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Bravehearts of the cruel mountains
They were just 20 metres from the summit. Suddenly, an unexpected blizzard swept them aside as they precariously clung to carabiners (rope) attached to the pitton (nail-rope holder) on a 60-metre ice wall?with a 90 degree gradient.
They were just 20 metres from the summit. Suddenly, an unexpected blizzard swept them aside as they precariously clung to carabiners (rope) attached to the pitton (nail-rope holder) on a 60-metre ice wall—with a 90 degree gradient.
The four soldiers of the Indian Army were part of a group of 11 scouts of the 17 Garhwal Rifles and Kumaon Scouts on an expedition to Mount Shivling, from Lucknow. The choppy winds were relentlessly hitting the four, who held on to the rope for their life, against an icy wall. As one JCO and three others of different ranks struggled to find their feet in the icy winds, something from their bag fell into the crevice. They were stunned and held their breath in fear. Was it some equipment that would leave them stranded now? But soon, much to their relief they they found the stuff they had lost in the storm was not of much use!
Finally, despite four hours of struggle, the summiteers could not reach the peak and decided to return to the camp. “That was September 22,” recalled Captain Yadav. However, summiteers that they were, they refused to give up and got ready again to conquer the mountains. Though, the conditions were yet to normalise, the team was determined. Collecting more equipment comprising jumar (rope), sling (to secure equipment), face masks, snow goggles, other head gears, body harnesses etc. the four soldiers started from the camp for to peak, and it took them another four hours to make it to Mount Shivling. During the 20-day camp the soldiers had packed chikki, gud-patti, chocolate, etc. “We had also kept a few extra equipment, in case of emergency,” added the Captain.
It was not only the expedition, but an environment-friendly act. “The expedition team collected a large amount of garbage from Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. It was for the third time, that the expedition had cleared garbage from the reserve, which has over the years, become a threat to the lives of the endangered species found in the area,” said Captain Yadav.
