MOUNTAINEERING IN INDIA

Mountaineering

As you Know that Back packing , scuba diving, bungee jumping, para- gliding and mountaineering
are all advanture sports . Amongest them mountaineering offers the ultimate
challange, the trial by fire, for the spirit, the mind and the body .
Each mountaineering expedition is fraught with danger, lonliness, hardship and
uncertainity due to variousof weathers. and most of all mountaineering expeditions
are not short trips but may last over months .

one can say that in trying to reach the pinnacle, one can discover the essence of
one's being , having undergone various test of endurance , courage and physical
strength. Mountaineering can be romantic too and this romance of heights can be
had in the mountains of Ladakh, the Zanskar group, Arunachal Pradesh
and the central Himalayas . One can find some of the most dauting and challenging
peaks in the world here , ranging from Nanda Devi(7800m).

Climbing Rocks

is a challenging task; some climbers call it a vertical dance while
others see it as the ultimate way to test oneself . Standing on the summit is only
part of the total enjoyment and satisfaction that one achieves from mountaineering
-and more so in the Indian Himalayas.

For most people the Himalayas peaks are not climable, the mountains are inaccessible
ridden with howling winds, freezing cold and terrible disasters. But for the advanturous,
one can be in love with these mountains if one has the basic skills and attitude .
Mountaineering can generally be taken up in one of the two ways - either by trekking
for a few years and then slowly graduating to climbing or undergoing a course in
mountaineering at one of the climbing institutes such as the directorate of mountaineering
and Allied Sports Association , Himachal Pradesh or the Indian Mountaineering Federation.

These institutes offer different courses, some of which , however , have an age restriction.
The Adventure Courses are open to people of any age and gender while the ones that
are more advanced, like the Basic Mountaineering Course are only to people between 18 - 40
years of age . For those who wish to go on mountaineering expeditions, undergoing training
is absolutely essential . After which one can choose the peaks one wishes to climb or conquer.

The best season to climb in india is from May to October . If one is daring enough,one can
go in the winter months when ice and glaciers abound .It is important to remember that
foreign expeditions have to book a peak along with a peak fee. The Indian Mountaineering
Foundation is the country's apex body that helps in organising or sponsoring mountaineering
expeditions and deputes a liaison officer to accompany foreign climbers. All requests have to
be forwarded to IMF for clearance . It is advisable to give at least a six - months notice before
embarking on an expedition. All emergencies and accidents are looked after by the liaison
officer, who helps to coordinate rescue by Indian Air Force.

Are you ready for the great Himalayan adventure ? Howling gales and roaring avalanches
may haunt you in your dreams tell a different tale : A Tale of abiding passion for the most
unusual adventure .

Below is some practical advice for new climbers .
If you are going on a mountaineering trip for the first time , it is good to keep a few things in mind .
Here, are a few tips for beginners.

Take a long comfortable pair of shoes . Break them infor a couple of weeks before the course .

Take along everything specified in the brochure though the blankets are not important as they are provided.

You do not need any special equipment . All the technical stuff is handled by the Institute that is organising or sponsoring your trip.
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