Chetna from West Bengal along with 13 Female Mountaineers above 50 years on Way to FIT@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition, 2022.

On the Occasion of Celebrating International Women’s Day

Smt. Chetna Sahoo (55 years) from West Bengal scaled Mt. Everest and she was 47 years, when she decided to try for the summit and by now she has scaled around 10 peaks in the Indian Himalayas. She scaled Mount Everest in the year 2018. An ace climber, Chetna had completed the Trans Himalayan journey in seven months, covering more than 4000 kilometres from Arunachal to Siachen glacier as a part of the All Indian Women’s Trans Himalayan journey under the leadership of Miss Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman Everester.

Smt Sahoo and 13 other lady climbers from various States and above 50 years including Padma Bhusan Ms Bachendri Pal (68), the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest in 1984 are on the way for Fit@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition 2022 on the occasion of celebrating the International Women’s Day in association with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports under the Fit India banner. The expedition is also being supported by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

The FIT@50+ Women’s Trans Himalayan Expedition ’22 is celebrating India @75 and dedicating the expedition to 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The five-month long expedition involves traversing the Himalaya from East to West - from Arunachal to Ladakh covering over 4,977 kms and crossing about 37 mountain passes. The 14-member team will commence a journey of an ultimate human endurance starting from Arunachal Pradesh and traverse through Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Nepal, Kumaon, Gharwal, Himachal, Spiti, Leh Ladakh and will be concluded at Tiger Hill (Kargil) (16,608 feet).

The journey begins on March 9, 2022. The team will commence a journey of an ultimate human endurance starting from the misty mountains of Arunachal Pradesh from Pang-sa-u Pass and then enter Bhairb Kunda in Assam. Further the team will go to Jaigon and reach Zuluk via Nagarkantha at the border of West Bengal and Sikkim. From there the expedition will traverse through Sikkim from Nathang Valley, Nathulla pass to Gangtok and cover Chitrey, Kala Pokhari and Sandakphu (11,930 ft) in Singalia sanctuary. The team will move into Nepal, where the route enters Dhaulagiri range and cover Salpa Pass, Lamajura Pass (11,500 ft), Deorali Pas (9,240 ft / Mali Pass AL (7,900 ft) and also cross Thorang la (17,769 ft) around Annapurna Massif. From Western Nepal the trail goes from Jumla and enters Kumaon district in Uttarakhand through Darchula (Nepal).From here expedition will pass through Kauri Kal (12,000 ft), cross Lamkhaga Pass (17,320 ft) one of the toughest passes, which connects Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh with Harshil of Uttarakhand.

The expedition thus aims to address the mindset of our society and highlight the need to keep fit and demonstrate that age and gender is no barrier for a fit and a healthy lifestyle. It will also signify women empowerment, leadership, decision making, lifestyle and importance of fitness for our entire community. As the life span has increased globally, it has become important to engage the 50+ and above persons in various activities effectively. The expedition will inspire and motivate women of all age groups to include fitness activities in their daily lives to stay healthy.

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