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Mountaineering

The Call Of The Mountains
Mountaineering Trip to Himalayas, Mountaineering in Himalayan Mountains The lure of Himalayas is irresistible for the mountaineers, as the Himalayas are the greatest range of mountains on earth, their beauty, vastness, fascination and mystery will always have an everlasting appeal for those who venture in this region.

The Himalayas, by humbling those that come to them with its magnitude and power, gratifying them with its splendour and beauty, testing their determination by glaciers and peaks, defying their spirit with their inviolate mysteries-enables man to acquire the qualities which only danger and nature in the raw can sharpen. Mountaineering accentuates and exercises the quality of self-reliance, leadership and discipline amongst adventure sports lovers.

Mountaineering Institutes & Adventure Sports Clubs
The conquest of Everest acted as a stimulus to Indian mountaineering and in 1954, the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute at Darjeeling was established with the late major N.D. Jayal (Nandu) as its first principal. Since then other institutes have been set up at Uttarkashi in Uttaranchal and at Manali in Himachal Pradesh.

In addition to these three institutes, there are a number of small institutions and clubs all over India where short courses on rock climbing etc are available. Basic courses in mountaineering are devoted to theoretical training-consisting of lectures on high altitude physiology, history of mountaineering, mountain fauna and flora, geomorphology, geology, map reading and glaciology.

During the course, films on wildlife, mountaineering expeditions, and allied subjects are shown. The practical side is covered by treks where training on rock, snow and ice is given. This period culminates with a climb to a peak of 5,490m and 6,100m as part of the advanced course, expeditions are organised to peaks such as Kamet, Trisul, etc..

Cautions While Mountaineering & Ice Climbing
One widespread fallacy that constitutes an obstacle to the growth of climbing is the general impression that it is a very dangerous sport. It is true that climbing carrier with it certain risks and it is a fact that lives can be lost and have been lost in the mountains. Nevertheless, it is equally true that for an experienced climber who takes the normal precautions, the margin of risk is very much less than what popular imagination would seem to accord it.

Many climbing accidents occur because of inexperience people taking insufficient precautions. The potential for the advancement of Indian mountaineering in the future is great. As roads penetrate the Himalayas and bring the peaks ever closer to the plains, as the enthusiasm of the pioneers spreads to more and more people, it is difficult to believe that at least some part of the potential will not be realised.

While the equipment of a climber is of great importance, the individual equipment - both mental and physical fitness of the mountaineer, is of even greater importance. One slip or thoughtless action may turn the joy of the heights into the sorrow of the depths. Good judgment, constant care and teamwork are indispensable items in the climbers’ outfit.

Mountaineering In Himalayas
Mountaineering in Himalaya, Himalayas Mountaineering Trip, Mountaineering Holiday in HimalayaGetting to the Himalayas is difficult they are far away from most of the people and difficult to get go. A big obstacle is the expense. The actual time spent on the climbing is relatively a small proportion of the total time taken by the mountaineer to get to the mountain. It is an expedition with Sherpas carrying loads of equipment, such as tents, sleeping bags, cooking utensils etc. Of course, costs can be reduced if equipments can be hired and one organises climbs and tours through mountaineering clubs and societies.