The Tata Steel Adventure Foundation team will attempt 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, summitting the peak during winter is rarely attempted owing to the extreme cold and severe climatic conditions which call for superior technical skills.

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. Expected temperatures on “summit day” is around -35° C, and factoring in the wind chill, can go as low as -40°C.

Climbing Style
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.

The Expedition will be led by Hemant Gupta, Secretary, TSAF.

Team Members
Hemant Gupta (Work ex – 6 years. Climbed Mt Everest, Mt Aconcagua, Island Peak, Bhagirathi 2, Lobuche East, Rudrugaira, Kanamo)
Asmita Dorjee (Sr Instructor, TSAF. Work ex – 11 years. Climbed Gangotri, Dharamsura, Stok Kangri)
Dharmendra Singh (Instructor, TSAF. Work ex – 3 years, Climbed Draupadi ka Danda, Mt Rudugaira – 3 times)
Pranav Mamgain (Manager, TSAF. Climbed Mt Kanamo, Everest base camp trek and Kala Pathar, Balachandra peak, Mission Gange)
Rajendra Rawat (Instructor, TSAF. Work ex – 8 years, Climbed Mt Jogin, Kalindi Pass, volunteered for uttarkhand relief work in Kedarnath)
Rathu Mahato (Instructor, TSAF. Basic and Advance Mountaineering Course)
Konchok Thinle (Guide, TSAF)
Prabhat Gaurav (Climbed Everest in 2017, Photographer )

Itinerary
22nd Jan: Jamshedpur – Delhi
23rd Jan: Delhi – Leh
24th Jan : Acclimatization in Leh (3500m) & Equipment
25th Jan : Drive to Stok village (3500m) and  load ferry to Changma (4000m)
26th Jan : Occupy Changma (4000m)
27th Jan : Load ferry to Mounkarmo (4300m)
28th jan  : Occupy Mounkarma (4300m)
29th jan  : Load ferry summit camp (4900m)
30th jan  : Occupy summit camp (4900m)
31st jan  : Summit (6153m) and back to base camp
1st Feb   : Reserve day
2nd Feb : Reserve day
3rd Feb  : Back to Stok and drive to Leh
4th Feb  : Leh – Delhi

About Tata Steel
Tata Steel Group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 27.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) as on March 31, 2018. It is one of the world's most geographically-diversified steel producers, with operations in 26 countries and a commercial presence in over 50 countries. The Group recorded a consolidated turnover of US $20.41 billion (INR 133,016 crore) in FY18. Tata Steel Group is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000. Tata Steel retained Industry Leader position in FY18 and ranked second overall in the DJSI assessment, 2017. The Company has been recognised as the Climate Disclosure Leader in ‘Steel category’ by CDP (2017). Besides being a member of the World Steel Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel was felicitated with several awards including the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2014-15 and 2015-16, Best Risk Management by CNBC TV18 (2018) and ‘Corporate Strategy Award’ by Mint (2018). The Company also received the ‘Most Ethical Company’ award from Ethisphere Institute for the sixth time (2018), Steel Sustainability Champions (2017) by the World Steel Association, Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Awards (2017 & 2018), Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award by Institute of Directors (2017) as well as 'Asia's Best Integrated Report' award by the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (2017), among several others.

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