'Adventure Sports Needs Funds' Says Mountaineer Satyarup
Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta's journey is a story of possibilities and self-belief. Diagnosed with asthma in Class 2, inhalers became his default companions. Once, when he was left breathless, without inhalers, endurance helped him understand his body's coping capacity and recondition it to a healthy state. This self-reliance helped him transcend his fears and challenge his body. Later, travelling made him discover his willpower. An expedition in Tamil Nadu, where he did not use his inhaler even once, reposed his faith that his asthma recovery journey was on the right track.
A distinguished climber today, Siddhanta's achievements exemplify his never-say-never spirit. With the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest mountaineer in the world to climb the Seven Summits and Volcanic Seven Summits, his love for mountains originated at the Everest base camp in 2010. Today, he organises expeditions to different countries and guides aspiring mountaineers on how to journey through rugged terrains.
Ahead of his next trip to Ethiopia in February 2024, the Guinness World Record holder spoke with us about his life and future vision. He also highlighted that authorities must amp up sponsorship measures for mountaineers and bring the adventure sport on par with high-paying sporting events like Cricket.
Tell us about your journey from an asthmatic kid to a mountaineer.
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was in class 2. I couldn't run 100 m without the aid of the inhalers. Much later, when I was in my engineering college, one day, I forgot to carry my inhaler and had an attack. While caught up in a breathless situation, I thought I would die. But eventually, when I rose to the occasion fine, I felt for the first time that I could live without inhalers. All I needed to do was to endure the uneasiness for some time and recondition my body. I started eating the foods I was allergic to as a part of the process and took anti-allergics when things went out of my control.
This went on till my professional days. In 2008, I took the risk of going on an expedition to the Parvathmalai hills in Tamil Nadu, ensuring that my brand-new inhaler was tucked in my bag, too. After reaching the top of the mountain, I realised I didn't have to use the inhaler, not even once. That gave me a feeling of freedom and liberation. A belief system got implanted that I, too, can. A horse riding course followed this, and eventually, treks in western ghats almost every weekend with Bangalore Mountaineering Club.
The idea of becoming a Mountaineer came as late as December 2010, when I went to Everest Base Camp and promised myself that I would return one day. This led to a mountaineering course in December 2011, qualifying me to become a mountaineer.
What, according to you, is the ultimate test of human endurance?
A physically fit person running or climbing or doing any sports is normal. What is extraordinary is when someone does something that no one/including that same individual, thinks can't be done. Eventually, when that person battles all the demons of the body and mind, gets the courage and hope, and finally does it, showing it can be done, that's the ultimate test of human endurance.
When I look at Arunima Sinha (who climbed Everest with one amputated leg), Sean Swarner (who climbed Everest with one lung) or Erik Weihenmayer (blind who climbed Everest), I salute their spirit. For abled people, climbing K2 in the winter, crossing the North Pole solo, and crossing the great Australian Desert by foot through non-commercial routes are also great testaments of human endurance, and someday, I want to try some of these.
How has travel shaped your perspective on life and its challenges?
I have met some amazing human beings across the world while travelling. Some of them became lifelong friends. The horizon broadens, creativity amplifies, and so do dreams: visiting various places, interacting with different people, and experiencing other cultures, food, and traditions. Every challenge made me stronger and hungry for more—one life. Live by the moment became my Mantra.
You are the youngest mountaineer in the world to climb the Seven Summits and Volcanic Seven Summits. What inspired you to take up these expeditions?
It all stemmed from the dire desire to climb Everest. That led to me taking up the mountaineering course. After the procedure, I realised I needed more experience before I attempted Mt Everest. Africa has been fascinating to me since childhood. So, I decided to try a non-technical mountain, Kilimanjaro, which can expose me to high altitudes. While reading about Kilimanjaro, I found the concept of climbing the seven summits.
Initially, it seemed impossible, but I didn't give up on my dreams. Inch by inch, I headed towards reaching that dream. Our goals expand after interacting with like-minded people while on adventures. From there came the vision of climbing the volcanic 7 summits. Stories of Shackleton, Scott, Amundsen, and Nansen also interested me in Polar expeditions, and I have big dreams about that. So yeah, the more I go on adventure, the more dreams get born.
Would you like to share the challenging part of your expeditions with us?
While expeditions are always exciting and challenging, the biggest roadblock we face is the sponsorship and funding for these expeditions. If proper infrastructure and policies are framed, India can produce some of the best adventure sports professionals. Currently, it is a hobby. Imagine a Dhoni thinking about how to run his livelihood and having to do a job parallel to playing. This is the ignorance of adventure sports. After my world record, there was no tweet from the state, centre or the apex body of Mountaineering in India. Such a contrasting treatment runs parallel to popular and prospering sports like Cricket.
Do you have any message for the authorities on environment-related issues you witnessed during your hikes?
Mountaineers and trekkers are the untapped resources that can be used to gather various data, samples, and observations. Scientists may be unable to reach places a trekker and mountaineer can. We see drastic changes in climatic conditions during our hikes. When I visited Kilimanjaro for the fourth time, I saw the glaciers retreat so much that they were under threat of depletion.
Many mountains under 6000m in the Indian Himalayas will soon become unclimbable due to the objective dangers caused by climate change. Mountains are losing the ice cover, exposing rocks, triggering more avalanches and rockfalls and more crevasses opening up. This has a significant impact on the ecological balance, too. Recently, we went to Mt Brammah and climbed the mountain after 43 years to become the first Indian team to do so and 5th overall team. We also rose through a new route because the old path became more dangerous. An unusual rain pattern above 4500m is observed, too. Also, there are no regulations on disposing of trash and human waste in most Indian Himalayas. That, too, is impacting the environment a lot. We can benchmark how Antarctica and Alaska handle such issues.
Could you share the ratio of female mountaineers on long treks? How do you view their participation?
In the last few treks that I organised, there was an average of 25-30 per cent female representation. The trekking community has had many women participate in the previous 8-10 years. However, in mountaineering comparatively, the number is much less. But the good part is that there is a significant increase in female participation in mountaineering, and the considerable achievements mainly come from female mountaineers.
What is your message for aspiring mountaineers?
Build your skills, improve your mental fitness, and strengthen your earnings capabilities. That will take you a long way. Gather more experiences and learn to handle rejections. And last but not least, dream big and chase your dreams.
What's next in the pipeline?
In February, I am organising an expedition to Erta Ale and Danakil Depression to explore Ethiopia's volcanoes and salt and desert regions. This will be an educational expedition, too, where the participants will learn about volcanoes and tectonic movements from the top volcanologists of Ethiopia.
I am also planning an expedition to Annapurna Base Camp with children in March. This will expose them to high altitude and help them imbibe resilience, leadership and self-esteem.
In April, I have a North Pole last-degree skiing expedition through Russia. While in May, there will be an expedition to Everest Base Camp for the business community to expose them to the beauty of the Himalayas.
June, I am planning an expedition to the Indian Himalayas and may pick up some virgin peaks in Uttarakhand/Leh/Himachal, etc. In July, I plan to visit the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda and explore some volcanoes in that region.
