A fearless team of 20 members, including 14 trekkers who are visually impaired, has returned after the successful completion of the Dayara Bugyal expedition in Uttarkashi, which started on October 3.
Trained and mentored under Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), the team consisted of six sighted and 14 people with different degrees of visual impairment.
The trekkers underwent specially designed training and mentorship. They were led by Everester Rajendra Singh Pal, Manager at TSAF and coordinated by Atul Ranjan Sahay, Senior Manager, Corporate Sustainability with Tata Steel.
Having started their journey on October 3, the team was suppose to return to Uttarkashi on October 12 but the enthusiastic trekkers did not utilise the rest day kept in between and completed the expedition on October 11 itself.
"We felt really proud to have completed our expedition a day in advance. It was a great achievement by all of us despite all the challenges and hardships we faced during our journey," Sahay told PTI.
"Every night there would be discussions by some members or the other about giving up the excursion midway but by morning everyone would up and running again," he added.
In fact, the trekkers were not satisfied by just reaching Dayara Bugyal and they went on to reach the highest point at about 12000 ft above sea level.
After the completion of their excursion, renowned mountaineer Bachendri Pal, who herself had just returned from Tibet, visited the visually challenged trekkers and inspired them to achieve greater heights in life.
"Bechendri ma'am visited us and promised to join us in our next expedition," said Sahay.
Out of 20 trekkers, only Sahay had an experience of climbing earlier. Others who were selected had never trekked before and the opportunity was given to only those who showed enthusiasm and passion.
"We underwent an interesting training, where we were suppose to be walking on wooden planks, on bricks separated by some distance. It was an interesting coordination between blind, partially sighted and normal people. It was all about communication and timing," Delhi's Nikita Jain, who was a part of the expedition team, said.
Another team member, Pranav Lal added: "The team overcame a lot of hardships like rain, storm, sub-zero temperatures, leeches, some steep climbs on dangerous and narrow paths to come out with flying colours.
