Mountaineering activities resume as restrictions ease
Mountaineers take part in the “Winter Glacier Conservancy Awareness Expedition 2017” to highlight depleting water resources caused by global warming. PHOTOS: EXPRESS
The Alpine Club of Pakistan has resumed its activities following the government lifted Covid-19 restrictions.
The climbers, hikers and families including girls, boys and kids participated in three activities organised in Islamabad. The first event of Eco Hike was organised at the Margallah Hills Saidpur village where the participants also enjoyed the scenic beauty of hills which has improved due to recent frequent rains.
A significant increase in growth of plants and trees was witnessed while many springs which had dried were flowing water into the streams and channels.
The birds and monkeys were also witnessed more frequently. Following, the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of Clean Green Pakistan, the participants picked up trash from the trek and disposed of it at Saidpur village.
The young boys, girls and kids were also given orientation on rock climbing by internationally trained coaches. They learnt the basic art of rock climbing, equipment and various moves on rocks and skills including safety measures adopted while climbing.
The sport climbers resumed their fitness training and practice sessions at the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) sport climbing wall situated in Pakistan Sports Board Complex in the federal capital.
Athletes from Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) participated in both the sessions of fitness and practice.
An athlete and national champion Zaheer from K-P said that and his fellow climbers are very happy as the ACP has made the climbing wall operational and they would be able to improve their performance and prepare for upcoming national and international climbing competitions.
The ACP President Abu Zafar Sadiq appreciated the athletes’ commitment to sports and physical health. He stressed the importance of following the SOPs to ensure safety of the participants. He warned that violators of SOPs would not be allowed to continue their activities with the ACP.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2020.