Guribadat Singh is a regular teenager who loves to play, seldom study and make his mother chase him from pillar to post with his notoriousness. What is not regular about him is that he is all set to scale Mt. Everest as part of the youngest team in the world to climb the world’s highest peak. At first, his mother seemed angsty about the prospects of her son putting himself under potential risk of climbing a formidable mountain, but soon she realised it was futile quarrelling with teenage hormones. ‘‘He is very rigid with his ideas and I am supporting him because my son is attempting something few children of his age get to attempt,” says his mother Satvinder Kaur.
Giving Singh company will be five other boys, Hakikat Singh Grewal, Fateh Singh Brar, Prithvi Singh, Ajay Sohal and Shubham from St. Lawrence School, Sanawar, who have undergone five months of extensive stamina and fitness training as well as adventure sports training to equip themselves to cope with the hard tenure of the expedition. During the period between September 2012 and January 2013, they were trained in various aspects such as mountaineering at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, muscle build-up and strengthening exercises, weight training and did 1,000 km cycling in the difficult terrains of the Thar Dessert. “We haven’t had it easy; neither did we bargain for any respite. This is hardcore stuff and only the fittest of the fit can survive a challenge like this,” says Guribadat. His accompanying friends sound as confident and spirited if not more. Ajay Sohal, who declares he’s not a morning person, wakes up every morning at 5 to train. His entire day revolves around his fitness regime and that means missing out on playtime. “You win some and you lose some. I do sometimes crave ‘me’ time but in the long run, I know this is the thing for me, even if it means I have to sacrifice time with friends,” Guribadat says.
The group that is now at the Everest base camp is preparing for several different purposes. “They are presently cross training, building endurance and taking part in a 10-day high altitude winter training-cum-acclimatisation trek at Khardungla, Ladakh. The expedition kicks off on April 5 via Lukla in Eastern Nepal. Proving to be their biggest support at this time is coach Col. Neeraj Rana. He has ‘adopted’ the boys and is evidently very protective of them. He doesn’t leave their side even once and makes sure they all get what they need. “Somebody asked me, ‘Isn’t climbing this mountain very dangerous?’ I answered saying, ‘It’s not dangerous, it’s adventurous’. The thought of sending the world’s youngest team to Everest was challenging and inspiring; something I have always looked forward to as an army man. Our task was made easier with support of Woodland as they agreed to sponsor the entire gear for all six students,” Rana says.
“Walking in these massive shoes alone is enough to help me build stamina. They weigh close to two kg and need practice to wear and walk in,” says Hakikat Singh Grewal, another climber, who says that he has grown up in a God-fearing family with adventure in its blood. He has represented north India in swimming nationals (life-saving) competitions and has taken part in several rifle shooting competitions at the state level.
But for now, all other interests (including pizzas, extra sleep and socialising) have been put on the back burner. The spirit of adventure has taken precedence and the boys are more prepared than ever. With the final goodbyes having been said, they are not going to look back. As Fateh Singh Brar says, “See you on the other side of the Everest.”
