PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 29: Tata Steel Adventure Foundation’s ( TSAF ) senior instructor, Asmita Dorjee (38) will attempt to summit the highest peak of the world, Mt. Everest, without using supplementary oxygen.
Till now, no Indian woman has climbed the summit without using supplementary oxygen. The attempt will be unique considering extreme thin air and death zone above 8000-metre, strong winds and extreme cold conditions.
There have been very few people in the world who have climbed Mt. Everest without supplementary oxygen. Due to very low oxygen available, climbers need to put supplementary oxygen from camp-3, i.e. above 7100-metre to survive and return safe. She will leave for Nepal on April 3 .
TSAF was planning to send Asmita to Mt. Everest in 2020 and 2021, however, the expedition got postponed due to Covid-19 pandemic.
After successful climb of Bachendri Pal (1st Indian woman to climb Mt. Everest) in 1984, so far TSAF has supported and trained 10 climbers who have successfully summitted Mt. Everest.
They include Premlata Agarwal (7 summits) in 2011 – R S Pal, Meghlal Mahato, Binita Soren (2012), Arunima Sinha and Susen Mahato (2013), Hemant Gupta (2017) and Sandeep Tolia, Poonam Rana, Swarnlata Dalai (2018).
Chanakya Chaudhary, chairman, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel who also flagged off the challenging expedition here this evening said: “We are delighted to champion this and wish the very best to Asmita for a successful and safe climb as she attempts to summit Mt. Everest without supplementary oxygen. This attempt is an example of the ultimate showcase of human endurance and the indomitable spirit that she possesses. Asmita’s safety however will remain the 1st priority for the team. The Foundation, through its unique proposition and sustained endeavours, continues to promote adventure sports in the country and inspire the coming generations.”
Asmita Dorjee shared her excitement and preparations for the expedition. Hemant Gupta, Head, TSAF and Premlata Agarwal, Manager, TSAF and recipient of Padma Shri and 1st Indian woman to climb 7 summits shared their experiences on respective Everest expeditions and challenges.
Asmita Dorjee, a Sherpa by origin, was born in Thesu, a tiny village above Namache Bazaar in Everest region.
Although, the mountain oxygen runs in her blood, she moved to India after her mother passed away in 1989.
Her father was Sherpa of Bachendri Pal during 1984 and later passed away in another expedition.
She was then brought up by Bachendri Pal as a family member. TSAF supported Asmita to complete her Basic Mountaineering Course in 2001 and subsequently Advanced Mountaineering Course in 2003. Then, she was employed as instructor at TSAF to conduct outdoor leadership courses and expeditions.
She is a strong mountaineer with many feathers to her list of mountaineering achievements. She has climbed and attempted more than eight peaks above 6000m.
She has successfully climbed Mt Satopanth (7075m), Mt Dharamsura (6420m), Mt. Gangotri 1 (6120m), Mt Stok Kangri (6070m), Kang Yatse 2 (6270m), Djo Zongo (6240m). She has climbed Mt. UT Kangri (6030m) in winter and attempted Mt. Stok Kangri in winter and reached 5700m
Everest Schedule
Asmita is scheduled to fly to Kathmandu on April 3 post which she will leave for Everest Base Camp on April 6.
The journey will take around eight days to reach post which she will spend 2-3 days to acclimatize. She will then attempt Lobuche East, which stands at 6119 m in the same region.
Post that, she will return to base camp for acclimatization rotation till camp 3 for around one month.
She will then have to wait for a good weather window which is expected from May 15-25 , a moment she has been waiting for since childhood and to stand at top of the Mt Everest.
