Wednesday, April 18, 2012

My Himalayan Quest

                    Climbing Mountains for a Cause

Belief: There are a Million ways to Success but there is only one way to Failure - ‘Not Trying’

Am a successful professional with 15 years of corporate experience, having worked with companies like IndiaLife Hewitt and TeamLease Services in Sr Management roles.

As a teenager I always enjoyed Adventure and participated in Rock Climbing Camps and Treks. Wanting to do more in this field, I took to Adventure and Mountaineers full-time in 2009. Armed with a vast and successful corporate background and a burning passion to ‘Evolve adventure as the most effective learning tool, to revive the spirit of adventure among people from all walks of life, and be environment cognizant’ I started BASECAMP Adventures a company that focuses on Outbound Learning and Adventure.

As a qualified mountaineer from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, with many successful climbing expeditions and several high altitude treks in the Indian and Nepal Himalayas, I felt that there is a need to do more in my own possible way and make a difference. As a mountaineer the best I can do is to climb mountains, and so begins this unique adventure - ‘My Himalayan Quest’: Climbing Mountains for a Cause and to also spread awareness, through a series of expeditions over the next 7 years.

My Himalayan Quest
No mountain is high enough and no valley low enough that the human spirit cannot conquer. ‘My Himalayan Quest’ is a tribute to that very spirit, scaling mountains and enduring one of the most hostile conditions to support a cause.

India is no more fancied as a land of elephants and snake charmers. We have changed the tag of being an interesting nation to an important nation and are indeed the fastest growing economy in the world. We have made much progress as a nation BUT there is a HIMALAYAN gap when it comes to the education of the Girl Child. As Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘If you educate a man, you educate an individual; if you educate a woman, you educate a family’. No nation can claim glory without its women being partners in its progress and society being inclusive where education and opportunities are not based on gender.

The mountain of inequality is indeed more challenging than any mountain, so come join us in our unique adventure of scaling mountains to create awareness and make a HIMALAYAN difference. Strengthen our effort by participating in this climb or by raising funds for the cause or by sponsoring the climbing team.

Planned Expeditions
   Mt Bhagirathi - II, 6512 mts in Gharwal Himalayas, June 2012
   Mt Kamet, 7756 mts in Gharwal Himalayas, May 2012 (29th highest peak in the world
   Mt Manaslu, 8156 mts in Nepal Himalayas, Sept 2012 (8th highest peak in the world)
   Mt Everest, 8848 mts in Nepal Himalayas, April 2013 (highest peak in the world)

Objectives of the My Himalayan Quest
   To put Karnataka on the world mountaineering map
   Raise Funds towards
       o Girl Child Education
       o Women Empowerment
       o Spreading Awareness of Global Warming & Environment
   Any prize money received will be donated to NGOs – Kaagaz, Myhtri Mahila Koota, Oxfam India

Expenses towards My Himalayan Quest
   Mt Bhagirathi -II       INR 25000
   Mt Kamet                 IMF, Govt of India
   Mt Manaslu              INR 400000
   Mt Everest               INR 1900000

Sponsorship/Contribution can be given by cheque in favor of Kavitha Reddy a/c My Himalayan Quest.