Jamshedpur Aug 29: The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) New Delhi has proposed expeditions to Everest Massif i.e. Mt Everest (29029 ft), Mt. Lhotse (27940 ft) , Mt. Nuptse (25791 ft) and Mt Pumori (23494 ft), in the year 2020.
As part of the selection process for these expeditions, IMF invited applications from candidates having experience in mountaineering, along with A Grade in Basic & Advance mountaineering courses.
Out of 600 applications screened, 100 were called for the first selection trial.� The group was divided in two parts of 50 each. The first one was sent to Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering (JIM), J&K and the other to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Uttarkashi.�
Both Institutes were given the responsibility of conducting the trials. There was a selection panel also sent by IMF, which went up to the Summit Camp to see the performance of the climbers in terms of mountain fitness, technical climbing competence, team working skills, attitude while facing difficulties, discipline, and time management.
Hemant Gupta, Sr. Manager, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), was one of the members selected and�sent to JIM, J&K for the trial along with 49 others.� There were two peaks selected for the trials by JIM� i.e. Mt Tulian (5000m), and Mt. Kolahoi (5425m). The activities in the trial included long-distance running with and without load, rock climbing in various grades of difficulty, usage of anchoring and belaying techniques, carrying loads up to 20 kg for 6 to 7 days uphill during the expedition.��
For the final Summit on Mt. Tulian the team started from the Summit Camp at midnight and reached the peak after considerable struggle for 8 hours. Along with negotiating heavy snow deposits, rockfall areas also had to be negotiated. 25 members reached the Summit including Hemant.
Hemant has crossed the first hurdle successfully and is now included in the second selection expedition to Mt. Trishul � I at 7120 m, situated in Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 50 candidates including 14 girls would undertake this Expedition from Aug. 28 to Sept. 30, 2019.
Those selected in this would be part of the teams for expeditions to Everest Massif i.e. Mt Everest (29029 ft), Mt. Lhotse (27940 ft) , Mt. Nuptse (25791 ft) and Mt Pumori (23494 ft), in the year 2020.