<p class="bodytext">Five Bengalureans recently scaled the 6,001-mtr Deo Tibba peak in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu Valley, a climbing expedition said to have a low success rate of 30%.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were part of a 12-member team from the Karnataka Mountaineering Association (KMA). Six members couldn’t progress beyond base camp at 4,480 mtr, while one turned back 300 mtr short of the summit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This is only the second successful Deo Tibba summit by KMA in 32 years. The team included climbers aged 20 to 41, from diverse professions such as civil engineering, medicine, and technology. KMA’s previous attempt in 2000 was unsuccessful.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Santhosh Devarajappa, who led the 13-day expedition from June 22 to July 4, says Deo Tibba is underrated simply because it isn’t as tall as famed peaks like Mt Everest. “I know mountaineers who have summited Everest (8,849 mtr) but returned from Duhangan Col (a 5,060-mtr pass on the way to Deo Tibba),” he explains. Detailing the challenges, he adds: “The snowline at Deo Tibba starts early, around 4,000 mtr. That means climbing through 2,000 mtr of deep snow, in addition to rocky sections, ice gullies, steep gradients, and glacier crossings.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The pre-monsoon weather made the climb even tougher. Crossing Duhangan Col, a near-vertical section with few safe passages, during unexpected rains was perilous. “Loosened rocks were falling on our helmets and shoulders,” recalls Devarajappa. The inclement weather forced the team to stay inside the camp from June 27 to 30. “The camp was bitterly cold as it was set up on a snowy plateau. And intense UV radiation outside meant we had to wear goggles at all times.” When the skies cleared, the team made their final push at 12.30 am on July 1 and reached the summit by 8.50 am. The melting snow complicated their descent.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To prepare, the team undertook eight treks to Nandi Hills, Skandagiri, and Makalidurga peaks near Bengaluru, which are known for steep climbs and boulders. They carried 15-20 kilo backpacks, and strapped 1 kg weights to each leg. A majority of them are trained in advanced mountaineering.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This expedition was proposed last year by Srivatsa Satyanarayan, who was part of the KMA team that first summited Deo Tibba in 1993. Now 68, he returned to mentor the new generation of climbers and served as a base camp manager.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Five Bengalureans recently scaled the 6,001-mtr Deo Tibba peak in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu Valley, a climbing expedition said to have a low success rate of 30%.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were part of a 12-member team from the Karnataka Mountaineering Association (KMA). Six members couldn’t progress beyond base camp at 4,480 mtr, while one turned back 300 mtr short of the summit.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This is only the second successful Deo Tibba summit by KMA in 32 years. The team included climbers aged 20 to 41, from diverse professions such as civil engineering, medicine, and technology. KMA’s previous attempt in 2000 was unsuccessful.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Santhosh Devarajappa, who led the 13-day expedition from June 22 to July 4, says Deo Tibba is underrated simply because it isn’t as tall as famed peaks like Mt Everest. “I know mountaineers who have summited Everest (8,849 mtr) but returned from Duhangan Col (a 5,060-mtr pass on the way to Deo Tibba),” he explains. Detailing the challenges, he adds: “The snowline at Deo Tibba starts early, around 4,000 mtr. That means climbing through 2,000 mtr of deep snow, in addition to rocky sections, ice gullies, steep gradients, and glacier crossings.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The pre-monsoon weather made the climb even tougher. Crossing Duhangan Col, a near-vertical section with few safe passages, during unexpected rains was perilous. “Loosened rocks were falling on our helmets and shoulders,” recalls Devarajappa. The inclement weather forced the team to stay inside the camp from June 27 to 30. “The camp was bitterly cold as it was set up on a snowy plateau. And intense UV radiation outside meant we had to wear goggles at all times.” When the skies cleared, the team made their final push at 12.30 am on July 1 and reached the summit by 8.50 am. The melting snow complicated their descent.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To prepare, the team undertook eight treks to Nandi Hills, Skandagiri, and Makalidurga peaks near Bengaluru, which are known for steep climbs and boulders. They carried 15-20 kilo backpacks, and strapped 1 kg weights to each leg. A majority of them are trained in advanced mountaineering.</p>.<p class="bodytext">This expedition was proposed last year by Srivatsa Satyanarayan, who was part of the KMA team that first summited Deo Tibba in 1993. Now 68, he returned to mentor the new generation of climbers and served as a base camp manager.</p>