A 28-member mountaineering expedition team of the Indian Army successfully scaled over the 22,000-feet Mount Shahi Kangri and Mount Silver Peak on the Karakoram ranges in Ladakh, as a form of tribute to brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 2020 Galwan conflict with China.
Mount Shahi Kangri and Mount Silver Peak are located in the southwest direction of the Depsang Plains, which is one of the most challenging regions of Ladakh, according to the defence spokesperson.
The expedition of the team, selected and trained for high-altitude endurance, was flagged off on Wednesday by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps, Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla.
The spokesperson said the expedition showcases the physical, technical and mental excellence of military personnel and also promotes high-altitude expeditions in remote areas that offer challenging terrain and fabulous views for mountaineers.
These mountains are snowbound throughout the year, and they present severe terrain and climatic hardships.
“With meticulous planning and training, the expedition team approached the peaks from the southeasterly direction. This reduced the overall distance of the summit involved navigating through some of the most treacherous terrains filled with crevasses, cornice and glaciers,” news agency PTI quoted the spokesperson as saying.
In addition to achieving the challenging milestone, the expedition also serves to attract civil mountaineering expedition teams in the future to participate in scaling these twin peaks, thus promoting adventure tourism in Ladakh, the spokesman said.
Participants shared their experience during the challenging expedition, the spokesman said, adding the expedition is a true homage to the Galwan bravehearts, as it proves that nothing is impossible for the Indian Army.
