Arunachal: Mountaineers scale unclimbed 20,942-ft peak in state

Guwahati: A team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) has achieved an extraordinary feat by successfully scaling an unnamed and unclimbed 20,942-feet-high peak in Gorichen range of Arunachal Pradesh.

The peak - in the Himalayas in the Tawang-West Kameng region of the frontier state - was one of the most technically challenging and unexplored summits in the region, Guwahati-based Defence PRO, Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, said on Wednesday.

After overcoming immense challenges, including sheer ice walls, treacherous crevasses and a two-kilometer-long glacier, the team immortalised the momentous feat by naming the peak ‘Tsangyang Gyatso Peak’ in honour of the 6th Dalai Lama Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso, he added.

By naming the peak after him, NIMAS aims to pay tribute to his timeless wisdom and profound contributions to the Monpa community of Arunachal Pradesh and beyond, he said.

The expedition to conquer the peak was one of the toughest ever missions undertaken by the NIMAS team.

The route was fraught with dangerous crevasses, steep ice walls and unpredictable weather conditions. 

However, through sheer determination and teamwork, the team was able to navigate these challenges and reach the summit, making history in the process, he added.

NIMAS - which has been at the forefront of adventure and mountaineering in India - has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) about the ascent and the decision to name the peak. 

The necessary formalities for naming the peak are being completed to ensure that the ‘Tsangyang Gyatso Peak’ is recognised on the official map, he said.

Lt Col Rawat further said that the historic climb not only celebrates Arunachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage but also positions the region as a key destination for mountaineering and adventure sports attracting explorers and adventure enthusiasts from across the globe.