A ‘HISTORIC’ trek to Siachen, which caused a furore last month after Pakistan raised objections to tourism activities in the disputed region, ended on a disappointing note for civilian trekkers after they were declared medically unfit to climb the glacier.

Three civilians—the only professional mountaineers in a 27-member delegation that consisted of NCC, RIMC, IMA cadets and mediapersons—had to stay put at Siachen Base Camp after the initial training as Army doctors found them unfit to proceed.

“We were keenly looking forward to the expedition and it was disappointing that we could not get the medical clearance. However, we had a great experience at the base camp where we walked on the glacier and got training tips from Army climbers,” said Mumbai-based mountaineer Prof Charuhas Joshi.

While the three Mumbai-based trekkers—Mukund Deodhar, Charuhas Joshi and Balakrishna Pillai—were declared unfit, other members of the expedition proceeded on the first civil trek organised by the Army Adventure Wing to the 16,000-feet high Kumar Post on the glacier as scheduled. Three civilians—the only professional mountaineers in a 27-member delegation that consisted of NCC, RIMC, IMA cadets and mediapersons—had to stay put at Siachen Base Camp after the initial training as Army doctors found them unfit to proceed.

“We were keenly looking forward to the expedition and it was disappointing that we could not get the medical clearance. However, we had a great experience at the base camp where we walked on the glacier and got training tips from Army climbers,” said Mumbai-based mountaineer Prof Charuhas Joshi.

While the three Mumbai-based trekkers—Mukund Deodhar, Charuhas Joshi and Balakrishna Pillai—were declared unfit, other members of the expedition proceeded on the first civil trek organised by the Army Adventure Wing to the 16,000-feet high Kumar Post on the glacier as scheduled.