Summits and Steering Wheels Expedition a roaring success

 

 

 

 

AN ALL-WOMEN team of Indian adventurers, led by the legendary ‘Padma Bhushan’ Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest, has achieved a remarkable feat by completing an extraordinary journey through the challenging terrains of Arunachal Pradesh. Given the fact that these adventurers are in the age-group of 52-82 years, their scaling of ‘Oonchai’ makes the feat all the more historic. In a historic expedition redefining the spirit of adventure and gender equality, the Indian women adventurers including city’s own Bimla Deoskar has successfully completed the ‘Summits and Steering Wheel’ expedition organised by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) in collaboration with the Army Adventure and Incredible India Destination Arunachal Pradesh. Led by 69-year-old ‘Padma Bhushan’ Bachendri Pal, the team included ‘Padma Shri’ Chandraprabha Aitwal (82 years), Vasumathi Srinivasan (70 years),Bimla Deoskar (56), Major Krishna Dubey (57), Gangotri Indumathi (64),Payo Murmu (55), Commandant SeemaTolia (52),L Annapurna (53), Sushma Bissa (57), Asha Tomar (67), Meenakshi Popali (67), and Shilpa (61).

 

These women proved that age is just a number when it comes to achieving the extraordinary. Chandraprabha Aitwal, atthe age of 82 years, was climbing with full enthusiasm and climbed upto 15,000 ft. She personified the ‘FIT@50+’ motto and spread the message that one must take due care of good habits, betterlifestyle, and physical and mental wellbeing. Bimla Deoskar, a well-known mountaineer from Nagpur and recipient of National Adventure Award who has trained 14 Everest summitters, showed her couragewhenshe climbed16,500 ft at Gorichen glacier. She suffered a majorfall last year during her 4,997kmtrans-Himalayantrekandgotmajorfractures inhipbone and got operated successfully by Dr Nirbhay Karandikar. She recouped from the injuries and set on new adventure. Flagged off on October 11 by Col Chauhan, Director, Army Adventure Cell, from NIMAS, Dirang, the team embarked on a journey through some ofthe mostremote and rugged landscapes.

 

The team, comprising women over the age of 50 years, showed exemplary courage and resilience, traversing through Bomdi La, Sela Pass, and Bum La, and visiting spiritual and historical sites like the Jimithang Gorsam Chorten Monastery and Tawang Monastery. The ‘Summits and Steering Wheel’ expedition was a symbolic journey of breaking the barriers and setting new benchmarks in a field often dominated by men. The achievement of the Indian women adventurers comes as a motivation for especially women to dream big and push beyond conventional limits. The expedition was planned and executed by Bachendri Pal with logistics support from Army Adventure and TSAF. The journey tested physical and mental fortitude of the adventurers, and also proved their unwavering determination and passion.They conquered new horizons and shattered societal stereotypes, inspiring women globally to challenge the norms and pursue their dreams.