Team Herald
VASCO: A team from the Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai, and the Goa Naval Area, achieved remarkable feat as they successfully summited two peaks of Kang Yatse in the Ladakh region within 72 hours.
The two peaks, towering at heights of 6,450 meters and 6,250 metres respectively, were conquered by the 18-member naval team after intense training and preparation.
The team reached Ladakh on September 2, following rigorous pre-expedition preparations in Goa. After a three-day acclimatisation period to adjust to the high-altitude environment, the climbers began their ascent. However, the mission was met with harsh weather conditions, including gusty winds, intermittent rain, and blizzards, which threatened to halt the expedition at the base camp.
Despite these challenges, the team remained determined. As weather conditions slightly improved, visibility increased, allowing the climbers to proceed with their mission. On September 12, as many as 12 members of the team successfully summited Kang Yatse I (6,450 metres), marking the first major victory of their expedition.
After a brief rest, they commenced their climb of Kang Yatse II (6,250 metres) in the early hours of September 14 and reached the summit next day.
This extraordinary achievement set a new record in naval mountaineering, as the team managed to scale two peaks within 72 hours, with all 12 climbers reaching both summits, states a press release.
Adding to this historic feat, team leader Lieutenant Commander Prakhar Gour also scaled Mount Nun, a 7,135-metre peak, a week before the Kang Yatse expedition. This additional climb further cemented his place in naval mountaineering history, as he successfully summited three peaks in just three weeks.
The major achievement is being hailed as a milestone in Indian naval mountaineering and a testament to the determination, skill, and endurance of the team, the press release added.