Bad weather cannot stop this city cadet from scaling peaks

CHENNAI: Trekking a snow-clad peak, gazing at its breathtaking landscape that stretches beyond vision’s limit, is every adventure junkie’s dream. But what if the peak’s altitude is 5,536 metres? Would you still scale it? Yes, it’s a toughie, especially without rigorous training, and sometimes even despite it! However, dealing with everything from frostbite to patriarchal gender norms, 18 women NCC (National Cadet Corps) cadets who were recently out on a ‘NCC Girls Mountaineering Expedition 2017’ to Mt Ladakhi (Himachal Pradesh), are dipping in ‘sweet victory’ — after scaling the summit. Cadet Kaviya Dileepan (19) from Chennai who was part of the contingent, recalls that they were asked not to head to the summit while still in base camp, as it was dangerous. “I am so proud and glad that we reached the summit and fought all the odds! We were all determined to complete it,” she says.

Being her first mountaineering expedition, she admits it was challenging. “I would be lying if I said it wasn’t! Like the weather for instance — it rained continuously and we had to share sleeping bags to stay warm. But, I would say it was a different experience where we had to sacrifice our comfort zone,” shares the BSc Physics student from Guru Nanak College.

Though the official expedition was flagged off in May, the girls went through a month’s training before stepping into the ‘live arena’. “It’s a risky trail with possibilities of avalanches and morbid weather, which not everyone can handle. So, we were given pre-expedition training in using mountaineering equipment and walking on snow and ice to prepare ourselves,” she shares.

Kaviya calls it a ‘life-risking peak’. In 2003, a group of civilians who decided to scale the peak, died en route. “In fact, expedition to the peak was closed for a while and it was reopened recently,” she says and beams that an all-girls contingent has scaled the peak successfully after 17 years! “There have been expeditions before…but, only a few will make it to the top. Here all 18 of us made it and we are all proud of each other.”

The 19-year-old, who is also a national athlete and a record holder in 400 m, shares her ambition, “I want to get into the army,” she says and points to her father as her inspiration. “He has been my support system and has never discouraged me for my gender. He always told me I was capable of doing anything I put my mind to…and I am working towards my ambition.”

While adventures and challenging tasks are what she loves, her favourite ‘adventurous task’ is juggling academics and her love for NCC. “I didn’t attend classes properly this year. I was on the run and was the parade commander in Tamil Nadu, Tirupur and Andaman-Nicobar, after which I left for the Republic Day camp! But, I missed my vacations too!” she says.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/jul/26/bad-weather-cannot-stop-this-city-cadet-from-scaling-peaks-1633434.html