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22-Yr Old Sikh-Punjabi Mountaineer Aims For Mt. Everest

by NEHA MIGLANI

 

 

 

What began as a desire to taste hilly adventure, later became a glorious chapter in her mountaineering career.

For Jagwinder Kaur, 22, a student in Chadigarh, Punjab, the expedition to Mt. Thelu in the Uttaranchal region in the Himalayas last summer was special.

The Thelu peak is 19,700 feet or 6005 meters high - that is, higher than any mountain in Europe or Africa, and close to the elevation Of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in America.

Jagwinder Kaur is the only mountaineer in the world to have climbed it through the newest route ever, which she is credited with finding.

Having started her journey by first honing her skills with artificial rock climbing at her college, Jagwinder did her basic course in mountaineering and later an advance course from Manali on her trainer's encouragement ... all while she was studying for her B.A. back in Chandigarh as well.

"My trainers and teachers have been encouraging me to keep marching ahead. Even my parents have never stopped me from daring to climb the trickiest peaks," says Jagwinder.

She also did a basic course in skiing at Gulmarg and then enrolled for M.A. in Sociology in Chandigarh. Never having bagged a first prize, it was this slim distance from victory that kept her enthusiasm high.

"I stood third in the zonal mountain climbing event and second in the lead combining event last year. However, my passion was always high," she says.

The young mountanineer was recently honoured nationally for her contribution in discovering the newest route to Thelu Peak.

However, it has not been a smooth ride for Jagwinder Kaur; there were times when things got risky.

"We have faced rough weather and life-threatening situations too. But I have always kept safety my priority, since my parents insisted on it," she says.

She recounts how during her training at Manali, she faced critical situations.

Jagwinder is now awaiting approval by the army to let her be a part of the 2013 expedition to Mount Everest.

"In 2013, only boys are being permitted to be a part of the National Cadet Corps expedition to Everest and I'll have to wait till 2015 for the girls team to follow suit. But because of this recent achievement, I am expecting to be a part of the army officers' expedition in 2013," says Jagwinder Kaur. 

 

[Courtesy: Times of India. Edited for sikhchic.com]

March 8, 2012

 

Conversation about this article

1: Surrinder Kaur Singh  (London, United Kingdom), March 08, 2012, 2:03 PM.

I'm really impressed with this young woman. Hopefully she will inspire many more women to go climbing and pursue opportunities that come their way.

2: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), March 08, 2012, 3:03 PM.

What an adventurous young woman!

3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), March 08, 2012, 6:02 PM.

Is there any peak in any field that Sikh men and women have not conquered. We look forward to Jagwinder planting the Nishaan Sahib on the peak of Mount Everest.

4: Khushpinder Singh Sran (Bathinda, Punjab), January 26, 2013, 1:13 PM.

Very well done, Jaswinder Kaur ji, keep it up! As a Sikh, I am proud of you! Please don;t let your dreams die, keep your hopes alive and I know one day you will definitely achieve your goal!

5: Gurdeep SIngh (Khamanon, Punjab), August 13, 2015, 7:03 AM.

Best of luck, ji, in all your endeavours.

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