Mt Thingchinkhang expedition establishes Camp-II

GANGTOK, 15 Oct: The 12-member team of mountaineers have opened the route to camp II at an altitude of 5510 mtrs. to Mt. Thingchinkhang 6010 mtrs. after eight days of recce and load ferry from their base camp at Lamuney at 4310mtrs. The expedition had started from Yuksam on 29 September.
A TAAS release informs that the expedition to one of the notified climbing peaks by the state government is jointly organised by Himapathik and North Bengal Explorers’ Club based in Siliguri with the approval of Indian Mountaineering Foundation and the Government of Sikkim.
The expedition was flagged off by TAAS president, Satish Bardewa at Yuksam where local people had also gathered to offer their good wishes to the expedition team led by Asit Kr. Paul who has ten expeditions to his climbing credit and six peaks under his leadership namely Mt. Gorichen II (6488m) & Mt. Gorichen East (6422m),  Mt. Matri (6721m), Mt. Tharkot (6099m), Mt. Indrasan (6221m), Mt. Deotibba (6001m).
During his brief speech at the flag-off ceremony, TAAS president offered thanks to Chief Secretary of Sikkim, Karma Gyatso and also to DFO/KNP, for supporting this expedition by way of concession on expedition fees and environment fees and also for supporting sustainable tourism activity into park and sanctuaries.
Such a generous approach by the officials will take tourism promotion in Sikkim towards greater heights, said Mr Bardewa. The TAAS president also urged local people to support the tourism plans and policies of the Government in making Sikkim the ultimate adventure and cultural destination.
As per the release, the other climbers are - Ayan Pyne, Babla Dey, Borisan Chakraborty, Chandana Biswas (who is the lone female climber), Dipankar Dey, Dr. Swarup Kr. Khan (also the doctor on the expedition), Nilanjan Bhowmick, Sandipan Dutta, Santanu Guha Roy, Sukanta Baidya and Tapas Kangsabanik.
Mt. Tingchenkhang (6010m) has a unique geographical location in the Sikkim Himalaya in the vicinity of Mt. Khanchendzonga. It lies at 27’32’10” N, 88’13’19” E just south of Mt. Pandim(6662m) on the same ridge in Sikkim Himalayas. The first ascent was made by an Indo-British army team, led by Maj. M.N.R Panwar in 1991.
Adventure activity especially trekking and mountaineering requires a large local support, the ratio of employment generated is 1 to 9 which brings new jobs, increasing the financial gains to local people in that location. Mt. Thingchinkhang has received most of the expeditions so far amongst these alpine peaks which also include the expeditions organised by some members of TAAS, the release mentions.
Mountaineering as an adventure activity in Sikkim has become popular among mountaineers especially after the state government declared five alpine peaks open for mountaineering expeditions in Sikkim; two of them lie in North Sikkim and three of them in West Sikkim. The Liaison Officer to this expedition has been supported by Sikkim Amateur Mountaineering Association, the release adds.