Scaling big heights
AARYAN Balaji, 13, one of the youngest mountaineers to hold records including crossing three passes and scaling three peaks in Nepal last year, is all set to scale Antarctica’s tallest mountains, Mount Vinson and Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, in December.
Balaji’s expedition will add another crown to his credit as the youngest mountaineer in the world to complete a seven-summit climb.
But it was not an overnight journey for the teen to scale heights at such a young age. In pursuit of his dream to scale Everest in April next year, Balaji just completed his fortnight-long training-cum-acclimatisation expedition to the Spangnak group of peaks in the Gemma Valley in Ladakh.
The base camp for training was set up at 4 500m in KyagarTso, near Tso Moriri in the Changtang region of eastern Ladakh. Traversing a multitude of passes more than 5 000m high, Balaji reached the gully leading to the eastern shoulder of Spangnak Ri where he underwent training on snowcraft and climbing. He reached the Spangnak Ri top (6 390m) last month.
The son of an Indian Navy officer already has many records under his belt.
He claims to hold the world record for being the youngest person to trek up to Mount Everest’s base camp, climb Mount Killimajaro in Tanzania, Mount
Elbrus in Russia, the three highest passes in Nepal and Kang Yatse in Leh in the Himalayas.– IANS