Margao-based mountaineer went on his first Youth
Hostel trek to the Chandrakani pass as a teenager,
little did he know that mountaineering would
become such an integral part of his life.
Today, the young affable mountaineer has
summited three Himalayan peaks above 20,000 feet,
the latest being Mt Mera (21,500 feet) in the Nepal
Himalayas which he summited on May 2 this year.
Back in sultry Goa from the snowy Himalayan
peaks, Rahul took time off to chat with Café.
Rahul, the son of Dr Babita, a pathologist and the
chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council, and
Dilip, a businessman, readily admits that the trek,
which he undertook at age 14, in the company of his
sporting parents, has changed his life.
He completed eight more Himalayan treks
in rapid succession and in what is a natural
progression for mountaineers, enrolled for the basic
mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of
Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi in 2012.
The NIM course taught Rahul critical
mountaineering techniques which helped him
scale Stok Kangri (20,187 feet) and the Island Peak (
20,305 feet) in the ensuing years before he summited
Mt Mera on May 2.
The young mountaineer has now set his eyes on
the highest peak in the world, Mt Everest (29,029
feet), which he plans to attempt in May 2018.
However, being a systematic climber, he
has planned a practice expedition to Dhaulagiri
VII (23,776ft) in September this year.
In many ways, Rahul is an instinctive and
unconventional sportsman. Convention would advise
you to complete the advanced mountaineering
course at NIM before attempting Everest. But for
Rahul, climbing tough peaks for practice is the
equivalent of completing the advanced NIM course. A
view endorsed by none other than Surendra Chavan,
Maharashtra’s first Everester (1998). Speaking to Café
from Pune, Chavan said, “I like Rahul’s enthusiasm. As
he is well versed with the basics, one can hone their
mountaineering skills best by climbing tough peaks.
He is on the right path.”
Further proof of Rahul’s instinctive attitude was
available just a few days ago, when he joined the
‘Xaxti Riders’ cycling group in Margao on a new road
cycle and effortlessly picked up the gear system to
ride 65 kms on his very first long ride!
Another interesting facet to Rahul’s personality
is his reading habit, a habit he picked from his booklover
father. Rahul has devoured almost every book
there is on mountaineering.
“Mountain literature is my favourite literature and
books on mountaineers, mountain narratives are a
big part of my reading habit. From George Mallory
to Ueli Steck, every mountaineer has something to
contribute as inspiration to the following generations
of not just mountaineers but to all individuals striving
to achieve larger than life goals. My inspiration is
not just one but I choose to be inspired by every
mountaineer I have read about,” says the young man.
Recounting his recent Mt Mera expedition in
which he was accompanied by Everester Phurba
Sherpa, Rahul says, “We left for Mera high camp
despite the weather forecast spelling gales in excess
of 80km/hr and heavy snow that had been falling for
the previous 2 days.
“The summit day began at 3:45 am, a delayed
start due to persisting high winds. Plodding in 2-3
feet of powder snow, the tiring but enthralling
climb riddled with deep hidden crevasses requiring
constant trail-breaking, lasted for six hours and at
9 am, Phurba Sherpa and I stood atop Mera Peak.
The weather was clear with the sun blazing over the
surrounding myriad peaks, including Everest and
Makalu.”
It is obvious that Rahul’s mind is firmly set on
climbing Mt Everest next year. “For me, an attempt
of Everest will further cement my view on life. After
all, the sense of accomplishment of not conquering
the mountain but being allowed by the mountain to
reach its top will be a happy moment,” he concludes.
