BMC 123

@

Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering ~ Sonamarg

@

1st - 28th Sept. 2016
........................................................................................................................................

When I started trekking just a couple of years back, that time I didn't know much about Mountaineering course... With the time as I met more new friends from different treks, I got to know more about this course... I was very Curious to stay for 1 month in the Mountains & learn different techniques!!! That's how I decided to go for BMC :)

Generally it takes 1 to 2 Years of Advance booking for this course as there are very few Top ranked Govt. recognized institutes in India like NIM (Uttarkashi), HMI (Darjeeling), JIM (Pahalgam) & few others... Tried a lot for NIM & HMI but same thing - For next 2 years there were no chance to get the admission!!! 

At last when confirmed about JIM just a week back (in Aug.) for Sept. 2016 batch, through one of my known gentleman - Ibrahim ji (Hotel owner, based in Pahalgam - same hotel where I stayed last year when I went for Amarnath yatra), I got confirmation that I can join for Sept. batch!!! I was so excited to go for BMC & that too in the Paradise - Kashmir, for a month!!! It was like a dream :)

Finally the day came for a month journey in Kashmir... But it was very challenging to reach to Sonamarg (Base camp) due to worst situation in the Kashmir!!! So, just to avoid the delay due to any unavoidable circumstances, I decided to reach to Srinagar 1 day before (i.e. 30th Aug.) as reporting day was 31st Evening... 

Thankfully Ibrahimji, who got my confirmation for BMC, personally came for my pick up at the Airport & also arranged an accommodation for me in the house boat...

This was my 2nd time visit in Dal Lake, but this time I stayed alone in the whole houseboat, as there were very few tourists in the entire Dal Lake... 
  

Reached by early afternoon on 30th Aug. & blessed to stay in the houseboat for the entire day - enjoying Serene n Beautiful nature :)

Indeed it was a dream like moment !!!

Family of the houseboat owner was staying just behind this boat... For the dinner I was invited to their beautiful house :) Very nice people in the family with 2 lovely kids... 

And in the evening I was roaming around on the top of the house boat with this lovely girl... 

Amazing views all over with lots of Windy air !!!

 

Roaming in & around the houseboat in the dark - I was enjoying a lot...

 


As it started getting dark somewhere I was feeling lil scary to stay alone in the houseboat... But Ibrahimji & the owner of the House-boat made me feel very Safe & Comfortable :) Any how I tried to sleep as I had to get up early in the morning, as it was safe travelling only in the early morning time, to avoid stone pelting...
 
Finally next day got up at 5 O'clock in the morning to start my journey towards Sonamarg... Initially Ibrahimji was supposed to come & drop me at the base camp, but when we came out of the boat one of his known taxi driver was waiting there for one of the passenger who was going to Sonamarg only... 

So I joined the same taxi & surprisingly after some time when asked, that passenger from Kolkata, was also going for the BMC course!!! So for same destination started approx. 5.45 AM & reached safely to the Thajiwas Base Camp at about 7.30 AM, enjoying all the way, Beauty of the nature...

I was feeling so Happy & Excited that I am going to live for 1 month in the midst of this Delightful  Greenery & Alpine Mountains!!! 

Remote view of Thajiwas base camp

Thajiwas Sanctuary

Thajiwas Base camp

When entered in the camp site, most of the group mates were already there who came a day before... Everything was new n unknown for me - new people, new place, new  things, new Hope!!!

I got my place in the girls big tent, got freshened up & had breakfast... It was a rest day as we all reached before the scheduled time... Whole day other candidates were coming... Till next day we were around a group of 100 out of which we were 27 girls!!!

Initially because of this Beautiful place & with a thought of Learning something new about the Mountains I was very Happy... 
But then I realized it will not be too easy to stay here for a month as it was very strict n unpredictable behavior of Lady instructors & the way they set their rules - regulations & instructions for all of us, specially girls :(
Also not only lady instructors but from few other Admins, we were getting repetitive instructions that "If you have any issues or complaints, don't go directly to "this instructor or that instructor or Incharge, otherwise be ready for the Consequences!!!" This was hard to digest, but then I tried to convince myself with a thought that its their duty!!! They have to be strict to deal with this huge group & that too for a month!!!
Some where I was feeling like that I am in a Jail or I am caged!!! As I am very Less tolerant towards illogical things, Upfront & Straight forward - I started thinking today is just the 2nd day how will I be able to survive or tolerate all these - without saying anything for a month!!! It was next to impossible for my personality !!! 

Infact for a moment I thought I should go back, but then I remembered very Inspiring & Beautiful line, "Before you give up, just think of the reason - Why you held on for so long!!!" And this line hold me & made me think that how difficult it was for me - to reach to this place, to convince my family, to get one month leave & what not!!! 

That time only I decided I will have to be Tolerant to accomplish my Goal & Quiet as there were 27 girls from different different mind set!!!  

One more thing bothered not only me but all of us that - 27 girls & only 1 toilet (There were 2 toilets but 1 was in very bad condition), that too far away & downstairs!!! To reach there we had to cross the fence & then long wait if its morning time...  That's not all - after a week time we came to know that there is a danger of wild animal (Bear), it comes near the toilet area so after sunset we need to be careful... Things were not easy; but we were there to deal with this difficult situation & survival in the Mountains :)
In addition to make the situation more dramatic, there were few Rats who were giving company to all of us in the night to share our eatables ; specially dry fruits!!! 

All in all, initially it was very difficult & Challenging to survive under such environment, but then I found it more adventurous & also I tried my best just to ignore things so that I can concentrate only on my BMC course for which I was there !!!

And as truly said that, "Patience always Pays...", gradually everything went lil' smoothly... All the male instructors were very helpful, also lady instructors started behaving very friendly as the time goes on!!!

Anyhow I successfully completed my Basic Mountaineering Course & I got few very Good & Life time friends with whom I had more or less interaction - "A person will be remembered if he or she made you feel Special or Concerned at least for a while" - Punam (Bold & Pure hearted), Yogi (Gossip friend & Trustworthy), Raga (very sweet), Siddharth (very Responsible), Vijay (very Naughty), Swati (very Helpful), Chandan (very Simple n Sweet), Ajitem (very easy going), Ravi (less interaction but Friendly), Harshita (Stayed only for 10 days with us @ very less interaction but after coming back to home I found her very Concerned & Friendly) & Wg. Cdr. Vinayak Sharma - Senior officer from Indian Air Force (very much Concerned & now my Rakhi brother :) 
Feeling blessed to have such a wonderful circle of friends :) & of course all other "123" mates with whom I had very less interaction, will always be remembered as a part of this memorable span of time spent in the midst of Breathtaking views & Mystic Mountains :) 

Apart from the Training & Mountain knowledge, the most imp. thing I learnt is Patience & Tolerence :)

Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering Rocks :)

 
Daily dose :
6.00 AM - Tea
7.00 AM - Exercise
8.00 AM - Breakfast
9.00 AM - Training
1.30 PM  - Lunch
3.00 PM - Lecture
5.00 PM - Play time
6.30 PM - Role call
7.00 PM - Cultural Program
7.30 PM - Dinner
9.30 PM - Lights off

Instructors @ JIM - Left to Right : Saima mam (Sincere), Jilani sir (Easy),
 Ashok sir (Decent), Tamang sir (Strict but Sweet), Limbu sir (very Caring & Sweet)...
R to L : Mehfooz sir (very Pleasant), Sarjan sir (very Sincere)
Sumi Jaan (Very Funnny) - not present in this pic

Day wise Schedule :

Day 1 -
Acclimatization walk
Registration
Introduction to Mountain Equipments by Mehfooz sir
Distribution of Uniform & Mountain Equipments
Market Visit

 Acclimatization walk

The very first day - first task of the day # Fresh morning @ Beautiful place # Beginning of our 1 month journey # Excitement @ all 102 Warriors together :)

More pics on Acclimatization >>

Introduction to Mountain Equipments by Mehfooz sir

More pics on Equipments >>

Market Visit

  

More pics on Market visit >>

Day 2 
Running - PT
Demonstration on Rock Climbing
Training on Knots & Hitches by Ashok sir
Session on Ropes by Tamang sir
Medical Checkup

Running 

First day of running # Green n greenery all over # Amazing Breathtaking views # Excited with just a thought - To run everyday in the Beautiful valley # but very less Stamina # decided to work hard on this for AMC :)

Training on Knots & Hitches by Ashok sir

Session on Rope by Tamang sir

Day 3
Running - PT
Training on Base Making, Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Session on Mountain Terminologies by Limbu sir

Training on Base Making, Rock Climbing & Rappelling

Day 4
Running - PT
Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Session on Mountain Terminologies by Limbu sir

Training on Climbing

Session on Mountain Terminologies by Limbu sir

Day 5
Running - PT
Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Session on Mountain Do's & Don'ts by Saima mam

Training on Rappelling 

Day 6
Running - PT
Training on Zip Line
Session on Load Packing & Carrying by Sarjan sir

Training on Zip Line

 

Day 7 
Running - PT
Training on River crossing
Chance to see Kannada film (Hebuli) shoot very closely in our Campus area
Session on Mountain Hazards by Jilani sir

Training on River crossing

Pics before shooting of the film Hebuli with the actress Amla

Awesome personality # very down to earth # my first ever selfie with Celebrity # Feeling Happy :)

My Favourite selfie :)

 

      

      Film shoot inside the camp

Day 8 
Trek to Green Top

Opening Address (Introduction of Institution & different Courses) by Cap. Sen 

Trek to Green Top
Trek to top n that too Green :) # Amazing experience of trekking in the valley of Kashmir :)

More pics on Green top Trek >>

Day 9
Rest day
CPR (Cardio Pulmonary resuscitation) session by Cap. Sen

Day 10  
Running -PT
Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Practice of base making
Session on Avalanche by Tamag sir

Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling

Day 11 
Training on Pitch Climbing
No other activities due to raining

Day 12 
No activities due to raining
Session on Glacier Ashok sir &
Session on Shelter by Mehfooz sir



Day 13

Survival in the Mountains

No other activities due to afternoon raining

 
Survival in the Mountains (Trek)

New concept @ Survival with trekking # Loading all the stuff for Survival @ Food & Shelter # Amazing Experience with all the talented folks # Innovative kind of temporary shelters # Enjoyment to the fullest...

Temporary shelter made up of Ponchos by girls

Temporary shelter made by Group1

Temporary shelter made by Group 2

Temporary shelter made by Group 3

Survival successful !!!

 Day 14
Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling

Day 15
Running - PT
Training on Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Session on Tent Pitching by Sumi jaan 

Session on Tent Pitching by Sumi jaan

Session in raining

Day 16  
Endurance test
Exam on Base Making, Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Market visit
Distribution of Snow & Ice Equipments 
 
Day 17
Glacier Marching Techniques 10 point & 2 Point

 
Day 18
Base making session on Glacier
Practice of 10 point & 2 Point

Base making session on Glacier

Practice of 10 point & 2 Point

 
Day 19
Trek to Happy Valley
Visit to HAWS (High Altitude Warfare School) 

Trek to Happy Valley :

Started very Happily # Beautiful views all over # lil difficult & tiring trek # lil unhappy # experienced Sikri (Scree) on the way # still overall Happy trek :)

Visit to HAWS (High Altitude Warfare School) 

More pics on HAWS >>

 Day 20
Glacier Marching Techniques - 3 point & 4 Point
Practice on Crevasse rescue & Base making 

 Glacier Marching Techniques - 3 point & 4 Point

 Practice on Crevasse rescue & Base making 

 
 











Day 21
Endurance test
Glacier Marching practice

Day 22
Exam on 2 Point & 4 Point on Glacier
Session on Avalanche (Demo on AVD)   

Exam on 2 Point

Exam on 4 Point

Session on Avalanche (Demo on AVD) 
Avalanche session # Demo on Avalanche Rescue # Lots of fun :)

Day 23
Exam on Crevasse Rescue & Glacier base making 

Exam on Crevasse Rescue & Glacier base making

Day 24
Endurance Exam

Endurance Exam
Time to use all the energy :) # Finale run

Day 25

Written Exam

Viva

Cultural Program

Written Exam 
Exam tension # still enjoying as its in open nature :) # Loved it

Day 26
Grand Ceremony by Army chief
Cultural Program & Prize distribution

Grand Ceremony by Army chief
Time for Grand Ceremony by Chief of the Army # Cultural Program by talented group of mates # Prize Distribution

Day 27 
Return to Home

Woke up early in the morning @ 3.30 AM # Taxi picked up @ 4.30 AM # Reached safely to the Airport with the enjoyable company of Gujarat police group # Waited for good 7-8 hrs @ Airport Guest house # Reached Home by the evening # Sweet & Unforgettable Memories for Lifetime in the Mountains of Beautiful Valley of Kashmir :)

Special Thanks to Wg. Cdr. Vinayak Sharma (Sr. officer from Indian Air Force) to guide me for making this BMC blog more interactive!!!

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