Eastern Naval Command mountaineering team scales Mt Mentok Kangri

Visakhapatnam: A team led by Commander Amit Kumar and  assisted by three Sherpas,  established six camps en-route the summit camp at a height of 5,450 metres making the summit 800 metres with a near vertical climb through  deep crevasses and long rocky moraines before ascending near vertical rock-ice slope unfurling the national flag and Naval Ensign atop the Mountain Mentok Kangri.

According to Indian Navy sources, a team setting foot atop the Mount Mentok Kangri, a challenging 6,250m peak, the mission on which 11 mountaineers, including two women officers of Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam, embarked during the end of May  was realised when all team members successfully climbed the Mount Mentok Kangri located in Rupshu plateau in Eastern Leh on June 10.

The expedition included a week’s approach trek from Tsokar lake, crossing four high passes ranging from 4800 metres-5400 metres and reaching the base camp at 5300 metres and the team could finally summit the peak after a daunting and extremely challenging summit climb of 11 hours, including a 70 degree wall of around 350 metres, traversing through the glacier in 10-15 knot winds with occasional snowfall throughout the climb. The team also undertook yoga practice en route ahead of the International Yoga Day which will be observed on June 21 across the world.