Purposeful climb: ‘Peace Expedition’ to attempt Rupal Peak

Two boys, 12 and 13, are also part of the expedition.

ISLAMABAD:

Two young boys are part of a 16-member team that is attempting to scale the Rupal Peak near Nanga Parbat.

The Islamabad Alpine Association in collaboration with the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) has launched “Peace Expedition 2013” to ascend the 5,642-metre peak.

Muzaffar Faizi Awan, an instructor at ACP who is leading the expedition, said the mission is to train young mountaineering enthusiasts.

“The purpose of the expedition is to provide the youth an opportunity for outdoor adventure and learning experience,” said Awan. “We want to facilitate young and inexperienced climbers to climb this peak in a relatively less challenging environment with the help of accomplished climbers.”

Awan was speaking at a press conference at the Jinnah Stadium on Friday afternoon before the expedition’s planned departure for Gilgit-Baltistan at night.

Twelve-year-old Hassan Faiz, son of the expedition’s climbing leader Faiz Ali, and Fazal Wadood, 13, from Gilgit, will be joining a mix of experienced and amateur climbers in the expedition.

“I am very excited about the trip,” said Hassan, a grade-four student who has participated in national youth climbing competitions and has trekking experience in the Margallas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “I got interested in climbing after seeing my father.”

Hassan’s father, Ali, is an experienced mountaineer who has been an ACP member for over 20 years and has 22 expeditions on his belt.

Ali said the expedition is expected to reach Astore, Gilgit by road on Saturday morning and then moves to Tareshing. From there, they will trek for seven to eight hours to get to Rupal Peak’s base camp, he said. Ali said the expedition will decide about its strategy on how to approach the peak after monitoring weather conditions at the mountain.

“The biggest challenge we might face is that of height,” he said. “Some of the group members are not experienced enough for the climb.” But he was nevertheless optimistic.

“If a 14-year-old can climb Mount Everest, than a 12-year-old can also climb a 5,000 metre peak,” Ali said, referring to Jordan Romero, an American climber, who was actually 13 when he climbed the world’s tallest peak.

Tariq Siddiqui, a former ACP secretary, said Rupal Peak is one of the few peaks in the world which has a green valley near its base camp.

The expedition also aims to spread awareness and love for the environment, Awan said, adding that members will also plant trees in the valley. They would also conduct sessions on the importance of outdoor activities and environment conservation in the local community of Rupal Valley.

Rupal Peak is located towards the southern side of Nanga Parbat and was first climbed in 1964. Since then, several expeditions have scaled the summit.

The Peace Expedition is expected to take between seven and 10 days and is due back in Islamabad in the first week of September. The expedition is mostly financed by the participants themselves, however, some patrons and organisations have partially contributed to share expenses and the ACP has provided the expedition with necessary equipment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2013.