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Exploration for the cause of conservation

Seasoned adventurists face trekking challenges head-on and teach younger generations the ropes.

Exploration for the cause of conservation

PHOTO: STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

In this era, when global warming has become a growing challenge, one of the oldest environmental outfits in North Bengal – Nature and Trekkers’ Club of Jalpaiguri – is pitching in to safeguard the environment by exploring new trekking trails and grooming adventure enthusiasts.

It has been over 30 years since the group began efforts to conserve the environment. Quite recently, the group had hosted a one-day trekking camp in Pubung Valley in the district of Kalimpong around 5 May.

Bhaskar Das, Secretary of Nature and Trekkers’ Club of Jalpaiguri, said, “We intend to introduce trekking and adventure activities among the common masses, particularly students, in the Himalayas. The camp had sessions on adventure trekking and survival techniques in the forest. The 9 km trekking trail started from Patharjhora in Jalpaiguri and ended at Pubung. The trek was undertaken to discover unknown trekking routes and popularise these routes among trekkers. The five-hour-long trek to Pubung hamlet provides breathtaking views of Gheesh valley and river Gheesh along with glimpses of Darjeeling Hills.”

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The environmental club is also organising Himachal Himalaya Expedition 2019 in Lahaul and Spiti Valley to Mt. Chandrabhaga-14 on July 7 this year. Talking about the expedition, Das said, “This will be the 9th mountaineering expedition of our group. It will be a tough 21-day expedition with a budget of Rs 4 lakh. The expedition team will comprise 10 participants with mountaineering guides and will be over by 27 July. Mt. Chandrabhaga-14 rests at an altitude of around 6,078 metres above sea level. We wish to discover the greater Himalayas and provide exposure to the younger generation in the field of mountaineering.

Mt. Chandrabhaga provides great views of Kumzum Range, Chandra Taal Lake and Dhaka Glacier. The serene Chandra Taal Lake and the challenging terrain of Mt. Chandrabhaga-14 make the expedition one of the most-sought after in the Himalayas.

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