wind was blowing strongly, and the children ran and jumped around, watching the adults set up tents and prepare to light a fire for cooking.

The Chu Dang Ya volcano lies right at the foot of Chu Nam mountain. With the wild sunflowers gone, both the Chu Dang Ya mountain and its funnel-shaped crater (which has been extinct for a very long time) are divided into small, colorful squares: green and yellow from vegetation; brown and moss from the soil – looking like a checkered cloak draped over the volcano.

As dusk fell and the air grew chilly as the sun set in the west, the delicious aroma of food wafted on the breeze. Everyone gathered around the fire to ward off the cold and enjoy dinner together. Among the young warriors, Ni still needed her mother's help while eating – something that impressed the adults, who saw her almost entirely independently climbing the mountain on her tiny feet.

The fatigue of the journey and the cold mountain air at night caused the six young soldiers to quickly fall asleep after dinner. It was the adults who truly began their little party. A little wine to warm their stomachs in the cold night, amidst the flickering firelight in the wind, the melodious guitar playing of the guide, and the voices of the members singing one after another, echoing until late into the night.

Descending the mountain

In the early morning, the mountaintop was filled with shouts of people waking each other to greet the sunrise, and the sounds of the guides busily lighting fires to boil water for breakfast. The wind whipped against the tents, mingling with the pleasant, pungent smell of smoke. At the end of the year, the rainy season in the Central Highlands had long since ended, so there were fewer chances to see dense seas of clouds on the summit of Chu Nam, but there were still fluffy white "bays of clouds" covering the area, with the mountain peaks rising like small islands.

Soon, the chirping of the children could be heard. After being warmed up, and as the first rays of sunlight shone down on the mountaintop, the children began to frolic and jump around like little birds.

The pot of chicken porridge was steaming, its aroma wafting in the breeze. The whole group gathered around the fire, slurping up bowls of hot porridge and sipping on the rich coffee of Gia Lai. As the sun rose higher, everyone began packing up their tents and cleaning up the trash on the mountaintop.

The whole group set off down the mountain, returning via a different route than yesterday. We chose a longer but gentler path to minimize danger for the children. Going downhill is no easier than going uphill, and sometimes even more dangerous. On the return journey, the children were supervised much more closely by the adults than when they climbed up. But worrying is the adults' job; the little warriors were still carefree and happily frolicking along the way.

Today, Kin was in charge of Kem along the way. Going downhill made it difficult for them to hold hands as they did going uphill, but they still stayed close together. Seko, being more robust, often pulled ahead with the guide, while Thỏ and Coca stayed close to their parents. Only Ni had more difficulty because her small legs were still weak; she often fell downhill, so her parents carried her through steep sections or slippery areas with gravel and sand.

During the final stretch of rocky terrain at the foot of the mountain, all the young soldiers were carried by their guides to ensure maximum safety. A shuttle bus was waiting at the foot of the mountain, taking the entire group back to the mountain town for lunch at a restaurant by the lake, concluding their special journey to conquer the summit of Chu Nam.

Parents shouldn't overprotect their children; let them have more opportunities to interact with nature. Because children are capable of much more than adults think.

South China