National Mountain Climbing Day, or simply Mountain Climbing Day, is celebrated on August 1 every year. Let us learn more about how and why this day came to be celebrated. We will also learn some interesting facts related to mountain climbing and how it is a great way for all of us to stay healthy.
History of Mountain Climbing Day
The day was commemorated in honour of mountaineers Bobby Mathews and Josh Madigan. On August 1, 2015, Mathews and Madigan managed to successfully scale all the 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. On this day, they triumphantly scaled the 46th peak, also known as the White Face Mountain. Since then, the day is observed in their honour.
Mountain Climbing in India
- Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary climbed the Mt. Everest in May of 1953.
- Avatar Singh Cheema was the first Indian to climb the Mt. Everest in 1965.
- Bachendri Pal became the first Indian woman to climb the Mt. Everest in 1984. At the time, she was 30 years old.
- Arjun Vajpai became the youngest Indian to climb Mt. Everest at the age of 16 in 2010.
- He started the “Har Ghar Mein Everest Challenge” during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Mt. Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India. It stands at a height of 8,586 metres.
- Joe Brown and George Band were the first people to climb Mt. Kangchenjunga in 1955.
Benefits of Mountain Climbing
In today’s day and age, fitness has become a rage. People from 16 to 60 are thoroughly focused on improving and maintaining their health. In today’s home-bound comfort- circumambience, people are always seeking out newer ways to stay fit whilst also enjoying themselves. One such way is through mountain climbing. Closely associated with mountain climbing are activities such as trekking and rock climbing. Some of these benefits are:
- It is a great way to stay in shape.
- Mountain climbing is a compound exercise that makes use of different muscle groups at the same time, thereby, providing a full-body workout.
- Going outdoors in nature is not only beneficial for your physical, but mental health as well.
- Mountain hikes and treks make for great weekend getaways.
- Since mountain climbing involves a great deal of walking, it is a good way to improve your heart health.
- Walking uphill builds resilience, stamina and core strength.
- In fact, people do the Mountain Climbers’ exercise move during indoor workout as well.
- Unlike a gym membership, mountain climbing is free!
What To Do on Mountain Climbing Day?
There are several ways in which you can participate in this National Mountain Climbing Day. They are:
- If possible, go mountain climbing.
- Train with the agenda to go mountain climbing someday.
- Educate yourself on the impact of climate change on mountains and what we can do to protect them against it.
- Learn about the role of hills and mountains in regulating climate, e.g., rainfall.
- Create dialogue about the sustainable use of mountain resources.
- Participate in learning about issues faced by communities whose livelihoods are dependent on mountain (and forest) resources.
Indian Mountaineering Foundation
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) is a national-level body that was set up in 1961. It not only promotes and regulates mountaineering and related sport activities but also engages in protection and conservation of mountains in India, particularly the Himalayas. The IMF headquarters are in Delhi.
International Mountain Day
Closely-related to our topic at hand is International Mountain Day that is celebrated on December 11 every year. The United Nations mandated this holiday in 2003 to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on our mountains and mountain resources at large. The idea is to encourage sustainable development with regard to mountain resources.
whilst speaking of sustainable development, mountain tourism cannot be ignored. In light of this, the suggested International Mountain Day Theme 2021 is “sustainable mountain tourism”. It aims to highlight the importance of mountain tourism as well as conserving the same, since mountain tourism draws between 15 to 20 percent of the global tourist population in an average year.
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