Bhupinder Singh (top) and SC Joshi. Pictures by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Oct. 10: They are back with bruises and frostbites but the successful stint on the Himalayas has left them an enviable treasure of happy memories — something to cherish for years to come.

Shyam Charan Joshi (57) and Bhupinder Singh (50) did not allow age to deter them from reaching the summit of Mount Rudragaira, even though the group encountered a host of problems during the expedition organised under the banner of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF).

Two women — Shefali Sardar and Chinmoyee Mukherjee — and visually challenged Atul Ranjan Sahay sported tremendous courage, too. Though they could not make it to the summit, they returned with the pledge to try again.

“It was a great experience. We had an able leader who guided us through the routes. It was a very tough expedition,” said Joshi, who works with Tata Main Hospital.

Age only added to his hardship.

“At times I felt that I had endured enough. Wearing heavy climbing boots and trundling through waist-high snow was very difficult. But I did not give up hope,” he said, adding that reaching the summit at 19,100ft and waving the Tricolour was a superb experience that could not be described in words.

Singh, who was also part of the 19-member expedition team (of employees) from Tata Steel, nodded in agreement. “Bachendri Pal had divided the team into two groups. One, having younger members, and the second comprising myself, Joshi, S.P. Janghel, Atul Ranjan Sahay, Chinmoyee Mukherjee and Shefali Sardar,” he recalled.

“The group of younger team members had to return to the base camp on the advice of Rajender Singh Pal, the leader of the expedition, on October 2. He advised the group to return to avoid getting caught in bad weather in the afternoon. The group had reached 18,500ft,” Joshi said, adding that his group made a fresh attempt the following day, on October 3.

The group, comprising Joshi, Singh, Pal, Shefali Sardar, (TSAF) staff N. Mohan and two high-altitude porters, started the climb from the intermediate summit base camp, located at a height of 17,000ft.

“Safety was the priority throughout the expedition. We started at 4.30am. The team trekked relentlessly through knee-deep snow. Shefali showed tremendous grit and reached 18,600ft but lost the strength to continue. Lack of mountaineering experience and mental stability rather than physical stamina deprived her of fame. She came down with Mohan,” said Singh, who is employed in the G-Blast Furnace department of Tata Steel.

“For the rest, the struggle continued and after a seven-hour climb, Pal reached the summit at 11.20am. She then came down to help Joshi who reached the summit at 11.40am followed by me. It was a tremendous feeling with all of us standing atop Mt Rudragaira by 12 noon,” Singh said.