LEH: The team of ITBP Mountaineering Expedition consisting of 21 members including 15 climbers and one doctor, which successfully scaled Stok Kangri (Glacier) peak in Ladakh was flagged in by IG OPS/INT/VET DTE Gen ITBP, R.C Baijwan at Kumbha Hall 24th Bn Leh here on Thursday.
The North West Frontier of ITB Police initiated the expedition to Mt Stok Kangri in Ladakh sector in the winter months of November and December under the leadership of Commandant 5th BN ITBP Arjun Singh Negi who himself is an experienced and avid mountaineer.
ITBP said that unlike many other expeditions the aims of this expedition included increasing the corpus of national level mountaineer by passing on the experiences and techniques of older mountaineers to the younger generation, acquainting members to negotiate difficult and dangerous high altitude mountainous areas and incorporate lessons learnt for their postings in high altitudes, cleaning of the camp sites, studying mental and physical effects on men due to high altitude and inclement weather and checking of communication systems and other equipments in sub-zero (-30 to – 40 °C) temperatures.
The team was flagged off by DIG Ldk S.K Choudhary from 5th BN Leh ITBP on 25th November. “The route was dangerous and slippery as the rocks were frozen and fused in ice.
Slight melting of ice at places sent boulders shooting down at the team. Luckily the experience of seasoned members ensured that no casualty took place,” officials recalled their experiences. The team was reported to have reached the summit peak of Stok Kangri (6,153 metres) on 29th November at 9:30 AM.