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 'A tale worth reading ... Mr Benuzzi's paradoxical mixture of pride and self-mocking humility is attractive; his courage is amazing; his story dramatic' - New York Times.

 ‘More electrifying than anything a person with a nose for real adventure could hope to read’ - Piero Melati, Repubblica

 10. The Ascent of Rum Doodle - W. E. Bowman

 (Source: Publishers Weekly & Wikipedia)

 If you’re looking to buy vintage edition or autographed copy of these books then 'Chessler Books' & 'Abe Books' have some rare finds. Happy reading & collecting!

  The Sacred Summit of Kanchenjunga dominates the horizon in Sikkim. Avid trekker Maninder Kohli has conducted multiple treks in Sikkim spread over several years. On each trip he has felt drawn closer and closer to Kanchenjunga.

 In 'Sacred Summit' Maninder will share images and highlights of each of the three treks he has led in Sikkim and also build a case on why Sikkim should be a part of the mix for a genuine believer.

 night view of kanchenjunga

 Kanchenjunga 8,586m, located in Sikkim, is the third highest mountain in the world and India’s highest peak. Kanchenjunga is regarded by the people of Sikkim as a sacred peak, whose presence has historically supported the security of Sikkim and to this day influences the weather in the state.

 My first look at Kanchenjunga goes back to 1980 when I arrived at Darjeeling for my Basic Mountaineering Course from HMI Darjeeling. In the mid ground of this image taken at midnight Sikkim is in view. The training area of HMI is in Sikkim where I ended up climbing Dr. B.C. Roy Peak 5445m located quite close to Kanchenjunga. Since that period I strongly held the desire to trek again in Sikkim.

 singalilla kanchenjunga view

 In 2013 plans began to mature and I focused on the Singalilla Ridge in West Sikkim. This trek can be done by two different routes. The West Bengal route has over the years become very commercial and I chose the route through Sikkim, via the Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary, a route which is seldom used. The main highlight of the trek is the most impressive view of Kanchenjunga.

 forests of himalayas

 As you hit the trail in Sikkim what strikes you immediately is the general level of forestation. It's thick to a point that without the support of a trail it's virtually impossible to move even couple of feet around the forest. This feature of a dense forest is common within Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh which are all considered a part of the Eastern Himalaya.

 We were trekking in November and found that the established trail had partially disappeared thanks to rapid growth of vegetation over the monsoon period. Our lead on the trail was carrying a machete which was being used to clear the trail. Some element of social distancing was required from the gentlemen swinging the machete to avoid injury.

 kanchenjunga view from north

 At camp during the evenings we would spend time to determine which peaks are in view. It was a painstaking exercise to determine each high point. What was most interesting to observe was how a high peak like Kabru North 7338m was seemingly overshadowed by Kanchenjunga. The Kanchenjunga Massif contains 5 distinct high points, 4 of the points are above 8000 meters.

 everest and makalu view from singalilla

 Three days into the trek and we were now on the Singalilla ridge at about 3500m. The Singalilla ridge descends from Kanchenjunga and runs along the border between India and Nepal. When we claimed the ridge multiple peaks in Eastern Nepal came into view. About 180 km’s away was the peak of Makalu and another 20 km’s further away we could partially see Mt. Everest. It was truly majestic.

Mountain climbing

 On my return to Delhi I did spend a fair amount of time in identifying each of the peaks in view and marking them. Clustered together were four 8000m peaks and multiple 7000m peaks. When you add this to the much closer view of Kanchenjunga and the Kabru peaks one can only refer to it as a grand spectacle.

 In 2016 I got motivated to do another trek in Sikkim and this time around the plan was to go for the Goecha La trek. Our team reached the sleepy town of Yukson in West Sikkim from where this trek originates. In three easy days we were at Dzongri which is like a mid-way and stop over point for an acclimatisation break. I had stopped over at Dzongri during my Basic Mountaineering Course. From Zongri there are two routes, one heading to the HMI training area and the other towards Goecha La.

 From Dzongri Top one can gain a grand mountain view. From this point at around 3800m the view is dominated by Kanchenjunga South. In comparison to the earlier trek from Singalilla it’s a much closer view. The objective if the trek is to reach Goecha La which is a view point offering a close view of Kanchenjunga South and the Kabru Peak cluster.

 We moved on to the next campsite called Thansing. This section of the trek was one of the most memorable walks I have enjoyed in many years of trekking. The view of Mt. Pandim (6691 meters) was most impressive and the day resulted in a beautiful walk through the rhododendron forest. From time to time we would also encounter wide meadow stretches where the views would open up.

 Finally there is a steep descend down to the valley floor with the final leg being a flat walk to Thansing 3900m. That evening I declared the plan for the next day. Group 1 would leave at 2am and will head to View Point 2 or referred at Goecha La. Group 2 will leave at 4am head to View Point 1, which offers a slightly distant view of Kanchenjunga. Group 3 would leave at 6am and go to Samiti Lake.

 Kanchenjunga South Face

 It was a dramatic day with a lot of excitement. All three teams regrouped for lunch at 1pm an hour from Thansing and had a story to tell. Everyone was happy with how things panned out but one group was looking disappointed. Group 1 consisting of 4 participants made it to Goecha La and got a close view of Kanchenjunga and was elated with the challenge they encountered.

 It was a dramatic day with a lot of excitement. All three teams regrouped for lunch at 1pm an hour from Thansing and had a story to tell. Everyone was happy with how things panned out but one group was looking disappointed. Group 1 consisting of 4 participants made it to Goecha La and got a close view of Kanchenjunga and was elated with the challenge they encountered.

 Group 2 which I was a part of made it to View Point 1 and we also got an impressive view of Kanchenjunga South. The glacier in view was the Kabru glacier and the multiple Kabru Peaks were visible towards the west.

 Samiti lake in Sikkim Himalayas

 It was group 3 which despite meeting its objective looked disappointed. They were all carrying the feeling why did they not push themselves and get to View Point 1. This feeling lingered on for a further few months. It was a lesson for several of us that the pain for pushing hard for a few hours is temporary, but the pain of not trying lingers on a lot longer.

 Kanchenjunga South View Sikkim Himalayas

 It was interesting to understand why we were only seeing the South Peak and not the complete Kanchenjunga Massif. While most Himalayan massifs face south, the Kanchenjunga massif faces east and hence the view of the entire massif would not be visible from this approach.

 As I soaked in the final view of Kanchenjunga I felt that it would be unreal to see the complete Kanchenjunga Massif. I assessed that the next logical step would be to head to the Kanchenjunga Basecamp towards the East referred as Green Lake.

 It was October 2018 and we began our trek to Green Lakes. The trail runs along some of the most wonderful forest sections I have trekked through. We were the only trekkers in the valley. The reason why Green Lakes is unfrequented comes down to logistics support and quality of the trail.

 The trek to “Green Lakes” starts from a village called Lachen and it’s customary that porters are hired from the closest village. But if one goes back to read the accounts of previous expeditions one can see that time and time again teams they have been abandoned by Lachen porters.

 Additionally there are some streams where the bridges are often washed away. All this uncertainty makes it difficult to create a group and manage the trip. Bearing all this in mind I started to plan the trip to “Green Lakes” 6 months in advance.

 As the world celebrates 67 years since the first-ever high-profile ascent up the mighty Everest, the IMF Webinar Series chose this auspicious moment to honor the pioneer mountaineers. One such individual who, unknown to many, daringly braved the tough and punishing conditions of the mountains and hiked to the very top without the modern-day gear is Tenzing Norgay Sherpa.

 As told by Sujoy Das, the story of this little-known amateur Sherpa tells a tale of sheer bravery, enthusiasm, and determination. It talks about the zeal a little Tibetan boy nicknamed ‘Tiger of the Snows,’ a yak harder, had in being a Sherpa, despite having been rejected before.

 The Tiger of the Snows embody the extremes a spirited, passionate, and determined climber can go to conquer the unconquerable. It tells an unreal story of Tenzing Norgay, a “nobody” who would rise to the top of the world – literally and figuratively – to show that a human spirit can triumph over the insurmountable.

 Tenzing may have experienced many misfortunes before his grand success, but his role in every expedition he participated in was pivotal. He helped several pioneer westerners conquer major Himalayan peaks, established trails that would later help many climb the mountains, and left a legacy.

 In all the trips he took part in, even as an amateur Sherpa, this super-amazing mountaineer exhibited unmatched expertise. In total, over 30 years of his life were spent as a mountaineer, and even though his story has been told, repeatedly, there is no doubt that Sujoy Das and the IMF Webinar Series did it better.

 #Tenzing #Norgay​ #Sherpa​ #Everest​ #InternationalEverestDay

 It’s always a pleasure to listen to a mountaineer who also doubles as a professional photographer, talk about the Himalayas. Sankar Sridhar, on this IMF Webinar Series, makes the trip through Ladakh a lot more interesting.

 Using a collection of award-winning shots of frozen rivers and waterfalls, rapids standing still in sub-zero temperatures, beautifully eerie, yet rugged mountains, and lots of wonderful photos, he tells of his solo foray. And, Sankar being the talented story-teller he is, he was so mesmerized by the Changthang region that he went again to explore its magic.

 Listening to him and his adventures, sounds implausible how beautiful Ladakh and its frozen mountains, at a temperature of -48 degrees at night is. But perhaps the most interesting bit is how he discovers how the animals and humans residing in the region survive the freezing conditions.

 You can accompany him as he talks of his escapades traversing a region whose roads are impassable once winter sets in. It is a 12-day trek from Chang La, through the frozen rivers and mountains, the Ladakh wilderness, and the lonely valleys, all the way to Kyon Tso. Watching him, you get to learn lots of unknown mysteries, little secrets, and fun facts about the Changthang region.

 #Ladakh​ #Changthang​ #HimalayanLakes​ #Himalayas​ #Exploring​ #NaturePhotography

 2,800 Kms - Swimming the Ganga : Wg Cdr Paramvir Singh

 Swimming the mighty Ganges River is not news. Nevertheless, when the IMF Webinar Series covers the entire 2,800km Himalayan stretch of the Ganga, courtesy of Wing Commander Paramvir Singh, it definitely has to hit the headlines.

 The presentation is wholly about a serving officer of the Indian air force, whose 43-day, 12-hour a day exploits on water, swimming, and sometimes rafting, are well-documented. He swam from Devprayag in Uttarakhand to the Bay of Bengal, an experience he refers to as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ exploration, and a fascinating outing.

 It is a truly exciting tale, especially with the hurdles he faced and conquered, including having to breeze through chilly waters, facing dangerous water animals, and having to swim for 12 hours a day. He talks about the pains of swimming through the unforgiving Ganga, including getting bruised by rocks and having to battle horrendous tides and waves.

 Priceless beauty, amazing sights, hospitable locals, breathtaking wildlife, and much more; most of it beautiful to see. Unfortunately, the clean fresh and unpolluted waters down the Himalayan stretch of the Ganga would soon give way to the toxic and highly polluted waters downstream.

 The best part of this trip is the eye-opening experience and the lessons he shares with whoever would want to attempt a similar feat in the future. He is an ultra-endurance athlete, a highly decorated officer of the Indian Air Force, and a Tenzing Norgay National Adventure awardee.

 Twenty years ago, I left a lucrative career with a fast growing pharmaceutical company with the singular thought of living a life of adventure, of climbing unknown mountains, of discovering glaciers, of traveling to distant lands and making friends with complete strangers.

 However utopian this may have sounded at the outset, the simple realization that I had only one life to live and therefore, I must love the life I live, convinced me to quit the job where I had been doing well for eight years, so that I could live the life I love.

boots

 From then on, I have lived my life on full compass, embracing the inevitability of financial insecurity on one hand, and the pure joy of living a life of adventure on the other.

 Born in a country with no apparent history and culture of seeking adventure as a sport, as a lifestyle, and even more rarely as a philosophy, I knew I was starting with huge disadvantage.

 I always looked at it this way - there are many routes up a mountain, but I should be taking a comparatively challenging one as a value addition to the whole process. Perhaps something of a purist’s approach to life’s challenges helped me stay positive.

 A life of adventure, like a few other noble pursuits, requires a long and devoted apprenticeship, physical, as well as philosophical. While it is true that not all adventurers are born equal but this reality should not stop them from trying.

 We should not, for a moment, stop believing that we too can savour world class adventure, be it in alpinism or in any other manifestation of an adventure pursuit. Each and every adventurer can influence the world for the better, like ripples in a tranquil pond, or worse, like a tsunami which is why it is imperative for adventurers to season themselves before embarking on the dreamy adventure life.

 Nanda Devi East (7434m) Expedition 2014

 In June-July, 2014, a small, lightweight and semi-alpine style expedition succeeded in climbing Nanda Devi East (7434m) in the Kumaun Himalaya, India. On 3 July, 2014, summit was reached by 4 members of the team.

 In June-July, 2014, a small, lightweight and semi-alpine style expedition succeeded in climbing Nanda Devi East (7434m) in the Kumaun Himalaya, India. On 3 July, 2014, summit was reached by 4 members of the team.

 2014 was the 75th anniversary of the first ascent of this mountain by a Polish team consisting of alpinists Janusz Klarner, Jakub Bujak, Adam Karpinski, Sherpa Dawa Tsering, Dr. JR Foy (British), liaison officer Major S.Blake and Stefan Bernadzikiewicz. The 1939 Polish team had reached the summit on 2 July.

 In May 2013, I had attempted to climb Nanda Devi East with a group of fellow Indian climbers. 4 days of non-stop snowfall resulted in limited climbing days and that in turn caused shortage of food and fuel.

 Despite these limiting factors, we made good progress on the mountain and even could manage one summit attempt from a camp at around 6600m. But during the summit attempt, extremely high wind above 6900m and poor gear conditions of the team added to the agony.

 I decided to turn back from below the summit pyramid, putting safety of the team first. This failure inspired my desire to come back to Nanda Devi East and the 2014 expedition was conceived.

 Beyond BC, the team ferried load for a few days to the foot of Longstaff’s col and established an Advanced Base Camp (4750m). Above ABC, another camp (Intermediate Camp 5000m) was established on a rock step on the lower slopes of the Longstaff’s Col.

 This Intermediate Camp (5000m) was established in an aim to shorten the 1100m plus climb from ABC to Nanda Devi Khal and the idea proved to be very helpful. From the Intermediate Camp (5000m), Longstaff’s Col (5910m) was climbed in only 5 hours and Camp I was made.

 Ahead of Longstaff’s Col, 3 more camps were established respectively in altitudes 6100m (Camp II), 6400m (Camp III) and 6800m (Camp IV). In total we put 4 camps on the south ridge.

 Compared to our attempt in 2013, we found the entire south ridge almost devoid of snow this year. We were stuck in our Camp III (6400m) for 2 extra nights due to bad weather and this in turn resulted in a lot new powder snow on the summit pyramid, making our summit day a slow and struggling affair.

 George Rodway (USA), Thendup Sherpa (India), Anindya Mukherjee (India), Temba Sherpa (High Altitude Supporter), Dup Tsering (High Altitude Supporter), Lhakpa Sherpa (Base Camp Cook) and Himanshu Pandey (Liaison Officer)