Meet the first SW NCC cadet to complete advance mountaineering course in Uttrakhand's Himalayan region.
Out of the 45-member contingent selected nationwide for the Advance Mountaineering Course-173, Shalini Singh was the only female cadet included.
Shalini Singh, an Under Officer from the 67 UP Battalion NCC from Lucknow, has become the sole female NCC cadet to successfully complete the Advanced Mountaineering Course. Hailing from Lucknow, Shalini is currently pursuing a BA degree at BSNB PG College. This rigorous mountaineering course took place from 26th April to 23rd May 2023 in the Himalayan region of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.
It is worth noting that only NCC cadets who have previously completed the Basic Mountaineering Course are given the opportunity to enroll in the Advanced Mountaineering Course. Shalini Singh had successfully completed the Basic Mountaineering Course in 2022, held in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Out of the 45-member contingent selected nationwide for the Advance Mountaineering Course-173, Shalini Singh was the only female cadet included. As part of the course, Shalini and her team accomplished the summit of Hurra Top in Uttarkashi on 18th May 2023. Situated in the challenging Dring Valley (Dokrani Bamak Glacier area), this peak stands at an elevation of 15,400 feet, covered in snow and highly inaccessible. It posed a difficult climbing challenge. Earlier, on 9th May, Shalini and her fellow trainee mountaineers had reached the base camp at 12,300 feet to commence their mountaineering activities.
During the course, the trainee mountaineering team received specialized training from army instructors at an altitude of 4,200 feet in Tekla, Uttarkashi, spanning from 26th April 2023 to 6th May 2023.
Colonel Puneet Srivastava, the Commanding Officer of the 67 UP Battalion NCC Lucknow, played a significant role in selecting Shalini Singh for the course. Under his guidance, she received special training and necessary facilities. This achievement is a matter of pride not only for the NCC battalion but also for the Uttar Pradesh NCC Directorate.
Upon accomplishing this feat, Shalini Singh expressed her gratitude and credited her relentless efforts and passion for her success. She believes that this achievement will serve as an inspiration for girls across the country. Shalini further mentioned the extreme and inhospitable conditions she endured throughout the one-month course, where temperatures dropped below minus 14 degrees Celsius.