Odisha girl Swarnalata & Uttarkashi’s Poonam to ascend Mt. Aconcagua

Jamshedpur Jan 24: The Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) is making continuous efforts to provide opportunities to women, especially those who are underprivileged, to empower them to be bold, resilient and self confident.

In line with this, two women , one from Uttarkashi District ( Nald Village) and one from Jagadhia village in Jajpur Road Orissa are being sent on an expedition in Argentina i.e. Mt. Aconcagua 22960 ft. to give them exposure of climbing with foreign climbers in a foreign land. Along with them a TSAF instructor is also being sent to prepare him to climb with foreign climbers.

Mount Aconcagua, mountain is situated in western Mendoza province, in west-central Argentina, on the Chilean border. It is the highest point in the Western Hemisphere. It is one of the 7 Summits.

The Base camp is at 14000 ft and further 3 camps would have to be established to reach to the Summit. High altitude, strong winds, low oxygen, extreme cold, dry air, uncertain weather will be the key challenges in the expedition. Expedition period is from 26th Jan – 14th Feb’ 18.

The three members who will be part of the expedition include-Sandeep Toliya, is working with TSAF for more than 10 years as Sr Instructor. He has done Basic and Advance mountaineering courses, Method of instruction, Outdoor Educator Semester at National Outdoor Leadership Course, USA, trip leader course at NOLS, Ranikhet. He has climbed multiple peaks in Himalayas that include Mt Bhagirathi 2, Mt Rudugaira, Mt Kanamo, Stok Kangri, Karakoram Pass and has trekked to Everest base camp. The exposure will help TSAF in outdoor leadership programmes for corporate and Business schools.

Poonam, (Age 21 years) has done Basic and Advance mountaineering courses and had trekked to Everest Base Camp in April 2017. She is from Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. She hails from background where tragedies had struck throughout her life. She lost her father when she was young, and subsequently lost her mother and 2 brothers. She has been working with TSAF as camp in-charge. Her positive attitude will definitely help her in reaching her goal. TSAF has been doing courses in Uttarkashi for around 30 years and has sent girl cadets from there to Mt Everest thereby providing encouragement to interested climbers from Uttarakhand.

Swarnalata Dalai, (Age 20 years) is a tribal girl from Odisha. She has trekked to Everest Base camp, climbed Mt Rudugaira and has undergone various high altitude treks in Himalayas. She is the first girl whom Tata Steel is sending from Odisha. Very few from Odisha have climbed Mt Everest before.

Source: https://www.avenuemail.in/jamshedpur/tribal-odisha-girl-uttarkashis-poonam-to-ascend-argentinas-mt-aconcagua/116780/