When 2 mountaineers climbed Mt Kalam, peak named after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

In October 2015, Noida resident Arjun Vajpai and his mountaineering partner Bhupesh Kumar from Bulandshahr, became the first to etch their names on a mountain peak that overlooked the beautiful Spiti Valley and keeps a regal watch on the picturesque Himalayan landscape from an altitude of over 19,000 feet.

The 'virgin peak', was near the Bara Shigri glacier, and the objective of summiting an unexplored peak was to inspire youngsters to take up mountaineering. They named the peak Mount Kalam in the memory of the former Indian President.

The peak was one among the 'six thousanders', a term used in mountaineering to describe a peak which is beyond 6,000 metres in height.

Vajpai had told Times of India there are around 300 peaks in the country which are 'six thousanders'. He had also climbed Mount Everest in May 2010.

Vajpai and Kumar had left Noida on October 8 and reached Batal camp in Himachal Pradesh on October 9. From there, they climbed to Scout Camp (4,100 metres), Intermediate Camp (4,400 metres), Base Camp (4,750 m) and Summit Camp (5,500 metres). On the morning of October 14, they scaled the peak (6,180 metres) and hoisted the Tricolour.

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