Gangtok, July 23: Not many people know that the dingy flight of steps, which disappears into the basement of Vajra theatre, in Baluakhani, lead to a mountaineering institute. Fewer still knew about its existence before Nadre Sherpa, an instructor of the Sonam Gyatso Mountaineering Institute, made news by scaling Everest on May 21. Those who did, found it hard to believe that an institute that functions out of a rented room could have an Everester as its instructor.

But that is the way the Institute, which began as a mountaineering club in 1960, has always been: in a league of its own.

Eclipsed by its more popular cousin the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, as far as infrastructure goes, it could not stop Sherpa from scaling the highest peak, as part of the 16-member HMI expedition team that ventured into the death-zone to pay tribute to Tenzing Norgay’s conquest of the peak 50 years ago.

Holding its own despite all the constraints, the institute conducts basic mountaineering and high altitude courses exclusively for the police force, personnel from the intelligence wings of the Ministry of home affairs and paramilitary forces.

Since 1991, it has also been imparting training to National Social Services volunteers from various schools in the state.

The training is imparted in batches, only after clearance from the state sports and youth affairs department.

Named after Sikkim’s first Everester Sonam Gyatso, who was a member of the first Indian Everest Expedition led by Capt. M. S. Kohli in 1962, the institute is affiliated to the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, the apex mountaineering body of the country.

Principal of the institute G. T. Bhutia said they hold two advanced and expedition courses every year. The next course will begin during the months of October and November.

Gyatso, who died three years after scaling Everest, is also credited with scaling Nanda Devi, Annapurna III, Cho Oyu, Hathi Parbhat (Garhwal), Kanchan Gyau and Langpo Chu. He was awarded the Padma Shri, Padma Bhusan, the Arjuna Award and the Indian Mountaineering Foundation gold medal for his achievements.

The institute, thanks to Nadre Sherpa, made news again after he was asked to lead an expedition to the “killer” Mount K2 in Pakistan.

All that stands between him and the peak is a permission from the government of Pakistan.