Bachendri Pal, an avid nature-lover and head of the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TASF) is all set to trek the Everest yet again. Pal is leading ‘Women’s Expedition to Gokyo Everest base camp Grand Circle, commencing on March 26th 2017. She has included Hemant Gupta and Payo Murmu of Tata Steel in this Expedition to prepare (acclimatise to the altitude and the rigour) them for their attempt on Mt. Everest. Both will trek till Everest Base Camp from where they will start their climbing for Mt Everest viz. try to Summit Mt Everest.
A team comprising of 6 women led by Pal will trek to the Gokyo Everest base camp Grand Circle via the JIRI route. After one week of arduous trek to reach lukla the women will continue on the Everest Trail till Namche from where the route would change towards Gokyo. The power packed journey would cover the Gokyo Ridge touching 17500 feet and would cross two high mountain passes including lobuche Base nearly 16 to 17 thousand feet and thereafter arrive at the Everest Base Camp.
Hemant and Payo Murmu would be seen off at the Everest Base Camp for their onward Journey to Mt. Everest.
Hemant Gupta, an IITian from Mumbai joined Tata Steel in 2013 as a Management Trainee and Payo Murmu, is working as loco Traffic Ground Control Staff in Raw Material Division of Tata Steel.
Excited about the upcoming expeditions, Pal, said, “Everest has always represented the epitome of challenge of human endeavor, of leadership, of knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses, of being humble in one’s approach and of testing one’s capabilities. All the skills learnt not only help one in surmounting mountains in Himalaya but also in their real life, thereby making them better individuals benefitting them and the organisation or community they work for. Tata Steel believes in empowering people and its continuous effort in this direction is seen through the two employees making the attempt this summer.”
Hemant Gupta, a graduate from IIT Mumbai and now a Manager at TSAF said, “TSAF has been a strong guiding force behind such unique expeditions; this is yet another step towards empowering people to realize their potential and dreams. We are thankful to TSAF for providing us an opportunity to participate in this significant expedition. We are confident that this will inspire others to dream beyond their potential”.