Two Nagaland climbing instructors summit Mount Saramati, eye Everest

Two senior instructors of the Nagaland Sport Climbing Association (NSCA) reached the summit of Mount Saramati, Nagaland's highest peak, on October 31, the association said in a statement carried by the Mokokchung Times.

Yierhevitso Vakha and Marnungden Walling made the climb to the peak, which stands at about 3,840 metres (around 12,600 feet). Saramati lies in Kiphire district on the India-Myanmar border.

Who the climbers are

Both are trained mountaineers. According to the association, they completed the Basic Mountaineering Course, Advanced Mountaineering Course and Method of Instruction course at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling, with an A grade in all three.

They have also been on several expeditions in the Himalayas, climbing peaks of between 6,000 and 7,000 metres, the statement said, without naming them.

Through the NSCA they train and mentor young climbers, including athletes who have gone on to represent Nagaland at national and Asian-level competitions. In 2015 they gave rope rescue training to personnel of the Nagaland State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Why they climbed

The association said the expedition was meant to promote mountaineering, sport climbing and other adventure activities in the state and to get more young people into outdoor sport and fitness.

The pair also urged trekkers to follow responsible tourism on Nagaland's mountains: avoid plastic, carry back all non-biodegradable waste and aim for zero plastic waste on expeditions.

Next: Everest

Their long-term goal is an expedition to Mount Everest, the statement said, to put Nagaland on the international mountaineering map and inspire young climbers from the state. The association called for more institutional support so that homegrown mountaineers can attempt bigger expeditions.

The climb comes as Nagaland promotes adventure tourism and sport; the Nagaland State and Para Games, the state's biggest sporting meet, open in Chumoukedima and Dimapur today and run until November 14.