Trekkers urged to record adventures

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 11

The Department of Tourism, Kashmir, today celebrated International Mountain Day by screening films on various adventure sports during a day-long event held here.

The day was celebrated in collaboration with the J&K Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) and the Indian Mountaineering Federation.

A Tourism Department official said the JKMHC presented the report of its yearly activities, including ‘Sunday Treks’, major summit expeditions, mountain biking events, sanitation drives, promos of mountaineering and mountain biking, swimming camps and the exploration of Durina-III, the highest lake in the Kashmir valley.

Mahmood A Shah, Director, Tourism, Kashmir, said the JKMHC was conducting trekking programmes round the year, which had encouraged youngsters to take part in mountaineering expeditions.

Shah said many workshops and training camps were also being conducted in mountain rescue and river rescue operations. He also announced that an ice-climbing event would be held at Pahalgam on December 31, besides regular activities such as skiing, snowboarding and ice hockey at Gulmarg. Maninder Kohli, Director, IMF Film Festival, was the guest of honour.

"Young people of the Valley are scaling new heights. They need to film their expeditions professionally, so that their work can be showcased around the world to project Kashmir as an adventure destination," he said.