Team News Riveting
Raipur, May 7
For one who has scaled the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest many years back, to return to the Himalayas now when she is 50 plus, is a dream come true.
Smt. Savita Dhapwal, an employee with SAIL-BSP and a seasoned mountaineer is on top of the world, literally. She is enjoying every bit of the FIT@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition 22, along with other members of the all women team led by Ms. Bachendri Pal, India’s first woman to scale Mt. Everest. The expedition that was launched by Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) has joined hands with FIT India Movement
Currently in Kathmandu, Nepal, Ms. Dhapwal along with other team members covers an average of 30 kms in a day, trekking for almost 10 hours on daily basis. The team is traversing the Himalayas from East to West – from Arunachal to Karakoram range, a distance of around 4,977 kms. The journey, in Smt Dhapwal’s own words is beautiful – with sun-kissed mountains, picturesque locations, and adventurous, specially when experiencing hailstorms. Adventure and the thrill of being back in the mountains is what the 12-member women’s team, all aged above 50, were looking for when they agreed to join the expedition.
For me, it was just the opportunity I was looking for, says Smt Dhapwal, a Lecturer in SAIL-Bhilai’s English Medium Middle School, Sector 6. Her husband, Shri HS Dhapwal has recently retired from Bhilai Steel Plant’s T & D Dept.
Director I/c Bhilai Steel Plant Anirban Dasgupta and ED (P&A) K K Singh at Bhilai met Smt Dhapwal on 22nd Feb 2022 to wish her well before she left Bhilai to join the team. She was presented tracksuit and backpack etc. Chairman SAIL, Smt Soma Mondal met all the team members at New Delhi. The expedition started on 8th March 22. SAIL-BSP presented each member of the team tracksuit to suit weather conditions.
Ms. Dhapwal narrates that they crossed the 100 km milestone at Dibrugarh, Assam where the Indian Army’s Dao warriors hosted them. The Army at different locations did a proper recce of the locations to be trekked and suggested suitable changes keeping in mind the safety of the trekkers. The Army also made arrangements for boarding and lodging at different locations.
Dhapwal says she feels honoured being felicitated by Army, NCC cadets, schools and local people. From having a tea-tasting session at Menoka to being treated to local hospitality, binging on ready-to-eat food supplied by their sponsors, staying at schools as a night halt to stopping over at circuit houses to being accompanied by Army personnel in tough areas like elephant-infested forests and military areas, the expedition is an enjoyable experience.
The encouragement and motivation offered by people we meet en-route helps keep up our tempo even as the trek tests our mental and physical strength, she says. The breath-taking view of the mountains keeps our spirits high and encourages us to go forward. Team games and stretching exercises helps keep us fit for the trek.
The expedition is a combination of grit, dedication, high energy, perseverance, acclimatisation, rest, recoup, recovery to continuing their pace and momentum through the trek. What is commendable is the never-say-die spirit of the women, all aged over 50 years, some touching even 70 years, and all committed to complete their 5 months long expedition.
Being supported by Tata Motors and Tata Sports Club as drive and fitness partners, respectively as well as the Indian Army, the FIT@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, under the FIT India banner, and is dedicated to celebrations of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.’
The team members are drawn from across India comprising retired professionals and homemakers. The 12-member team also comprises three women Everest summiteers. The 5-months long expedition involves crossing about 37 mountain passes. The team set out on a journey starting from Arunachal Pradesh and traversing through Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Leh Ladakh, to conclude at Tiger Hill (Kargil) (16,608 feet).
