The loftiest task beckons Hemant Gupta and Payo Murmu.
Not even a week is left for the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) duo to start their eco-Everest expedition. Before heading for the highest mountain in the world, the two will sit for a pep talk with legendary climber Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to annex the Everest, on Thursday.
In the midst of all these, Hemant (25) will leave for his hometown in Tonk (Rajasthan) on March 27 to seek his mother's blessings while Payo (50) is readying her mountaineering gears. She will leave Jamshedpur on March 31.
Both will meet in Delhi the same day to catch a flight to Kathmandu.
"We are supposed to report to Asian Trekking, the agency that is organising the eco-Everest expedition, in Kathmandu on April 3. After completing all the formalities, we will fly to Lukla on April 6," TSAF manager Hemant told The Telegraph.
The journey from Lukla - a town in Solukhumbu district of north-east Nepal - to the Everest base camp is arduous.
"We shall not waste any time and start on the same day we are reaching Lukla. It will take us nine days to make it to the base camp from Lukla. We'll cross Namche Bazaar, Lomche Bazaar, some peaks and rough terrain," Hemant added.
Divulging more details, the duo said that once at the base camp, they would get themselves acclimatised at Lobuche East. "The tentative date for summiting is between May 20 and 25. We will start our return journey only after May 28," Hemant said.
According to the IITian-turned-mountaineer, the efforts he took to conquer Mount Aconcagua would keep him in good stead. "We had to brave snow and thunderstorm during our journey to the peak. It has made me mentally and physically strong. Hopefully, my experience will help me while taking on the Everest," said Hemant.
Apart from Mount Aconcagua, the young mountaineer has Island Peak under his belt. He was also part of the TSAF expedition to Chamsher Kangri in 2012.
But, Payo was not as lucky.
Due to some passport glitches, the mother of three sons could not accompany Hemant to Mount Aconcagua and had to use the concrete steps and the grounds of JRD Tata Sports Complex to build her stamina. The New Baridih resident used to measure the streets from her home to Tinplate Chowk every morning.
"I am feeling much confident now. There is no nervousness. I think I am in good fettle," said the former sweeper, who now works with Tata Steel's loco traffic department.
TSAF secretary P.P. Kapadia said that Payo's passport was still pending. "The Asian Trekking has taken permission from Nepal government to allow Payo enter Kathmandu with her voter identity card. We are happy that she has got the permission," said Kapadia.
