It was freezing, it was dark and rocky. Due to the altitude they were asked to walk very slowly, as it was impossible to walk fast and they were well informed by the trek organiser that this was the part where the people who did not make it to the top had to give up. It was both mesmerizing, and depressing at certain moments. The closing heavy eyelids, the trembling legs, the strange popping up thoughts were few moments which made the journey scary at that height. It is rightly said that you climb Mountains with your feet but only move them with your soul , and this is what made the 7 Women from India slowly but firmly march towards their dream destination with the same determination to plant Indias flag up at the summit .
Mountain climbing is never easy. The whole experience tests ones mental, physical and emotional endurance. Trek days normally start early morning waking up in the coldest weather preparing the mind more stronger for the day activity, be it getting ready with a special dressing with 3 layers of clothes, back packing the day, water hydration and so on. Every day is a new different experience
Beginning their journey from Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa, with an initial elevation of around 9000 feet and a distance of around 6 kms, they moved through a higher elevation and distance each day with hiking time going over 7 hours continuously on certain days and an elevation of 18900 ft on day 6 which was the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation can be extreme.
The last day of the climb was 8 1/2 hours where they started at midnight 12:30 am to reach the Stella point at 7.00 am and touched the Uhuru peak at 8.30 am. They had to go through a killer rock climbing activity, crawling through the baranka wall where they had to put their trek pole on their back pack and had to crawl and literally lift themselves to climb through the steep rocks for almost 2 hours, passing through the kissing wall. This, according to them was an exceptional risk taking activity leaving fear behind them and focusing only on the goal to cross
\Subhashini Sreekumar, Shraddha Rananaware (right to left)
‘There is a wrong perception that decline is easier than incline while running or trekking. But it is just opposite actually. After doing the summit although there was an excitement for few minutes but the very thought that we need to climb down made us feel scared. But God comes to help when you need him the most’.
Mountain climbing and Women Empowerment have always been synonymous over the years. Mountaineering has always been considered one of the most difficult sports. These women(6 from Mumbai and Reema Gupta from Hyderabad), seem to be not just climbing but moving Mountains with their faith and determination!
The ‘Pahadi girls’ as they now call themselves are determined to prove a point this Womens day that the only way to be a woman of change in this world, is to walk what you talk and set your own soul free
