30 Days in the Mountains: My Experience at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering

Never imagined life would be so difficult when you are juggling between college and hectic city life, getting sucked into the never ending to-dos that I have in my Phone notes. “You need a Life….” was all my heart said. Needless to say, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), Uttarkashi is probably the best mountaineering institute in Asia. So I longed to join this and learn some mountaineering skills. I did not know how and when, but I knew I wanted to go there. Finally this summer, I got a chance to do a month long Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) course at NIM, a premier mountaineering institute in the country.

I am relatively pleased with myself for completing the mountaineering course with ‘A’ grade. There was a time that I wanted to dropout and go back to my home. Many girls had actually left the mountaineering course midway. I’m now more aware of my physical (and mental) limitations. I learned some important aspects of life – time management, discipline, pushing myself beyond the limits, dealing with strangers, etc. I am now certified to climb all peaks below the height of 6500m. One of the best life lessons trekking in the mountains taught me is – Nature Is Powerful and Teaches You Humility. Believe me, if you’re suffering from an inflated ego or far too much vanity in your life, take a long hike.

I’m sure I would not be able to complete this mountaineering course had I not received encouragement of the instructors and the enormous help that my rope (group) members gave me. The best part of this course is that it is Govt. funded which offer an all-round Himalayan experience at a fraction of the cost, 7500 bucks (Surprising Enough?). I truly recommend this mountaineering course for every individual.

You'll never get to see the awe-inspiring view from the top if you don't walk the many difficult miles to get there. This includes taking the wrong turn, running out of water, sleeping under the stars or pushing past your fear of heights. We might not always make the best decisions, and things won't always go as we plan, but in the end, it's all worth it. If it doesn't feel like that, it probably isn't the end.

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So…get on your way!”

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