Local foundation organises first ever ski, mountaineering camp in Chitral
The Pakistan Youth Outreach Foundation — in collaboration with the Hindukush mountaineering and adventure club — organised the very first ski and mountaineering training camp at the Qaqlasht...
January 08, 2020
KARACHI: In an attempt to promote winter sports in Pakistan and identify winter tourism opportunities in northern areas of the country, a local foundation has organised a winter-sports training camp on the snow-covered fields of Qaqlasht in the Chitral valley.
Qaqlasht — which means dry land — is a flat terrain located about 80 kilometers north of Chitral town. While the valley attracts many in summers, the extreme temperatures make it hard to survive in winter.
However, the Pakistan Youth Outreach Foundation — in collaboration with the Hindukush mountaineering and adventure club — organised the very first ski and mountaineering training camp at the Qaqlasht valley.
Read more: Football in Chitral: The girls kicking gender stereotypes
"The event was organised during the coldest period of the year. The camp featured a total of 50 daring participants from various regions including Lahore, Faisalabad, lower Chitral, Kalash, Mastuj, Booni, Broghil, and Hunza.
"Girls from Shimshal, Chitral, and Punjab actively participated in the event," said organiser Mirza Ali Baig.
"There were trainers from Shimshal and one ski trainer from Austria. They gave training to the participants in basic ski and mountaineering technique," added Baig, who is also the brother of Pakistan's globally acclaimed mountaineer Samina Baig, and one of only two Pakistanis to have climbed the seven highest mountains in the seven continents.
Baig added that Julian from Austria, and Mansoor Kareem from Shimshal trained the participants for skiing, while Arshad Jon, Ahmed Baig, and Samana Rahim from Shimshal gave training to the participants for basic mountaineering techniques.
"The basic mountaineering training included introduction to climbing gears and teaching climbing knots essential in mountaineering.
"Under their leadership, a team of nine participants — including four girls and five boys — successfully summited a small peak in Qaqlasht," he said.
"The participants climbed up to 400m through a very steep route in deep snow, for the very first time," he added.
According to the organisers, the purpose of the event was to engage the youth of Chitral in winter sports, promote tourism in the region, and promote cultural interaction and harmony.
Related:
KPOA President to help educate, train talented boy from Chitral
