Three Gujaratis prepare to conquer Everest

Till date, no person of Gujarati origin has conquered the world’s highest mountain peak — Mt Everest. Among the residents of the state, only one man, IPS officer Atul Karwal, has done so. But now, several people from Ahmedabad are making efforts to scale that highest of highs.

Shasheekant Vaghela is one such person who has been putting in serious efforts in his endeavour to become the first Gujarati to climb Mt Everest. This adventure-lover has been mountaineering and camping for many years now, and has also been an adventure columnist with several vernacular newspapers.

“Mountaineering encompasses a vast array of topics. You need to know about not only rock climbing, but also snow crafting and ice crafting, as part of complete mountaineering knowledge,” said the 39-year-old Vaghela.

To prepare himself for his effort, Vaghela completed a 26-day basic mountaineering course in May, from the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports at Manali, which is the largest adventure sports training centre in India.

Vaghela, a photographer by profession, will participate in the advanced course next year in order to be eligible for the climb. “Apart from completing the advanced course, I will have to conquer two other mountains that are higher than 8,000 metres. I have promised my wife that within three years, I will complete the course and climb Mt Annapurna in Nepal and Mt Kanchenjunga, following which I will be qualified to climb Mt Everest,” he said.

The training provides climbers with an idea of the climate at such altitudes, said Vaghela, who idolises noted adventurer, writer and television presenter Bear Grylls.

Viral Shah, another adventure lover, is also preparing to conquer Mt Everest. “Atul Karwal may have conquered Mt Everest last year, but he is not a Gujarati. I would like all Gujaratis to be proud of the fact of that Gujaratis are not scared of adventure and can achieve what others can,” he said.

Only if you set your goals high will you be able to challenge yourself to achieve something, believes Bhoumik Trivedi, a businessman who spends nearly three hours every day in exercise to ready himself for a mountaineering course.

“One needs to put in blood, sweat and tears to achieve something outstanding. I am working hard and hope that by 2015, I will be able to be, if not the first, then one of few Gujaratis to have conquered Mt Everest,” he said. “Many youths from across India are eyeing their goals and achieving them, so why can’t Amdavadis when we have the potential,” he said.