Gangtok, Oct. 28: A Swiss and Dutch team has conquered the 6,010m-high Mt Thingchingkhang in West Sikkim. This is the third successful ascent to the peak in just over a year and is expected to give a big boost to adventure tourism in the state.The expedition led by the 57-year-old Swiss mountaineer Robert Allenbach included his wife Susana Cornelia, a medical assistant, Robertus Laan, a Dutch national living in Switzerland and Paul P.E. Van Rivere from the Netherlands. They have returned to base after reaching the summit earlier this week.
The expedition was organised by Adarsh Tours and Travels, an agency promoting mountaineering in Sikkim.
Allenbach is an Everester, having scaled the highest peak (8,848m) in the world way back in 1978. A technical engineer by profession, Allenbach has also participated in a number of expeditions in Ladakh.
According to Allenbach, the final stretch of the ascent was technically the most challenging because the team had to negotiate a steep vertical gradient for about 100 metres. The climbers praised Adarsh Tours and Travels for successfully organising the expedition, which included managing the camps and providing support crew.
On October 16, a three-member team from the US had also scaled the peak. That expedition was managed by Yak and Yeti Travels, an adventure tour operator here.
Yak and Yeti Travels had also helped a German team conquer Mt Thingchingkhang last year, soon after it was opened to expeditions by the Sikkim government along with four other peaks.
The Sikkim government earns $350 for each expedition by foreign teams comprising no more than four members and $500 if the number is eight or less.
Since the opening of five alpine peaks by the Government of Sikkim on 17th September 2005, Yak and Yeti Travels & Expeditions has initiated the Second Expedition to Mt. Thingchinkhang 6010 mtrs. located in West Sikkim on the Dzongri- Gochala trekking route.
ReplyDeleteThe three member expedition established their Advance base camp on 14th October and will proceed to camp 1 on 15th October as planned. The expedition team will finally check their equipments today at ABC and establish high altitude camps on glaciers below the summit hoping good weather, they will summit the mountain as anticipated by the team.
The three member expedition team from USA met the organiser and climbing Sherpas in Darjeeling at a Press conference on 7th October 07. The Director informed the gathering about the climbing route and camps to be set up at various altitudes by the expedition team. In an open interaction Mr. Bruce shared his experience of having visited Sikkim already three times and the news on opening of peaks made him excited to come back again for climbing and also to share the climbing experience with Ric Devan and Tom as was his dream.
Bruce- the leader of the expedition expressed that he is interested to meet people and share his experiences on both sides- USA and India . He has already climbed Mt. Reineer , Sasta, Island peak and has done some climbing in South America and California .
Both Ric Devan and Tom are experienced climbers having climbed Mt Denali , 6000 mtrs. in Alaska and Mt. Mc. Kinley. They said that their mountains are technical and the climbing conditions are hard. It is the first trip to the Himalayas for both the climbers , who expressed their excitement and being overwhelmed to participate in an expedition in such a rich culture and natural beauty..
Tom is an experienced climber who has done extensive climbing in Alaska , Peru , South America , Nepal , Tibet and Argentina . When he found a climbing prospect in Sikkim he said “I was very excited”. The thrill was even more as Sikkim being less populated and beautiful country as lot of people do not know about Sikkim yet. He added that it is a great opportunity to be here for climbing with Yak and Yeti who has success on mountains of Sikkim ”.
“It is not only the mountain but getting to visit the country with nice people and warm culture is what they will share with their friends and families”. “It is not only the height but what a mountain offers in terms of the adventure and exploration is important” they said. On asking-Ric, how he had visualized Sikkim on his 1st visit . He said it’s different than in pictures, much warmer and friendly people. It’s all about the adventure and meeting people and the excitement to come to Sikkim . He got excited when Bruce informed him about climbing trip in Sikkim . He says “Now we will go back to tell everyone about so much opportunities in Sikkim and its friendly people.
Bruce has already made some great friends from his earlier trips and remembers Prem Tamang- the High altitude cook of the company while he met on an earlier trekking trip to Sikkim
He said “I am anxious to climb with Nima “he added. Both Nima Sherpa (Climbing Sherpa) and Prem Tamang (High altitude cook) were part of the 1st International Official Expedition to Mt. Thingchinkhang Expedition organized by Yak and Yeti Travels in October 2006 when two Spanish and three German made it to the summit.
As a part of exploring opportunities Bruce wants to encourage handicrafts and Carpets industries and introduce their products in United States .
During the Press Conference Bruce appreciated ‘a good environment for tourism in Sikkim’ He is confident that his experience will only make more people to come back not only to climb mountains but for what Sikkim has to offer in terms of varied experience.
He further shared that the Owner of the clothing company in USA- Prana got excited on his visit to Sikkim and so the Green Flash Brewing Co. both of whom have co-sponsored this expedition. He expressed that there are many sponsors who like have their name associated with such adventure activities and would have a sense of participation even if they do not physically climb.
Satish Bardewa, The Director of Yak and Yeti Travels who is a local mountaineer
was also the member of a committee that reviewed the opening of Alpine peaks in Sept. 2005. Yak and Yeti Travels is the first adventure company to officially organize Alpine peak Expedition in Sikkim with successful ascent to Mt. Thingchinkhang on October 2006. The team comprises of State Government liaison officer Kazi Sherpa who is also a local mountaineer with three other leading climbers Nima Sherpa and Lakpa Sherpa and Da Zangbu Sherpa. The expedition is also supported by Prem Tamang a very senior high altitude cook of the company.
Nima Sherpa, Da Zangbu Sherpa and Prem Tamang were part of the 1st Successful expedition to last year. Da Zangbu Sherpa was also the team member with Trans Himalayan Women Trekking Expedition led by Everester Bachendri Pal.
The expedition was flagged off by The Chief Guest. Shri. S.K. Bardewa – the Chairman of Superview group of hotels and industry. In his speech, he expressed his best wishes to the team members and welcomed the inception of the Government of Sikkim in opening five peaks to the mountaineers.
The Director of Yak and Yeti Travels thanked the media present for their encouragement to promote tourism in Sikkim . He also thanked Mr. Jayanth Das- IT Consultant, Mr. Manas Bhattacharya – Ad Designer, Srijana Bardewa- PRO, and Mr. Jeetendra Lama - Asst. Gen. Secretary of TAAS including the climbers. He also expressed his gratitude to Government of Sikkim for supporting Government-Private partnership in promoting adventure tourism in Sikkim which will boost the employment and local economy of Sikkim .
From/Signed:
Srijana Bardewa
PRO,
Yak and Yeti Travels, Sikkim.
Organiser- trekking in sikkim, expeditions in sikkim, sikkim trek, sikkim tours
Tel: 94341-17418.