The mountains are layered and misty. A group of figures dressed in training uniforms and carrying toolkits slowly moved along the steep ridge, like moving iron towers, steadily wedged into the towering mountain. This is a common working scenario of the power patrol team of a certain Rocket Force unit. For decades, they have been stationed deep in the mountains, responsible for maintaining and connecting hundreds of kilometers of power lines. Day after day, year after year, generation after generation of patrol soldiers traverse the remote mountains, guarding this winding "power artery" in the clouds. Ordinary forges extraordinary, value lies in perseverance. Climbing cliffs and passing through dense forests, the patrol soldiers use their footsteps to measure the power channels in the mountains. When they are deeply rooted in the mission of safeguarding the security of the motherland and walk on this patrol line, they have the resilience of an iron tower. In mid autumn, facing the morning glow, the patrol troops once again set foot on the patrol route. This road carries their perseverance and witnesses their growth. This is a path of responsibility, hardship, as well as their journey of youth and growth. Entering this mountain feels like entering an isolated world. There is no mobile phone signal here, only the sound of the wind, bird songs, and my own heartbeat can be heard in my ears. On a sunny day, I am covered in sweat, on a rainy day, I am covered in mud. When I encounter thunder, my heart rises to my throat, and my arms and legs tremble when I cross the river. ”The sentence summarized by Sergeant Chang'an Junwei fully embodies the daily work of the patrol troops. The lines they are responsible for are mostly laid on dangerous peaks, cliffs, and valleys. Our mission lies beneath our feet. ”A full line inspection at least once a month means crossing dozens of hills, wading through turbulent streams, and crossing primitive dense forests. From relying solely on legs in the beginning to the current collaboration of drones, patrol equipment continues to be upgraded. However, a pair of combat boots and a good physique are always their most reliable "passes". It is said that the scenery is picturesque, but only we know how difficult it is to walk the path in the painting. Here, every frame of scenery can be used as wallpaper! ”In mid autumn, Private Guo Zhiguo participated in his first patrol mission and was amazed by the beautiful scenery of the mountains. It is said that the scenery is picturesque, but only we know how difficult it is to walk the path in the painting. ”Speaking of line patrol work, Sergeant Zhao Zhongyin, who has 4 years of experience in power line patrol, opened the conversation box - that year, Zhao Zhongyin, who was still a new recruit, participated in the power line patrol task for the first time. Before departure, his mood was particularly joyful: "Electric power line patrol is a 'good job'. He can climb mountains and exercise his body every month. Compared to those comrades who are on duty at fixed points every day, he is simply too happy." However, when the patrol car bumpy arrived at the foot of the mountain and truly entered the patrol area, he was shocked by the steepness of the mountain: "I have climbed many mountains, but this primitive mountain road that is almost isolated from the world and requires hands and feet to move forward is the first time." "Pay attention to the dark pit on the left side" "Your feet are slippery, go uphill slowly, grab the vines"... Along the way, the squad leader's reminders sounded from time to time. Thorns cut through his skin, and the heavy tool kit made his shoulders ache... Not far away, Zhao Zhongyin was exhausted and panting, falling behind the team. He looked up and saw the squad leader waving a machete in the glaring sunlight, cutting open the tree branches blocking the way. His training uniform had been soaked in sweat and dried by the scorching sun, forming white "salt flowers" one after another. Zhao Zhongyin swallowed his dry throat and couldn't help but ask, "Is this the beginning of the patrol?" That day, Zhao Zhongyin walked dozens of kilometers on the mountain road and was bitten by mosquitoes, causing unbearable itching; There were also several blood bubbles on his feet, and every step felt like stepping on a needle tip... After a day, he was so tired that his limbs were limp, and the initial excitement gradually subsided. When I first started patrolling the line, the squad leader always said we would arrive soon, but I felt that the mountain road was particularly long and I couldn't reach the end no matter what. Later on, I became a veteran and gradually got used to it. This route lasted for 13 years. ”Sensing Zhao Zhongyin's unusual behavior, class monitor He Xiaodong talked to him about his past experiences. It's already great to be able to persevere through the first patrol! ”He Xiaodong's words soothed Zhao Zhongyin's heart like a spring breeze. With the help of He Xiaodong and his comrades, Zhao Zhongyin gradually adapted to the task of power line patrol and grew rapidly on this line. Every time he patrols the line, he puts extra effort into measuring it with his feet, observing it with his eyes, and going through it in his brain. In less than two years, Zhao Zhongyin became the backbone of the company's independent patrol. Look at those mountain roads and rivers, they are all made by patrolling officers and soldiers who have overcome obstacles and stepped on them step by step! ”Nowadays, Zhao Zhongyin's words are full of confidence and pride. He rolled up his pants, with scars on his calves, silently recounting the hardships and dangers of each patrol route. Endure hardships without saying bitterness, enjoy patrolling the routes. ”Patrol soldiers use their footsteps to measure the height of mountains and the depth of water. As long as there are poles and iron towers standing tall, and wherever the line passes, their footprints will definitely be left behind. There is a stone carving called 'Rooted in the Mountains' in the camp area. The stone carving author is Wang Jinlu, the former leader of the electric power patrol team, who stayed in this mountain for 14 years. That year, during a river crossing maintenance mission, continuous heavy rain caused the water level of the river to rise significantly. Seeing this situation, Wang Jinlu volunteered and crossed the river alone with ropes and maintenance equipment. As they approached the middle of the river, the bamboo raft suddenly swayed left and right, and Wang Jinlu couldn't stabilize himself. He and his teammates on the shore flipped into the river and disappeared without a trace. They shouted anxiously. Just as everyone was almost desperate, a voice suddenly came from the other side saying 'I'm here', and Wang Jinlu appeared across the river with equipment in his hand. On the way back, Wang Jinlu deliberately picked a smooth and flat stone by the river, washed it clean with the river water, and transported it back to the camp. After careful consideration, he carved the four characters "rooted in the mountains". Stories like this are not uncommon for patrolling soldiers. Looking back at the late nights, veteran An Junwei, who has been patrolling the border for 30 years, repeatedly asked himself: What courage did it take to defend the mountains? What drives me to keep walking on the patrol road? In fact, the answer lies in his heart: it's not that the mountains cannot be separated from him, but that he cannot be separated from the mountains. Years of patrol experience have already tightly connected him to every mountain peak, every iron tower, and every railway line here. The deeper and farther we go, the more familiar we become with this forest, and the more profound our emotions become. "That year, the squad moved to the mountains, leaving nothing in the camp. In order to take root in the deep mountains, successive officers and soldiers have settled down and built this place as their own home. Carrying bricks and tiles, building my home, the mountains are my home, guarding relies on everyone... "This is the entrepreneurial slogan written by the officers and soldiers themselves during the construction of the camp. In order to build a new home, officers and soldiers carried bricks, tiles, and cement from the foot of the mountain to the top. They worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, under the scorching sun above their heads, and thus built their own camp. Every blade of grass, every tree, every stone, and every scenery here is a witness to the soldiers building their camps and rooting themselves in the mountains. The mountains are humid and rainy, and the walls of barracks and dormitories occasionally peel and paint off. In response to this situation, officers and soldiers will maintain the camp area every week and timely paint the walls. Some new soldiers who had just entered the mountain didn't understand, so they asked squad leader Zhan Xionghui, "The mountains are so humid, and the walls will peel off soon after being painted. Why do we have to do such repetitive work?" Zhan Xionghui said earnestly, "Repeating the same things is indeed annoying, but this is our home and we need to maintain it together." In this place far away from the hustle and bustle and without mobile phone signal, officers and soldiers face silent mountains and quiet forests every day. Here, everyone has a way to combat loneliness. Second level Sergeant Chu Xu enjoys listening to the chirping of birds in the woods, the reverberations in the valleys, and the sound of wind blowing through power lines. In his opinion, those are the most moving pieces of music; Sergeant Chen Xi is accustomed to observing changes in the power lines and channels, recording the growth of trees in different seasons, and thinking about when branches can grow next to the power lines, affecting power supply safety... Years of wind and sun have carved weathered marks on the faces and hands of these officers and soldiers. They said, 'This is the mark of the mountains, and also the emblem of our line patrol soldiers.' The routes on the map turn into endless hills and forests under the feet of the line patrol soldiers. Sergeant Ren Lixin once calculated that in the three years since joining the army, the total distance traveled on patrol was enough to run several laps on the ring road in his hometown. Every officer and soldier has unforgettable memories in their patrol experience. Class monitor Li Jianhu clearly remembers that during a patrol, he suddenly encountered a snowstorm and the mountain road was covered with snow. In no time, fog rose again, visibility plummeted, and every step forward was on the brink of danger. What should I do? Can I still complete the task? ”Everyone was muttering in their hearts. Tighten the safety rope and come with me. ”Li Jianhu's words made everyone's hearts calm down, and comrades supported each other, struggling forward with a pathfinder. I walked for most of the day just to confirm the safety of a section of the line that is prone to icing. To catch up with the power line inspection task, they need to complete the replacement of equipment for dozens of line facilities within the designated time. In order to complete the task on time, the officers and soldiers went up the mountain as soon as dawn broke and worked for the whole day. There is a section of the route called the 'Despair Line', where they need to carry dozens of pounds of equipment and climb over mountains with a slope of nearly 70 degrees. Climbing mountains and valleys all year round has endowed this group of young patrol soldiers with a unique calmness: "The deeper and farther we go, the more familiar we become with this forest, and the more profound our emotions become." In order to create a "home" atmosphere, every time the patrol returns, the officers and soldiers make exquisite stone carvings and root carvings of the beautiful rocks and roots they encounter on the way. They are marked with dates and neatly placed in a corner of the barracks, gradually building a "patrol commemorative wall". Each piece of work embodies an experience of patrolling the line and a time spent with the mountains. This year, several soldiers who were about to leave the army brought back a stone from the top of the mountain during the last line patrol, and solemnly inscribed 8 words, "Line safety is more important than Mount Tai", which was left to the team. The mountain road is rugged, but our steps are firm; The river surges, and our youth is like fire. "In the morning light, Sergeant Wang Zhiyuan is carefully inspecting the patrol equipment of the day in the equipment room: drones, telescopes, machetes, first aid kits, dry food..." The daily work of the patrol soldiers is very monotonous. They deal with iron towers, wires, and insulators all year round, connecting them with different numbered iron towers with a series of footprints. ”Wang Zhiyuan told me that the position, number, and characteristics of each tower are deeply engraved in the minds of the patrolling soldiers. Even in foggy weather, they can accurately find the location of the tower based on their experience. Regardless of the weather, conducting a two person cross check on equipment is the iron rule before carrying out patrol missions. At critical moments, if the task is affected due to equipment power shortage or incomplete tools, it is a dereliction of duty. For every officer and soldier of the power line patrol team, patrolling the line is their duty, and hidden dangers are enemy situations. That New Year's Eve, the substation suddenly received an alarm of a short circuit in a certain line. Commander Duan Qicheng urgently summoned everyone and mobilized them with emergency repair equipment. The mountain road is muddy and impassable for vehicles. The officers and soldiers could only abandon their vehicles and walk on foot, struggling on the slippery and steep mountain roads covered in ice. The frozen branches fell on the narrow mountain roads, and each step took a lot of time. Sweat mixed with snow soaked the thick military coats, and the cold wind made people shiver uncontrollably. Arriving near the observation point, thick fog pervaded and visibility was very low. Sergeant Wang Bo volunteered, "Let me go up and take a look!" He tied his safety rope and skillfully climbed up a nearby tall tree