PANJIM: It was a matter of pride for Goa as 41-year-old Pankaj Narvekar, a resident of Porvorim and an assistant engineer at Public Works Department (PWD), became the first Goan to climb Mount Everest on May 21.
Narvekar, a veteran mountaineer, has been involved in scaling peaks since 2015 and this is undoubtedly the icing on the cake for Narvekar. Since 2015, he had successfully climbed peaks like Mt Kamet (7,750 m), Mt Kun (7,077 m), Mt Kang Yatse-I and II (6400 m and 6250 m) to name a few, all situated across the country.
Speaking to O Heraldo from Kathmandu, Narvekar said, “I have always been attracted to a life of adventure and it made logical sense to upgrade and move into mountaineering. My daughter Gunjan had climbed three mountains, which were over 6,000 metres, in 62 hours and set a world record.”
Preparation for the assault on Mt Everest meant a lot of strenuous work. He prepared for a year-and-a half to two years for this expedition.
He said, “It had to be rigorous. I used to walk with heavy weights in a bag for five to six hours every day. You need to have weights on your person. The entire gear is an extra burden. It weighs around five to six kilos. The shoes themselves are around two kilos. Then of course there is the safety harness. All this is an extra burden and you have to be prepared for all the eventualities. And yes remember, you are carrying all this and climbing a mountain. So imagine the level of fitness that is required.”
According to Narvekar, he prepared for the low level of oxygen at altitude with equipment that was essentially a mask that he would wear. It was an experience that required a great deal of discipline and focus. The entire adventure was possible thanks to the help provided by his family, who raised Rs 30 lakh required for the entire adventure.
When asked about his future plans, Narvekar he said, he would return Goa on Monday, May 27, and then start preparing for another trip to Mt Everest either next year or in 2026, but it would be without the help of supplemental oxygen or the gas cylinder that was strapped on the backs of most mountaineers.