Mount Elbrus, Elevation: 18,510 feet (5,642 meters), Location: Caucasus Range, Russia. On the border of Asia and Europe.
INDIACSR News Network
JAMSHEDPUR: Premlata Agarwal is the oldest Indian woman mountaineer and one of the oldest in the world, to unfurl the tricolor atop the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest on May 20, 2011.
“Tata Steel is the proud sponsor of her expeditions, and is supporting her with a sponsorship to climb all the seven summits.” Tata Steel said in the statement.
Inspired by India’s first Everest climber, Bachendri Pal and Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF), Premlata Agarwal has her eyes trained on Mt McKinley before leaving her and the country’s imprint on all the Seven Continental Summits of the world.
She joined the Women’s Fitness Centre at JRD Sports Complex. She completed Basic Mountaineering Course and Advance Mountaineering Course in 2001 & 2002 and was conferred the Best Trainee Award in the Basic Course and “A” Grade in both.
Mount Elbrus is one of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. Mount Elbrus lies on the geographical dividing line between Europe and Asia, geographers consider it to be the highest mountain in Europe. Mount Elbrus and the Caucasus Range also divide Russia from the Middle East to the south. Mount Elbrus lies near the Georgia border. Mount Elbrus is perpetually snow-covered with an icecap and 22 glaciers. Three major rivers—Baksan, Malka, and Kuban—arise from the glaciers.
Mount Elbrus is considered an inactive volcano. Lava flows cover the mountain as well as 100 square miles of volcanic ash and debris. Pyroclastic flows of ash and mud, indicative of a powerful eruption that melted ice, also drain off the mountain. An 800-foot-wide snow-filled volcanic crater is on the mountain’s western summit. Elbrus last erupted around 50 A.D.
Climbers regularly die on Mount Elbrus, as many as 30 a year. In 2004 alone, 48 climbers and skiers died on the mountain. Elbrus is considered one of the world’s most deadly peaks with a high ratio of climber deaths to climbers.
On prior occasions, Premlata Agarwal has participated in several expeditions notable being the Island Peak Expedition in Nepal (20,600 ft) in 2004, the Karakoram Pass (18,300 ft) and Mt Stok Kangri (20,150 ft) in 2006, the First Indian Woman’s Thar Desert Expedition in 2007 which involved a 40 day Camel Safari along the International Border from Bhuj in Gujarat — Rann of Kutch — Thar in Rajasthan, upto Wagah Border in Punjab. These achievements were also recognised as a National Record and found place in the Limca Book of Records.
