Tribal Youths from Chhattisgarh Make First Ascent of Jagatsuk-1 Peak in Himachal

A remarkable team of tribal youths from the forested hinterlands of Jashpur district in Chhattisgarh, many of whom had never witnessed snowfall or stepped beyond their native hills until this year, etched their names in mountaineering annals by becoming the first expedition ever to summit the pristine Jagatsuk-1 Peak standing 5,340 metres tall in Himachal Pradesh’s rugged Pir Panjal range. Executing a flawless alpine-style ascent without fixed camps or pre-laid ropes, they reached the virgin summit and returned to base in an extraordinary 12 hours.

The journey began at the modest Desdekha climbing area near Jashpur, roughly 350 kilometres from Raipur, where the five determined novices underwent months of gruelling high-altitude simulation and technical training under renowned coaches Dave Gates and Sagar Dubey. From learning basic knot-tying on local rock faces to mastering ice-axe arrests and crevasse rescue, the transformation was nothing short of miraculous for youngsters whose previous world rarely extended beyond village trails.

Not content with merely reaching the top, the team carved out an entirely new route up the mountain’s formidable face and proudly named it the Vishnu Deo Route after Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, permanently inscribing Chhattisgarh’s identity onto Himalayan topography. Their bold exploration also unlocked seven previously unknown climbing lines in the spectacular Duhangan Valley close to Manali, opening fresh playgrounds for future generations of Indian mountaineers.

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During the same expedition, the squad achieved the coveted first ascent of another untouched 5,350-metre spire, christening it Chhupa Rustam Peak while naming its elegant new line Curcuma in tribute to turmeric, the golden spice that embodies strength, healing and cultural pride across India. Every member descended safely, their ice-crusted rucksacks carrying not just gear but the aspirations of an entire tribal community.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai celebrated the feat as living proof of Chhattisgarh’s indomitable spirit, declaring that these sons of the soil have shown the nation what focused courage and self-belief can achieve. He expressed confidence that their towering success will ignite countless dreams among tribal children, inspiring them to scale new heights in every field of human endeavour.

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