On World Environment Day, an Indian soldier received a praiseworthy record of being one of the fastest outsiders to trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
Muhsin V.A., an Indian soldier from Aluva, climbed Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet) in 22 hours without supplementary oxygen. Usually, trekkers take days or weeks to hike to the EBC and complete the trek. There are also acclimatization days in between to help their bodies acclimatize to the high altitude.
“Left to deal with nasal bleeding and exhaustion. I had even thought of giving it up. But my familiarity with life at high altitude, thanks to my posting in Ladakh, and the rigorous Army training helped me prevail,” said Mr. Muhsin.
Mr. Muhsin is a member of the Indian Army working in Ladakh. The region is administered by India as a union territory, which constitutes a part of more prominent Kashmir as well.
He climbed to EBC with a message to #SaveLakshadweep, which is among the islands facing threats of being submerged due to global warming. Due to climate change, airports and residential areas in Lakshadweep Islands are in danger, as the sea level around the island is rising between 0.4 mm/year and 0.9 mm/year. This is why Mushin wants to make people aware of global warming and its causes.
Muhsin started the trek from Lukla (9,383 feet), a small town in Khumbu from where most trekkers start their journey to Everest Base Camp. The place has a small airstrip, Tenzing Hillary Airport, also considered one of the world’s most dangerous airports.
If following a standard itinerary, a trekker takes 8 days to reach Everest Base Camp from Lukla.
- Day 1: Lukla (9,383 ft.) to Phakding (8,562 ft.), estimated time: 3–4 hours’ trek
- Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (11,286 ft.), estimated time: 5–6 hours’ trek
- Day 3: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar
- Day 4: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (12,687 ft.), estimated time: 5–6 hours trek
- Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche (14,468 ft.), estimated time: 5–6 hours trek
- Day 6: Acclimatization Day in Dingboche
- Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche (16,109 ft.), estimated time: 5–6 hours trek
- Day 8: Lobuche to Gorak Shep (16,961 ft.) and Everest Base Camp (17,598 ft.), estimated Time: 7-8 hours tour (round trip to EBC)
According to an article published in the Hindu, the International Book of Records, the Indian Book of Records, and the Asia Book of Records, his application examined by the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Muhsin on World Environment Day.
At some point, Muhsin also thought of taking help from a Sherpa, but his goal of making people aware of climate change and its effects on islands was more important than just having records. After a trek to Everest Base Camp, he also scaled Kala Patthar (18,520 feet), a viewpoint that provides one of the best views of the highest mountain.
Besides being a soldier, he is also a mountaineering enthusiast and has taken several courses on mountaineering. He has taken courses from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi, and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling.
Muhsin wanted to climb Mount Everest without oxygen support, but he lacked sponsors. However, he has not given up and hopes to complete his goal one day.
India has huge respect for soldiers, so this is an enormous achievement not for only him but for every Indian. The soldiers have special discount rates for everything, be it in domestic airlines or tourist spots in Goa.
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