Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) team is attempting a winter ascent of Stok Kangri (20,180 ft) located in Leh region. Stok Kangri is one of the most popular 6000m peaks in Indian Himalayas which attracts climbers from India and abroad during the summer season. However, summiting the peak during winter is rarely attempted owing to the extreme cold and severe climatic conditions which call for superior technical skills.
The expedition team led by Hemant Gupta, secretary, TSAF reached Leh on Wednesday and is likely to reach the peak of Stok Kangari on January 30. Gupta said that the TSAF winter expedition would be highly demanding on body and mind of the participants. “One would need to be prepared for tough days at high altitude in harsh winter environment as the expected temperature on summit day is around -35° C, and factoring in the wind chill, can go as low as -40°C,” he said.
The TSAF team will attempt this summit without any external support which will make their journey arduous yet imbibe a spirit of self-sufficiency in the unique way which mountain adversity can teach. Normal support in terms of ponies, mules, porters, cooks and support staff will be avoided. TSAF in its outdoor leadership course always focuses on self-cooking, carrying one’s own load and working with limited resources. Such unaided small groups help in reduction of garbage generated during the trek as also in preservation of the environment and the mountain trails. Hence, the winter summit expedition this year will attempt to reduce adverse impact on the ecology through zero waste and self-sustained trekking.