An all women team of Indian navy officers successfully conquered the Pindari Glacier last week. The 24 officer team was led by Commander Priya Khurana who also spearheaded naval contingent on Republic Day last year.
The 10 day long expedition was organized by the Indian Navy with the aim to introduce its women officers to the extreme adventure sport of mountaineering.
Accordingly, the trek was planned at the beginning of the trekking season to add the elements of thrill and chill. The team led by Cdr Priya Khurana comprised 24 women officers.
The team was flagged off from New Delhi by Vice Admiral AR Karve on March 22nd and it reached Loharkhet on 26 Mar 16.
Commander Priya Khurana leading the navy contingent on Rajpath last year.
The team then commenced its high altitude trek to Pindari Glacier through Dhakuri, Khati and Dwali and eventually reached the Pindari Glacier zero point (3353 mtrs) on March 30th.
The team had to face treacherous terrain of gravel and boulders and snow blocks thereby making personnel movement a difficult task. A total of six landslide zones were encountered en-route.
The original trek route has been damaged in 2013 owing to natural calamity in Uttarakhand and hence the team opened an alternate route along the Pindari river to reach its destination.
The team started its descent on 30 Mar and reached back at Loharkhet on 31 Mar and in Delhi on 02 Apr 16, thereby successfully completing the trek.
The services of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd (KMVNL), Govt of Uttarakhand were hired to provide logistics and administrative support.
