ENC's expedition team to scale twin peaks in Uttarakhand

The Eastern Naval Command has embarked on a challenging task of summiting the twin peaks of 7756 m high Mount Kamet and Mount Abi Gamin in Uttarakhand.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Harish Chandra Singh Bisht flagged off the expedition yesterday and presented a traditional ice axe with National Flag and Naval Ensign to the team.
The team comprises seven officers and six sailors, including a team doctor and is being conducted by the ENC as part of Navy's preparations for Mount Everest expedition planned next year.
Having achieved a resounding success on Mt Kun (7077 m) last year in September, the Navy has now set eyes at the summit of Mt Kamet in Uttarakhand, towering at 7756 metres. It is the third highest peak in India and the highest mountain open to climbers in the country.

Mt Abi Gamin (7355 m) is a neighbouring peak to Mt Kamet, both of which can be attempted through a common approach.
Adopting the twin peak challenge is envisaged to provide maximum opportunity for naval personnel to indulge in this extreme adventure sport.

The peaks are situated on the Indian side of the Indo-China border and offers breathtaking view of the entire Tibetan plateau to its north.
The members for the expedition have been selected from a pool of mountaineers groomed by the ENC as part of Mission Everest.
The team will be led by Lt Cdr S Karthikeyan, a seasoned climber, who has previously led three naval expeditions, including the formidable Mt Kun and is all set to lead the team to the pinnacle of Mt Kamet as well, according to a ENC release here.

The team will travel to Joshimath and thereafter commence the trek from the road head named Niti.
The journey thereafter is extremely gruelling and will see the climbers undertake 25-30 days of arduous climb to establish seven camps in the higher altitudes of the mountain before the final Summit attempt planned in early June.
Mt Kamet has not been climbed in the past five years, mainly due to its bone chilling temperatures and bellowing winds flowing across the exposed rocky terrain at such high altitudes.
The peak is sure to test the mettle and determination of these climbers and groom them for future mountaineering challenges. As the next step in the preparatory activities for Mt Everest, the ENC intends to undertake an expedition to Mt Saser Kangri I (7672 M) and IV (7416 M) post monsoon season, the release added.