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paperwork blues

I will tell you how it is going so far! I am talking about this expedition we are planning in North Sikkim. The mountain is called Kellas and it is 6680m. It is named after Dr. A. M. Kellas, one of the highest authorities of high altitude human physiology. Its a British- American Expedition led by Dr. Jeremy Windsor and I am proud to be a part of it. If we make it, it will be a first ascent and a tribute to Dr. Kellas.

I consider myself lucky to be able to work in the Indian Himalaya. No where else one would find as many unclimbed peaks, unexplored glaciers. Surely one life time is not enough! I live my passion and enjoy my job. Just to be able to be in the mountains is rewarding enough. But sadly as everything else in life also is, there is a constant, never ending pain. A kind of reality that we learn to live with; make treaty, or sometimes even a compromise!

It has not changed since the British left. It is the mountain of paper works! Probably one of the most significant part of any Himalayan Expedition. So long the freedom of the hills and spirit of adventure! They can only come if and when you have the right papers signed, right number of files moved, spoken to the right people and of course the right currency paid ( in this case it happens to  be US$ and a whole lot of it).

we just need the following departments' clearance for this expedition:

Indian Mountaineering Foundation
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi
Home Department, Government of Sikkim
Tourism Department, Government Of Sikkim

And I am beginning to feel glad that we have got the clearance from the first 4 departments already! Only one to go.

And you thought these mountain guides' are free from the boredom (burden) of desk job? Not in India you don't. :-)

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Adventure Mania
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