HYDERABAD: The first civilian expedition from Andhra Pradesh to the highest peak on the planet is all set to be launched on March 28, 2010. Giving an equal opportunity for all interested candidates, the process of finalising a six-member team would begin from June 1 onwards in all districts across the State.
As a part of the Mt Everest Day celebrations, the Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh (ACAP) has announced the Mission 2010 here on Friday. Addressing a gathering after conducting climbing events for children, ACAP founder director K Ranga Rao said: “The primary objective of the expedition is to give more exposure to the youth in mountaineering including women participants. The above expedition will commence in the March and continue up to June 2010.” He also informed that the six-member team would include two women participants.
The organisers have also explained that it is high time that youngsters from the State made a mark by climbing the helm, in every sense, of mountaineering activity in the world.
Youngsters who have taken part in the climbing activities were buoyant about the mission and expressed that they wanted to be part of it. “It is my dream to observe the view from the highest peak in the world,” said Maniprasad, a primary school kid, who got the first prize in the climbing competition in the age group (6-10).
Talking about the eligibility conditions to be part of the expedition team, Ranga Rao said: “The basic eligibility would be an advance or basic mountaineering course from NIM or HMI or any high altitude trekking expeditions with a minimum knowledge about mountain manners. Given the extreme conditions the candidates, preferably in the age group 17-35, need to be physically very fit.” He also informed that the procurement of equipment would be completed before October and selected candidates would be given rigorous training and would be sent for pre-Everest expeditions to Himalayas before beginning the final expedition to the Mount Everest with a duration of 70 days.