An Expedition to Steep Rocky Mountains of Garhwal, Himalaya
The New Zealand Alpine Team visits India to climb Changabang, Uttarakhand in April. It is a 6800m high mountain in the Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand. The New Zealand Alpine Team is the top alpine climbing team in New Zealand, set up to provide a mentoring programme to develop high-performance alpinists. The team of five leading alpinists is led by Daniel Joll and includes veteran climber Tim Macartney-Snape, Kim Ladiges, Matt Scholes, and James Hobson.
The NZAT participated in ‘SummitSpeak’, virtual interaction with Indian alpinists nominated by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. Alpinists from the country exchanged notes on climbing in the area, current alpine conditions, preparations and planning, and the challenges and joys of mountaineering.
New Zealand High Commissioner to India David Pine commented, “Mountains and rivers are important to the identity of both New Zealanders and Indians. Our shared affinity was celebrated by Sir Edmund Hillary – both in his younger days as a mountaineer and later when he came back to India as High Commissioner – as well as in expeditions like the Indian-New Zealand ascent of Rataban and rafting of Ganga headwaters by Balwant Sandhu and Graeme Dingle in 1979.”
Pine added, “We’re proud to see leaders like Daniel and his team continuing in that tradition, and wish them the very best for their expedition. May God protect you all. Have a safe trip.”
New Zealand High Commissioner did a welcome party for the NZAT with a few known personalities like Dr. Deepa Malik, Padma Shri – Indian Female Para-athlete, Nungshi and Tashi – the twin climbers, and many others.
Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General at Ministry of Tourism, Goverment of India Delhi, was also present there. She welcomed the NZAT to India for a successful climb to Changabang in Uttarakhand and wished the team great successPadma Shri – Indian Female Para-athelete,
The Changabang region has a global reputation amongst climbers as it is very steep, rocky, and technical. Climbing this steep rocky mountain has been seen as the subject of veneration in mountain literature. The NZAT will attempt to climb the mountain by the West Ridge, which despite many attempts, has seen just one ascent which was more than forty-five years ago.
TravelJingles Team wishes the NZAT a great success in their climb.