Gau quickly assembled the Republic of China Everest Team, and over two years of fundraising and training, including traveling to Mt. McKinley in Alaska for training. During this phase they lost their most experienced climber, Chiu Jui-lin, with another two team members suffering severe frostbite.
隨後他積極籌組「中華民國聖母峰遠征隊」，二年多中，歷經了一波三折的籌款、人員訓練，包括到阿拉斯加麥肯尼峰做移地訓練時，發生山難，隊員中體力、經驗最佳的邱瑞霖罹難、另 2 位凍傷截肢。