SHIMLA
The Bishop flags off the Jubilee Mountaineering Expedition
It was a day of celebrations in Shimla as Bishop Cotton School (BCS) marked their 165th Founder’s Day on the first flat of the main school.
The sun shone brilliantly for the welcome party as the NCC proudly formed a guard of honour whilst the brass band played the school song. The school community welcomed the chief guest for the day, the Bishop of Amritsar, the most Rev Bishop P K Samantaroy who is also the Chair of the school’s Board of Governors. Visiting heads from other Shimla schools also joined the festivities in honouring the Bishop’s 25th celebrations as head of the diocese.
Jubilee celebrations for the Bishop and the BCS Mountaineering Club
The Bishop is also celebrating his silver jubilee (25th) year as Chairman of the Board of Governors at BCS, and was awarded a special portrait that had been painted by a team of boys in his honour. The choir sang a medley of his favourite songs and a special cake was cut to wish the senior climbers well as they set off on a two-week expedition to Ladakh.
The Bishop gave his blessing to the nine Class XII boys and expedition leader, Mr Amod Talwalkar who are hoping to summit Mt. U.T Kangri, located in Ladakh. The entire school turned out for the team’s send off which the Bishop started with a red flag. Mt. U.T Kangri is a challenging climb and the boys will need to spend a week acclimatizing in the high altitude of Ladakh.
Each year, the best climbers at BCS, the Pargiyal Mountaineering Club, attempt at least one 6000m+ summit. The first expedition took place in 1999, so this year marks another BCS silver jubilee. All of the participants are required to score an A grade in the Basic Mountaineering Course run in Manali which involves rigorous training and the mastering of mountaineering techniques.
BCS Director Simon Weale said ‘The annual mountaineering expedition is a wonderful challenge for our boys. They have trained very hard to be ready and we wish them every success in this unique test of their character”
Ends.
Images: Bishop flags off the Sixth Form Mountaineering team on Founder’s Day, various photos from the event.
ADMIN DETAILS OF THE CLIMB;
Pargiyal Mountaineering Club
Silver Jubilee Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. U.T Kangri 6070 M & P.t 6100 M
From 28th July 2024, to the 10th August 2024.
General: The Pargiyal Mountaineering Club contingent of Bishop Cotton School, Shimla will leave for a Mountaineering Expedition to Mt.U.T Kangri 6070 M & P.t 6100 M on the 28th July 2024.
The Expedition will be led by Mr.Amod Talwalkar. The expedition will be flagged off by the Chief Guest: Bishop P. K. Samantaroy (Chairman: Board of Governors, Bishop Cotton School, Shimla) at 11.30 a.m. The team members are requested to line up in front of the fountain. All staff members are requested to be present on the first flat for the flag off ceremony.
Mount U T Kangri backgrounder:
The UT Ladakh Kangri peak, located in the upper valley of Rumtse village, is a prominent snow-covered peak that was recently explored and successfully climbed by local mountaineers from the Ladakh Mountain Guides Association in 2019. This peak is an ideal choice for novice mountaineers who are looking to climb a six-thousander as it is considered a moderate climb that offers an appropriate terrain for practicing technical skills.
Although the trail to the top of UT Kangri is beautiful, it is also challenging and requires prior experience in high-altitude trekking. The summit day is the longest and most exhausting day of the expedition, lasting around 10-11 hours. Climbers will be roped up in a team and will need to climb steep slopes in deep snow conditions. However, reaching the top of UT Kangri is rewarding as it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan ranges such as the Karakoram, Zanskar, and Stok ranges that will be etched in the climbers’ memories forever.
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL BACKGROUND
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla has been ranked No.1 for “Quality in Education” in Himachal Pradesh, in the ICSE Category by The North India’s School Merit Awards survey conducted by EducationToday. It has also been accredited as a Cambridge International School.
Bishop Cotton School is an institution rooted in history and tradition. Over decades, its alumni have included some of the most distinguished men in India and elsewhere. From the uniformed services to administrators, from businessmen and industrialists, to authors and actors, Bishop Cotton School has nurtured nascent talents and helped them come to fruition. This is a school that provides a child with a firm foundation to look capably and confidently to a global role in the years to come
