Peak inheritance: Mountains are their middle name

At 10,000 feet above sea level, where oxygen is thin and temperatures can be bone-chilling, most trekkers focus on putting one foot in front of the other. But on the challenging terrain of Beas Kund, seasoned climbers found themselves stopping in their tracks, unable to believe what they were seeing: a toddler cheerfully taking steps through the snow, as if she belonged there.

Two-year-old Saavi was not just any child — she was the third generation of the Vaidya family that has been scaling peaks for two decades now. The May expedition to Beas Kund brought together three generations of the Vadodara-based Vaidya family: grandfather Sandip, 59, his wife Hema, daughters Prarthana and Prachi, sons-in-law Hardik Sikenis and Akash Patel, and granddaughters Tvisha and Saavi. What made this trek special was not just the family bonding.

It was watching a tradition pass from grandfather to granddaughter on the same mountain slopes.

“What an incredible experience it was, trekking together to reach the summit at Beas Kund. Even though Saavi was travelling to such a high altitude for the first time, we were not worried. The child was absolutely delighted and faced no difficulties throughout the entire journey. Perhaps mountaineering has truly become part of our DNA,” said Sandip, a professional mountaineering and rock-climbing trainer.

The patriarch’s journey began in 1991 with his first trek, and he was soon visiting the mountains every year. His employer, IPCL (now Reliance Industries), recognized his passion and began sponsoring his mountaineering training. By 1993, he had completed his first expedition to Gangotri, conquering 21,470 feet.But Sandip had bigger plans. He believed mountaineering could teach life’s most valuable lessons to his daughters.

“Mountain trekking teaches us how to face challenges head-on. That is why in 2000, I brought Prarthana and Prachi to Mt Thelu, where we trekked to 19,807 feet. Prachi was barely six years old and became India’s youngest mountaineer at that time,” he said.The following year 11-year-old Prarthana scaled Mt Kalindi at 20,080 feet and earned the distinction of being the world’s youngest mountaineer to climb beyond 20,000 feet.

The Limca Book of Records recognized both sisters’ achievements in 2002, and they received the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement. In 2007, the family received Gujarat govt’s mountaineering award.Perhaps the most inspiring transformation came from Hema, now 54, who had never set foot on a mountain before her daughters’ passion ignited. “I had never undertaken a trek or even climbed a single rock face.

But I decided to learn mountaineering so that I could accompany my daughters and ensure their safety. Before long, I was completely captivated by the mountains and became a part of every expedition,” she shared.

“As luck would have it, our sons-in-law are also equally enthusiastic about trekking and our granddaughters are now learning the ropes.”“The thrill of seeking adventures, climbing mountains, and reaching summits after trekking on difficult terrains with your family is absolutely unmatched.

While my father taught me the nitty-gritty of mountaineering, my mother is also an inspiration. She learned mountaineering only to be with us. Balancing household responsibilities while pursuing mountaineering is no small feat. Everything we have accomplished is due to the unwavering support of both my parents,” said Prachi, now 31.

For these families, mountains are where they make memories together — and up there, age does not matter.

When the young motivate the old

The three-generation phenomenon is not limited to the Vaidyas. Dr Hemant Leuva, professor of surgery at NHL Municipal Medical College, is one of the founders of Mountain Movers, a mountaineering group consisting primarily of doctors and other professionals. While his wife and son are also avid mountaineers, he never expected their family’s climbing adventures to inspire his father too.

“In our case, it is quite the opposite. Our shared passion motivated my father, Lalit Leuva, a retired joint commissioner of sales tax, to take up mountaineering. Just last year, we completed the Mount Everest base camp trek together.

Despite his age, he maintained rigorous training for over three hours daily. Throughout the trek, he was among our most active participants. The experience brought him immense joy,” Hemant said.The success has emboldened the three generations of the family to attempt Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak. “Fitness should be a priority at every stage of life. It is not about how you look, but about how strong and capable you feel in your own body,” said Lalit.For the family, mountaineering is about being close to nature. “The mountain does not care who you are or where you come from. You have to respect it and follow its rules. It brings you not only closer to nature, but also closer to yourself because often it is just you and the mountain, with no distractions. I wanted my son to experience that same feeling in a time when mobile addiction is becoming such a problem,” said Hemant, who has been on five-odd treks in India and abroad with his son Daideepya, also a doctor.

Mountain Movers, the group that the family is a part of, now carries out treks across the globe. Dr Somat Chetariya, one of the members of the group, became the first doctor from India to complete all seven highest summits in the seven continents. “We now have several families in our group where at least two generations are actively into mountaineering. It provides them with a sense of adventure and a much-needed bonding time away from digital distractions,” Hemant said.

For these families, mountains are where they make memories together — and up there, age does not matter.

How daughters learn to blaze their own trail

Most families plan school holidays around visiting relatives or beach resorts. But the Vaidya family packs climbing gear and heads for the world’s tallest mountains. Anand Vaidya, 66, an Ayurveda doctor from Surat, and his wife Anita, 60, who holds a master's degree in history, have raised two daughters who have made their mark on the world’s highest peaks.While other parents worry about their children’s screen time, the Vaidyas were busy showing their daughters that every summit has a view worth fighting for. Anuja, 27, a business administration graduate, has conquered all seven of the world’s highest summits. Her sister Aditi, 31, who holds a master’s degree in international business, has climbed four of the world’s seven highest peaks, including Everest.

“During my college years, I visited Mount Abu, and from that very first expedition, I was completely enchanted by the magic of mountains and understood how extraordinary mountaineering could be,” Anand said.His passion led him to meet Anita at a mountaineering training camp, where they fell in love and decided to build their lives around adventure. What started as a college hobby became a mission that would define their children’s lives.The couple introduced their daughters to climbing when they were just 5 and 7 years old. The family underwent professional training in mountaineering, rock climbing and water sports, with the Tapi river as their practice ground.Anita knew firsthand how difficult it could be for young women to pursue adventure sports. Originally from Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand, she had to fight her own parents to take up mountaineering as a young woman. “Not many girls were permitted to participate in adventure activities in those days. Therefore, we few passionate young women mountaineers, including Bachendri Pal, established the Bhagirathi Seven Sisters Adventures Centre to encourage girls to participate in outdoor activities,” Anita said.Today, both Aditi and Anuja credit their parents for keeping them rooted in nature in an increasingly digital world. “Our parents ensured mountains remain a central part of our lives. We keep our phones on airplane mode for days after an expedition. It helps us hold onto that mountain peace a bit longer,” said Aditi, who recently became the first Indian woman to represent the country in the waterski Asian championship in Thailand.The sisters now run Get Set Adventure, an organization that promotes adventure activities among young people. “Mountains teach you to live harmoniously with nature in countless ways. During one expedition to Indonesia’s Carstensz Pyramid, which was supposed to be a two-day mission, adverse weather conditions kept me at base camp for 18 days,” Anuja shared about one of her many expeditions.

While the Vaidya sisters have already earned their place among elite climbers, a young climber from Ahmedabad has just started her journey.

Thirteen-year-old Swara Jani has been exploring mountains with her father Vipul, an IT professional whose passion for adventure stretches across 100 treks and dates back to his youth. The father and daughter started with easier climbs before attempting Mount Everest Base Camp and are already planning more challenging expeditions ahead.“Adventure activities have been woven into the fabric of my life since my youth, and it has been part and parcel of my existence. My wife frequently joins our mountaineering expeditions too. For Swara, we chose to begin with accessible treks like Mt Girnar and Mt Annapurna before attempting Mount Everest Base Camp. We’re already planning more challenging expeditions,” said Vipul. Through mountaineering, girls like Swara are learning that every peak conquered makes the next challenge feel smaller.