How does it feel to climb to the top

Look at that, the Himalayan range. Where? The snow visible on the top of the mountain was shown to me by Sunil Rai, who was playing the role of guide along with the driver during the trip to Sikkim, with a finger gesture. It was the first experience of seeing the Himalayas, even if from a distance. This was a physical experience of the Himalayas, which also has a spiritual world of its own. Who knows how many people have been invited to his/her place in the hope that after going there they will understand themselves.

But understanding oneself and reaching one’s destination by overcoming one’s desires does not connect the Himalayas only with the spiritual world. In the physical world, the Himalayas also give similar lessons to mountaineers. That is why Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s scaling of Mount Everest in 1953 was considered such a great achievement. Before that, 145 climbers had failed in this task. In 1924, a team of British climbers remained just 250 meters away from Everest, but due to the disappearance of two members, they had to return without setting foot on the summit. But with time it has become easier to conquer the Himalayas.

Between 1994 and 2003, 24% of the people who tried to conquer Everest were successful. This is double the success rate compared to the previous decade. Between 2004 and 2013, the success rate increased to 51%. After this it has increased further. This is amazing technology. Just as technology has made the rest of the world’s work easier, similarly the life of mountaineers has also become easier. The capacity of the oxygen tank has already doubled. The suit and gloves are of high quality and the double insulated boots keep the climbers’ feet warm. Accurate weather forecasting has also made the difficult climb of mountains easier. In the case of Himalayas, the contribution of Sherpas also needs to be remembered. Without their help the climbers could not have been expected to achieve such success.

Despite all this, mountaineering is a difficult thing. So difficult that it has been described as a man’s pastime. ‘Time on Rock’ takes initiative to clear this confusion. This book has been written by Anna Fleming. In a way, the book introduces readers to his/her mountaineering life. What they went through when they first started trying to climb the mountains. What went on inside? And how she became a champion mountaineer by the time she turned 30. How this sport captivates a person with the mountains, this information also reaches the readers through Anna Fleming. he/she has also shared the fear and thrill felt in mountaineering through his/her experiences. She explains how it started as a hobby for her and then became the center of her life.

Anna Fleming’s book not only explores what it means to be a female climber in a male-dominated sport, but it also educates readers about the characteristics of different rocks. She writes that the rocks which appear similar from a distance, come closer and reveal how different they are from each other. And how these rocks become the medium to take the climber to his/her destination. Anna Fleming also tells that reaching the peak of a mountain is not a reason for a moment’s happiness. The process you go through before reaching the destination gives a unique feeling. For people like Anna Fleming, this is where the physical world meets the spiritual world.