Giripremis conquer Kangchenjunga

PUNE: The adverse weather conditions, which developed as a result of Cyclone Fani along India’s East Coast, did not deter the mountaineers of Giripremi from conquering Mount Kangchenjunga, on Wednesday. 

Giripremi’s all 10 climbers reached the summit of India’s highest and the world’s third highest peak at 8586 metres. They created history in not only India’s but also among the world’s mountaineering fraternity.

Secretary of city-based Giripremi Mountaineering Institute Ganesh More informed that from May 1 to 10, the climbers had to remain stationed at base camp due to Cyclone Fani. The conditions had gone from bad to worse as there were huge jet streams and heavy snowfall which left them unable to climb up.

After the weather was clear, they started with their journey. 

As many as 10 climbers from Giripremi started their journey from Pune on March 31 and completed the summit on Wednesday. They climbed from the Nepal side. Along with Giripremi’s mountaineers, 20 other climbers from Argentina, Mexico, Germany, Singapore, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Bengal and Nepal had also joined them from the base camp.

Giripremi Director and expedition leader Umesh Zirpe shared the news with Giripremi members on phone from Kangchenjunga base camp. He said, “Giripremi’s all 10 climbers reached the summit of Mt Kangchenjunga at the dawn of May 15 around 5.30 am. All the climbers started the summit push on Tuesday at 5 pm and after a gruelling climb of 12 hours, all the members successfully climbed the peak and unfurled our Tricolour at the world’s third highest peak.”

“It is the largest summit on Mt Kangchenjunga, as 10 climbers from a single organisation reached the top of the world’s third highest mountain and created history. Now all the 10 climbers have reached Camp 4 and resting. They will start their descend on Thursday morning.” Zirpe informed.

More said, “In 1977, the Indian Army had successfully climbed Mt Kangchenjunga from the Indian side, which was more difficult. After that many other individuals had climbed, but this was the largest civilian expedition. The mountaineers will return to Pune by the first week of June.”

STEPS TO SUMMIT
- The mountaineers climbed from Nepal side, from Yalung Glacier
- Reached Base Camp at 5,475 metres altitude on April 18
- Giripremi’s team left the base camp on Saturday (May 11) morning to climb up to camp 2 located at 6,300 metres altitude
- On Monday (May 13) morning, the team moved to Camp 3 located at approx. 6,900 metres altitude. 
- On Tuesday (May 14), the team reached Camp 4 located at approx. 7,400 metres altitude around noon.

IN A GOOD COMPANY
- Nepal’s most famous and best female climbers Maya Sherpa, has also climbed Mt Kangchenjunga.
- Managing Director of Peak Promotions Pvt Ltd, Nepal’s Giripremi branch, Babu Sherpa has also climbed the mountain. 

DIFFICULTIES FACED BY CLIMBERS
- Base Camp to Camp 1: Steep ice ridge
- Camp 1 to Camp 2: Blue ice (hardrock snow, difficult to walk and climb) and approx. 100 metres ice wall with 70 to 80 degrees elevation
- Camp 2 to Camp 3: Rock walls
- Camp 3 to Camp 4: Crevasse and moving glaciers
- Camp 4 to The Summit: Camp 4 to the summit to Camp 4 consumes 24 to 27 hours