PART 3 - Beyond the Mountains: A Journey of Adventure, Emotion, and Human Connection

The morning of 29th May arrived with biting cold. Not the ordinary kind of winter chill, but the kind that slowly enters through jackets, gloves, sleeping bags, and still manages to reach the bones. Rainfall on the upper ranges during the night had turned the entire campsite into an ice-cold landscape. Yet despite the weather, excitement remained alive because another adventure-filled day awaited us.

After breakfast, we headed towards the activity area for rappelling and valley crossing. From a distance, such activities always appear cinematic and effortless, but standing at the edge with a harness tied changes everything. Fear suddenly becomes real, height looks much larger, and courage quietly transforms into a conscious decision.

The valley crossing became one of the most thrilling moments of the day. Suspended between two ends with nothing but depth below, the mind automatically enters complete focus. In those few moments, life becomes surprisingly simple — breathe steadily, trust the equipment, and keep moving. These activities tested much more than physical strength; they tested calmness, trust, and the ability to move despite fear.

After descending back to the base camp and having lunch, another unforgettable experience awaited us at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. The institute reflected the discipline, technical preparation, endurance, and scientific training behind every successful expedition.

Approx. 35 Years ago, On May 10, 1993, at just 19 years old, Three Girls Dicky, Deepu and Radha, stood on the summit of Mount Everest — becoming one of the youngest Indian woman to achieve this historic feat under the leadership of first Indian woman Everest Climber Bachendri Pal (Padma Bhushan).

The most inspiring moment came when we met Dicky Dolma and Radha Devi Thakur. Dicky Dolma created history in 1993 by becoming the youngest woman in the world at that time to summit Mount Everest at the age of nineteen. Her achievement was not merely a mountaineering record but a symbol of courage, discipline, and determination for young women across India.

Meeting Radha Devi Thakur carried equal inspiration. On May 10, 1993, at just 19 years old, Radha Devi Thakur became one of the first Indian women to stand on the summit of Mount Everest. 

But what stayed with me most from this conversation was her simple truth —“It is not motivation that takes you to great heights. It is discipline, health, and daily habits.”

From the mountains of Himachal Pradesh to the highest peak on Earth, her journey reflects consistency over hype, routine over excuses, and strength built quietly over time.

A conversation filled with wisdom, resilience, and lessons far beyond mountaineering.

The rain outside, the cold mountain air, the climbing equipment around us, and the stories of Everest together created an atmosphere impossible to forget. By evening, tiredness had settled deeply into the body, but so had satisfaction. As conversations continued over dinner, everyone carried back not only memories of adventure activities, but also the inspiration of meeting women who had turned impossible dreams into reality.

Days were passing, but more experiences were waiting for us to indulge in.