9-year-old girl from Hyderabad completes daunting Sar Pass trek

Hyderabad: At a time when children her age are spending their summer vacation watching their favourite cartoons or playing games, a nine-year-old from Hyderabad has achieved a rare feat by completing the Sar Pass trek in Himachal Pradesh -- 13,800 feet above sea level and considered among the most scenic and adventurous treks in the Indian HimalayasAccording to V Siri Athasha’s family, the class 4 student is likely the youngest to complete this 48-km trek, where parts of the terrain are at an 80-degree incline and temperatures often drop to below -5 degrees.

The minor completed the trek on feet, usually covered by children with the help of hired porters, the family added.“Every day, I walked for about 9 km. I was excited to complete the trek. I could see snowfall, glaciers, and mountains all around me,” Siri told TOI, sharing how she regularly jogged, swam and exercised as part of her preparation for the trek.“I had body pains but did not feel tired despite walking for long hours.

And even though I was not accompanied by my parents, I did not feel scared,” she added. Siri went on the expedition along with 23 others who are part of a hikers group -- Hello Hikers.Sharing her routine while scaling the summit, the young girl said that they used to start the trek early in the morning and reach the camp site by evening, where they rested for the night.On day 1, she trekked from Kasol to Grahan Pulgi camp site and covered the Pulgi to Mingtaj stretch the next day.

On day 3, they started from Mingtaj to Naagaru and on day 4, they reached Sar Pass Summit and trekked back to Bishkari Camp site.“On day 4, we started the trek at 2 am and reached the summit by around 7 am,” she added. “I enjoyed watching the sunrise, sunset, and snow from there.”Siri said that she fell in love with trekking during her travels with her family and has, over the last one year, gone on multiple trekking expeditions.

“I did Shinkula Pass trek, Chandrakhani Pass Trek, and Spiti Valley trek, among others,” she said - the excitement in her voice evident even over the telephone.Siri’s interest in the adventure has also come from her mother, Navyasri, who herself took to trekking at an early age. “I did my first trek when I was in class 10. But, I can’t trek anymore as I have breathing issues. So, I introduced my daughter to it as I want her to experience it.

Now, she doesn’t even need oxygen support till 5500 feet altitude and can trek easily,” said an elated mother adding how she was comfortable sending the minor on this treacherous trek as the team also consisted of her childhood friends.“Also, for a month before the trek she climbed a mountain right behind our house in Kullu, with full gear. It prepared her well for the ultimate trek,” Navyasri added and said that while she stays in Kullu, her daughter stays the with grandparents in Hyderabad.The family is now heading to Umling La Pass in Ladakh, for their next trek. The girl also wants to scale Mt Everest along with other mountains.Ritwik Thakur, trek leader of Hello Hikers also confirmed that Siri walked by herself without any support. “This is the first time we have seen such a young girl walk and complete the trek,” he added.