In a remarkable achievement that filled Mysuru with pride, a group of eight individuals — children of sanitation workers, mahouts, forest guards, and civilians — successfully scaled Mt Kuari Pass, standing tall at 13,990 feet in Uttarakhand.
The adventurous journey, titled Junoon-2025, was organized by Tiger Adventure Foundation alongside The Mountain Goat and other partners. Despite a somber atmosphere across the nation due to the tragic Pahalgam terror strike on April 22, which took 26 lives, the team pressed forward with determination and spirit.
Under the guidance of Anil Kumar A, a lecturer at Marimallappa PU College, the 24-member team included young students, homemakers, and members from the Shashwath Seva Samaj School. Participants also hailed from the Hunsur forest division and Mysuru’s pourakarmika community.
Anjana, one of the participants, shared, “My parents are vegetable vendors. This trek helped me envision a future beyond limitations.”
The team underwent essential health checks at Pipalkoti before trekking to Tugasi Base Camp on April 27. They gradually adapted to the high altitude, reaching Guling and Khullar. A minor nasal issue was quickly addressed, highlighting the efficiency of the support staff.
Trekking through icy slopes, fissures, and biting winds, their determination intensified. On May 1, they proudly unfurled the Indian flag at the summit — a landmark moment hailed as the first of its kind by children of sanitation workers, forest personnel, and mahouts in the annals of Indian trekking.
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