March 15, 2002

'33'

ANNAPURNA – 1 EXPEDITION OF THE INDIAN ARMY FLAGGED OFF

    The first ever Indian Mountaineering Expedition to Annapurna – 1 (8091 mts) was flagged off by General S Padmanabhan, Chief of the Army Staff here today. This tenth highest peak of the world, located in Central Nepal, is still regarded as a very difficult mountain due to arduous long approach march to Base Camp and its multifarious technical difficulties in climbing. There have been a number of instances where expeditions have not even reached its Base Camp.

    Flagging off the Expedition, the Chief of the Army Staff said that the mountain throws a challenge to the climbers team spirit and self-confidence. He was confident that this expedition would pass the test with flying colours. He made a special reference on the importance of keeping the mountains clean of garbages that some mountaineers leave behind.

    Annapurna-1 will be attempted by a team of 17 climbing members under the leadership of Lt Col SC Sharma. The team has been selected out of the best Army mountaineers, after putting them through a rigorous selection camp at Beas Kund glacier near Manali. A winter training camp, in extremely cold and adverse conditions, was organised in Siachen Glacier in January this year to meet the challenge of this magnitude. This expedition team will embark on its journey to Porkhra in Nepal on 17 Mar 2002. After co-ordinating the administrative details enroute, the team will reach Beni, the road head of the expedition, located in the remote area of Nepal on the banks of the river Kali Gandaki. Trekking through the inner sanctuary of Annapurna Biosphere and opening the route by fixing ropes at numerous places for 10 days, the team would establish Base Camp at an altitude of 15, 000 feet. The mountain will be attempted from the North face, which is famous for its multifarious technical difficulty. A total of four camps, besides Base Camp, will be established for reaching the destination.

    Majestic summit of Annapurna-1 will be attempted between 10 May to 25 May 2002. On successful completion of the expedition, the team is likely to return to Delhi by mid-June or so.

    Maurice Herzag, a French mountaineer was the first one atop Mount Annapurna-1 in 1950, followed by British in 1970, full twenty years after the first ascent. Many expeditions have failed in their attempts with so many deaths on the mountain. Yet attempts continue to be made and the mountain sees its fair share both of success and tragedy. Till now 101 men and 05 women, in 120 documented expeditions, have stood on the summit of Annapurna-1, whereas 48 men and 03 women have succumbed to her rage. Degree of difficulty in summiting the mountain can be gauged by the fact that on an average not even one climber per expedition has been able to scale it.