We wish to inform that the team of STEP has returned to Delhi after safe and successful high altitude trekking expedition to Panpatia col in Uttarakhand. The team started from Hazrat nizamuddin railway station on 4th June and started road journey from Haridwar next morning and reached Devgram next afternoon for twin purpose 1. Participation in Gaura Devi Paryaavaran Mela and 2. Acclimatization. The actual trek started from Banakuli on 7th June and first camp was at Uniyana Mata temple, a gradual ascent of 5 kms. The next camp was at Gaddi camp, another 4 hours trek. Then the team progressed to Khada Pathar camp on the river bank. Few members also visited Uniyana taal also from here.. From here on, the trek was on boulders upto Parvati base camp. It was a camp on the rocks and underneath was the hard ice. From here, we had to negotiate a big glacier, then bouders and finally a big rock to reach Parvati Col in almost 4 hours. We camped again amidst rocks. It was thundering cold here. Assessing the weather pattern, it was decided to make sincere efforts to cross the Panpatia ice field next day itself. We started at 5 am on 12th June. First, it was climb uphill on glaciee, after an hour, Panpatia col was visible on left side and mighty Chaukhamba on the right and Mt. Mandhani just ahead. We continued our March. Around, 9.30 am, the weather deteriorated and it was complete White out with hardly any visibility. We waited a bit then marched towards Panpatia col. We all reached there around 12 pm. After performing thanksgiving puja and photo session we descended on other side and camped on the snow. The trekking continued thereafter via Sujal sarovar, Manua Khal, Manua Taal, Kanchni Khal, Mashmaheshwar, Budha Madhmaheshwar, Bantoli to Ransi. The trekkers were rewarded Tungnath-Chandrashila trek as a bonus. STEP congratulates all the participants, Shri Hari Singh Kandwal , Shri Deepak Singh Chauhan, Shri Ishwari Prasad Bhatt, Shri Himmat Singh Negi and the entire excellent team of Urgam and Thaing villages for their support. It also thanks Shri Laxman Negi and team of Jai Nanda Devi Jandesh, Chetna Kandpal Madam and team of NDBR and staff for their support. We all succeeded by the grace of Almighty, belief in self, excellent team work, whole hearted support of support team and good wishes of all friends.
