This Mumbai-based mountaineer is conquering summits to encourage enthusiasts

Do all those books you read in school actually do any good in your life For Nandini Sharma 22yearold city mountaineer and instructor the answer is a resounding yes ldquoIt all began in the fifth grade when I read that Mount Everest stood as the worldrsquos highest peak Thatrsquos when a fire sparked inside me and my deeprooted love for mountaineering took its first breath I knew right then I would stand there one dayrdquo recalls SharmaNandini SharmaBaby stepsIronically the Thaneresident who has roots in the hills of Himachal Pradesh trekked for the first time only in 2019 with her family ldquoI remember we trekked Brahmatal When I reached the summit I felt a unique sense of belonging and I realised this was my calling I couldnrsquot contain my excitement and I danced my heart out right thererdquo says Sharma She tells us that while treks mdash the term used for climbs as high as 5000 m mdash are a challenge in themselves the real test of a mountaineerrsquos mettle are expeditions highly technical and complex climbs to peaks as high as 8000 m and aboveRise to the topThe young mountaineer scaled the Friendship peak 5289 m in Manali as her first expedition but her reactions werenrsquot exactly what you would expect ldquoI wasnrsquot satisfied I knew I had a long way to go and higher peaks to summitrdquo remarks Sharma who attempted her first 6200 m climb Mt Kang Yatse 2 in 2022 ldquoAt6000 m the breathlessness started to set in and I was running a temperature of 103degF I had to give up and unfurled the Indian National Flag before returning to base camprdquo the mountaineer shares She went on to summit Pt 6100 at the same expedition a week later After a 5000 m climb early this year at Kangchenjunga and another at Mt Rhenock Sikkim in May she went on to complete her advanced mountaineering course from The Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports in Jammu and Kashmir The latest feather in her cap was summiting Mt Machoi a 5393 mhigh peak in LadakhSharma also trained in crevasse rescue techniques as part of the courseChallenges in the wayldquoNo amount of training can fully prepare you for the challenges you face in an expedition Challenges come unannounced along the way and itrsquos always a different situation that you find yourself stuck inrdquo she adds Recalling a particularly dangerous incident during the Mt Machoi trek she says ldquoWe were stopped in our tracks by a massive rockfall while manoeuvring through a steep gully A few climbers were injured as we waited at the spot for hours for the way to clearrdquo Sharma also shares that at high altitudes and low temperatures climbers risk falling into a deep sleep involuntarily that can sometimes prove fatal Sharing an eerie insight into the lives of mountaineers she tells us ldquoIn the mountains you are all alone Many tend to talk to themselves in times of trouble to keep sane Auditory and visual hallucinations arenrsquot uncommon eitherrdquo Turn to trainingSharma currently works as an outdoor educator where she trains young and old participants through treks and other outdoor adventures as a gateway activity to climbing with a broader goal to build a fitter community When asked about her plans for the future the climber shares that her vision is to create spaces for aspiring mountaineers across financial backgrounds and genders to get quality guidance ldquoI was often the only woman on many of my expeditions and treks I want to build something that not only makes pursuing the sport more accessible but also guides mountaineers to finding employment in the fieldrdquo she shares To that end she has already trained for and received the governmentrecognised Method of Instruction certification which will allow her to realiseher dreamsHOW TO SIGN UP abvimasmanaligmailcomCALL 01902 255316GUIDE TO THE TOPOther mountaineers who are playing guide and mentor to aspirantsSahyadri connectionOmkar Joshi a certified mountaineer and instructor from Dombivli tells us that the aspirants in Maharashtra have a unique advantage owing to the statersquos affinity with the Sahyadri mountain range ldquoSahyadris is akin to a training ground for the climbers from Maharashtra It acts as a stepping stone for the individuals who wish to enter into this field While complete acclimatisation is not practically possible gradual staggered climbs in the Sahyadris can acclimatise mountaineers to a certain extent before they head to the Himalayasrdquo he explains Joshi reveals that there has been a rapid growth in the number of aspirants in the field of mountaineering in and around Mumbai postlockdownLOG ON TO shivsahyadritrekkersFrom left Omkar Joshi briefs students before a training session in Manali Chirag Dhabalia teaches rock climbing in DarjeelingSafety firstChirag Dhabalia a Mumbaibased mountain climber and founder of Mount Me an initiative that trains aspirants specifically with expeditions and summits in mind reveals that most Indian mountaineers fall prey to accidents because of inadequate safety measures ldquoIt shatters my heart when the news of yet another climber losing their life comes in The onus is on mountaineering platforms like us to place unconditional emphasis on safety measures and drills My vision is to give aspirants in the city exactly that and hopefully see fewer unpleasant incidents happening in the futurerdquo explains DhabaliaLOG ON TO mountme