NE SPORTS BUREAU
GAMSHALI (NITI VALLEY, UTTARAKHAND), MAY 21
The Soul of Steel team, consisting of 23 youth, including two women, from across India and the instructors from Indian Army and CLAW Global have been inducted into the Amritganga Glacier for the final leg of the training, says a Defence release.
- Uttarakhand has a new mountaineering and glacier training destination at Gamshali (Niti Valley)
- On June 7 the Soul of Steel Warriors will embark on a journey to the rugged mountainous terrain of the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 17,000 feet
- The closing ceremony of the Soul of Steel-Himalayan Challenge is scheduled for June 17 and 18
23 exceptional athletes including 2 women, selected out of 1401 highly skilled adventure sports enthusiasts will enter the 3rd stage of the high endurance "Soul of Steel" Himalayan Challenge in the mountainous terrain of Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
More info in description. pic.twitter.com/vkHbwmWn4f— PRO Defence Dehradun (@PRODefDehradun) May 13, 2023
Here, participants are undergoing intensive training in Ice Craft, which includes ice climbing, glacier negotiation, snow shelters, and search, rescue, and evacuation techniques. This phase and the two and half months of overall training has equipped them with skills for the challenges they will face while attempting summit on an unclimbed peak.
"Soul of Steel" event supported by Ibex Brigade was launched by Hon’ble RM on 14 Jan 23 in Dehradun with an aim to achieve the GoI initiative on Vibrant villages & to arrest the migration from forward areas by unlocking the tourism potential of Himalayas with the support of Army. https://t.co/u78tLu8YyF
— PRO Defence Dehradun (@PRODefDehradun) May 12, 2023
The Challenge not only empowers the youth and promotes adventure sports in the border areas but is also an integral part of the larger Human Ability Biome. This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship vibrant village program, leading to the development of these border areas. By bringing in economic growth and fostering nation-building, the event contributes to the overall progress of the region.
The participants are currently being taken to the Himalayas to prepare them for the third and final stage of the challenge.
A joint team of experts from CLAW Global and the Indian Armed Forces is training the participants. The challenge is supported by the Ministry of Defence, Government of Uttarakhand, Ministry of Veteran Welfare, Ministry of Skill and Ministry of Tourism Uttarakhand.
On June 7 the Soul of Steel Warriors will embark on a journey to the rugged mountainous terrain of the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 17,000 feet, where they will have to apply the skills and techniques they have learned including rock, ice and snow craft, navigation, communication, self-defence, survival, rescue and emergency medical skills. In addition, teams will compete over a distance of 100 kilometres across glaciers, ice walls, cliffs and snow-capped Himalayan peaks without the support of porters.
The closing ceremony of the Soul of Steel-Himalayan Challenge is scheduled for June 17th and 18th. It will mark the inauguration of the Human Ability Biome-Himalayan, symbolizing the commitment to the development and growth of the border areas. The closing ceremony will also feature a military rock fest, where teams from various parts of the country, including military and civilian participants, will engage in friendly rock climbing and other thrilling multiple adventure activities.
Soul of Steel-Himalayan Challenge is the world’s first self sustained high altitude skill and endurance at such glaciated and snow bound terrains.
