PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 15: Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) added yet another feather to its cap as its senior instructor Asmita Dorjee climbed the true summit of Mt Manaslu on September 30 without using supplementary oxygen. With this, she became the second Indian woman to do so.
Mt Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres (26,781 ft) above sea level. It is in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the west-central part of Nepal. Manaslu is the highest peak in the Gorkha District and is about 64 km (40 mi) east of Annapurna.
The mountain’s long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible approaches from all directions and culminate in a peak that towers steeply above its surrounding landscape and is a dominant feature when viewed from afar.
This year, Mt Manaslu has been marred by avalanches. The weather has been very unpredictable this year and it snowed heavily in the higher camps.
There were three avalanches while Asmita was preparing for the climb at the base camp. The avalanches at Mt Manaslu have already claimed two lives this season and injured many others, which includes a renowned sherpa and a skier.
The peak is considered to be a very technical climb with a long and dangerous sharp corniced ridge to the true summit. Proper acclimatization and weather forecast play a major role for climbers for a successful expedition to Mt Manaslu.
Due to the bad weather and multiple avalanches spread across the summit window, many climbers had to return from advanced camps and cancel their plans to summit this season.
Chanakya Chaudhary, chairman, Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, said: “We are delighted that our very own Asmita Dorje conquered Mt Manaslu (8163 m) without supplementary oxygen. This attempt was an ultimate showcase of human endurance and the indomitable spirit of the Indian woman.”
“The successful ascent of Mt Manaslu will boost Asmita’s preparation and motivate her for the ultimate challenge of climbing Mt Everest (8849m) without supplementary Oxygen where she previously reached the height of 8749m in May this year. The Foundation, through its unique proposition and sustained endeavours, will continue to promote adventure sports in the country and inspire generations,” he added.
