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The Tata Steel sponsored expedition to
Island Peak or “IMJATSE” in the Nepalese Himalayas was scaled by a nine-member
all Indian women team led by Ms Bachendri Pal, Chief, Adventure Programmes, Tata Steel.
The expedition commemorated the Birth Centenary of one of the greatest adventurers of
India, J R D Tata.
The expedition was blessed by The
President of India, His Excellency, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam on March 29, 2004. The day was
significant as it marks the countdown to J R D Tata’s hundredth birth anniversary -
July 29, 2004. A short flight sponsored by Indian Airlines took the team to Katmandu, from
where they set off on April 3 for their expedition via Lukla at 7000 feet.
Seven of the nine team members are
mothers and the leader, Ms Pal opted to give them a short while to acclamitise to the
biological changes their bodies have experienced since the last expedition. The message
they sent out to the world is that age and human physiology pose no barriers once the mind
demonstrates leadership, courage and skill.
The team withstood the vagaries of Nature
exceedingly well and quickly made its way to Kala Pathar at 18200 ft enroute to the
Everest Base camp at 18000 ft. Now mentally and physically prepared for the rigours ahead,
the members prepared themselves for IMJATSE at 21000 ft, directly from the Base Camp, a
feat never attempted before.
In the quiet world of IMJATSE are eight
equally awe inspiring peaks, who challenge adventurists. The team was headed for the
rather inhospitable lap of the IMJATSE base camp at 17000 feet. Located in a narrow valley
full of boulders the team reached here on April 13. It was faced with the prospect of a
boulder coming down either of the mountain faces. The next day, despite the fresh snow
from the previous night that covered the slopes, five members of the team set off at 2.30
a.m. As they slowly made their way up, strong winds chilled them blowing powered snow into
their faces and body. The pace of their climb was thus considerably slower than expected,
with Nature now in full cry against them. The climbers, however, struggled on using their
pickaxes and iron crampons, fixing ropes on the steep slopes.
A mere 80 metres from the summit, the
team had to abandon the attempt along because time was quickly running out. They did not
want to be trapped on the mountain in bad weather in the afternoon.
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1. Bachendri Pal shows the way. 2. The members of
the expedition take a break.
3. With the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs Sheila Dixit.
4. At the summit. |
On April 15, the group took the day off from climbing to rest and strategise for the next
day. They established a new camp at 18000 ft and once again at 2.30 a.m. on April 17 began
their second attempt. This time grit and determination made the four member group force
the pace of climbing, while all the time fighting against the elements, great adversaries
at IMJATSE in early April. Seema, G Anita, Chaula and Premlata reached the Summit at 7.30
p.m. The breathtaking view from the Summit was reward enough for all the risks and
challenges they had faced. Their jubilation and celebration knew no bounds. Charged by the
success of the first team and motivation of their leader, another two-member team
comprising Chetna and Sushma reached the Summit at 10 a.m. the very next day.
The Indian tricolour, Tata Steel flag and the Indian Airlines flag were all unfurled by
the summiteers, in a perfect tribute to J R D Tata.
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1. The majestic mountains. 2. On the difficult path up
3. At the Imjatse base camp
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