New handbook on mountaineering for Sahyadri climbers

Mumbai: With adventure sports including trekking, hiking, mountaineering and rock-climbing gaining popularity, the Pune-based Guardian Giripremi Institute of Mountaineering has come out with a handbook with special focus on the Sahyadri mountain ranges that graces the western coast of India. 

The guide Handbook of Mountaineering: Volume-1 Sahyadri & Rock Climbing is a result of years of efforts of GGIM and Rohan Prakashan. 

The manual covers a wide spectrum of essential topics including rock craft being the core of modules, along with first aid, navigation, backpacking, weather forecast, outdoor safety. 

The manual is designed for climbers of all levels, from beginners seeking a solid foundation to experienced mountaineers looking to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of the Sahyadri,” said Umesh Zirpe, the founder Director, GGIM and President, Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh (AMGM), the apex body of mountaineering in Maharashtra.

“One has to remember that mountaineering is a challenging and demanding sport. One has to respect the mountains, prepare thoroughly and prioritise safety. The manual is a valuable resource but not a substitute for proper training and experience,’ said Zirpe, a recipient of the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. 

Zirpe, who is also the recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati Award of the Maharashtra Government, said that the Sahyadri mountain ranges of Western Ghats beckons adventurers with rugged beauty and challenging terrain. 

“This documentation is born from a deep respect for awe-inspiring hills, the forts and the desire to equip aspiring mountaineers with the knowledge and skills necessary for a safe and fulfilling journey,” he said. 

"Thousands of people all over the world participate in sports activities on land, in sea and in air. Mountaineering has a place of pride, earning the title  'mother of all adventure sports'. A mountaineer learns nature, flora, fauna,  geography,  geology and what not. It leads to overall physical and mental development and creates leaders,” said Zirpe, who had in the past authored several books including 'Joy of Mountaineering: A Beginner's Guide for Children’ and ‘Mountain-Men Sherpa’.

The guidebook also explains about national and international bodies like Indian Mountaineering Federation and International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation.

Some of the topics included in the 200-pages plus book include introduction to mountaineering, outdoor essentials, outdoor first aid, rock craft, safety in outdoors and allied topics like biodiversity, mountain weather and forecasting, photography, filming.

Besides Zirpe, others who have guided the project include Hrishikesh Yadav, Ganesh More and Dr Avinash Kandekar.
The authors include Bhushan Harshe, Vivek Shivade, Pavan Hadole, Varun Bhagwat, Jayant Tulpule, Swati Kadu, Sahil Phadnis, Mufaddal Lokhandwala, Ronak Singh and Anooj Jangid.

The illustrations have been made by Prasad Chavan, Kaustubh Thete, Priya Jamadagni, Jui Shaligram, Vivek Shivade, Mihir Jadhav and Abhay Khedkar. 

Zirpe is the leader of Giripremi’s eight expeditions to 8000 m mountains namely Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Kangchenjunga and Annapurna I.