Saranda boys brave chill to scale Syari top

JAMSHEDPUR: For the 50-odd tribal boys from Saranda, their debut trekking expedition was no less than a foreboding adventure. Nevertheless, the rookie mountaineers, all aged between 16 and 25, braved the chills to successfully climb 11,860 feet on the Mt Everest.
"It was an exciting experience for all of us and we are keen to revisit the Himalayan range soon," said a 20-year-old boy of Kumija village of Saranda on his return.The response of another boy, who also hails from same village, is equally exciting. "The experience of travelling to the Himalayan range was indeed a dream come true," he said.
Sponsored by Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS), the team left for the Uttar Kashi under the stewardship of Mt Everest climber Susan Mahato of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) on June 8 this year. The misty climate, below-freezing temperature and undulated terrain could not dampen the spirit of these bravehearts as they were all more than eager to conquer the Syari top.
"The trekking expedition began from the base camp (Cushlon at 4500 ft) and following five-days of acclimatization to the weather there, the boys set out on their journey. Scaling 11,860 feet was no mean task for the first-timers, however, none of them dithered from taking up the challenge," said Ajay Sharma of Tata Steel Noamandi who accompanied the expedition group on its journey.
"The idea behind sponsoring the expedition was to build leadership qualities in the boys," said Sharma, adding that TSRDS had conducted a talent hunt to identify the boys for the expedition.
He said the initiative that began with the visit to the Himalayan range will continue with their next target to cover 22000 ft on the Everest, in the coming days.