DREAMING HIGHER

On May 26, a team of young mountaineers from Pune's Giripremi successfully summited Mount Thelu, standing at 6,002 meters in the Gangotri region of Uttarakhand. The climb, completed in a semi-alpine style, marks a notable achievement for the expedition. The team's youngest member, Nikunj Shah (22), a former student of Gurukul and an MBA graduate from Symbiosis Sports Management College, has penned down the experience for Sports Champ

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Eleven years ago, my adventure with Giripremi began through GGIM’s first batch of the Avhaan Nirman Udaan programme, sparking a deep passion for mountaineering. After three years of intense trekking and exploration, I pursued further courses in rock climbing with Giripremi. Just as I completed all the available courses, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. During the pandemic, focussed on maintaining our fitness.

Giripremi’s leader, Umesh Zirpe, whom we affectionately call Mama, noticed my dedication and fitness. He gave me my first chance as a support member in the Mt. Manda 1 Expedition, marking the start of my hardcore mountaineering journey. Following this, I was also part of the support team for the Mt. Meru Expedition. Both mountains, located in the Garhwal Himalayas, posed tough challenges with their loose terrain and the receding Gomukh Glacier. Impressed by my performance and fitness, Mama included me in the climbing team for the Mt. Thelu Expedition.

Mt. Thelu, located in the Garhwal Himalayas, requires a two-day trek to its base camp. The journey begins from Gangotri to Bhojbasa, where trekkers stay overnight. It then continues from Bhojbasa to the Gomukh Glacier, crossing into the treacherous Raktavarna Valley. The challenging route from the glacier to the base camp involves a steep 60-70 degree ascent. Our team, representing the next generation of Giripremi, took on the semi-alpine challenge, relying on support only up to the base camp and handling all tasks ourselves above that point. This included rope fixing, climbing without external help from Sherpas, pitching tents, washing utensils, and fetching water, which helped us acclimatise.