Leh: A team of mountaineers from Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) hoisted the Indian National Flag atop Kang Yatse 2 at an elevation of 6270m to mark ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
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The participants also summited Dzo Jongo (6240m) peak in the Markha Valley as part of Twin Peak Expedition in Leh-Ladakh region. A total of 26 candidates including team members and instructors summited Dzo Jongo whereas 15 candidates summited both the peaks.
Wearing crampons, walking through ice and snow, the team showed insurmountable courage to reach the top. Though the weather was very clear before the summit of Dzo Jongo, it turned rough before the second peak i.e. Kang Yatse 2’s climb. Heavy snowfall could not hamper the team’s high spirit. They fought all odds to emerge triumphant.
Four rural youth from Tata Steel Foundation’s rural development initiative along with their co-ordinator Meghlal Mahato were also part of this expedition. These youth were selected based on their performance in TSAF’s Outbound Leadership course happening in the various campsites at Tumung, Dimna, Uttarkashi, etc. Two of the rural youth summited both the peaks of Dzo Jongo and Kang Yatse.
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The expedition was led by Asmita Dorjee, the first Indian woman to reach an elevation of 8749m on Mt Everest without supplemental oxygen. The expedition guide was Skalzang Rigzin, an ace mountaineer who has stood on top of two 8000ers with supplemental oxygen. Employees of Tata Steel Limited with a passion in mountaineering eagerly volunteered to join the team and take up responsibility of ensuring the safety of the candidates. Govind Singh, Payo Murmu, Randev Singh, Twesh Upadhyay, Deepak Kumar, Heena Kumari, Nirmal Pandey were key part of the support team of the expedition.
At an elevation above 6000m above sea level, many altitude related issues take over. Team acclimatized well that none of the candidates faced any of these conditions.
Uttam Singh, Vice President, Iron Making, Tata Steel also summited Dzo Jongo (6240m). Preparing for expeditions to even taller mountains, he was extremely happy to achieve this feat. Under guidance of TSAF, climbing the Dalma hills twice a week for the past few months and practising regular Yoga, helped him in successful expedition.
TSAF has been the frontrunner in promoting adventure spirit in the community and employees and it look ahead to organize many high altitude expeditions in the future.
