Srinagar, July 4: Jammu and Kashmir Mountaineering and Hiking Club (JKMHC) members in collaboration with department of tourism Kashmir climbed Sunset Peak also known as Romesh Thong at 4749 m above sea level.
This is the club’s 2nd expedition to this peak ever since its inception. The first expedition to this peak was led by Mohamad Ashraf in 1971. Since then no documented summits have been recorded.
The team of 11 climbers was led by club member Ghulam Mohammad Wani and Aadil Shah which left for the expedition July 1, 2017. The peak is scaled through Valley’s known tourist resort Yusmarg. The members set up the base camp at 3550 meters and the advance camp at 3850 meters just below the Rumshi Glacier.
After negotiating light to moderate thunderstorms, team attempted the summit on July 3, 2017 morning.
Team left from the advance camp at 3:30 am after a short delayed caused by bad weather and reached the summit at 06:50am.
They traversed the unending snowfields before climbing up to the shoulder and then the main peak which appears as a crouching lion.
Members were able to see three alpine lakes as well which lie in the vicinity of the peak.
View from Summit
The summit is just flat and rocky. On the other side of it is a sheer cliff probably a thousand feet or more down. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of Pirpanjal including Sheene Myean and the next neighbor Tattakoti. Members were also able to locate Nanagaparbat, Mont Nun, Mt Kun, Mt Kolahoi, Mt Haramukh, Bramha Sakli peaks etc
The peak was previously known as Romesh Tong. However, when Biscoe and Aurther Neve climbed it they experienced clear day and could see till Lahore. Since the peak received the last of the sun rays hence they renamed it Sunset Peak. The Poonch and Suran Valley is also visible from the peak.
Sunset is believed to be the second highest peak in the Pir Panjal range that borders the vale of Kashmir from the west. While club members successfully attempted sunset, they will soon be attempting Tattakoti to get the exact figures before.
Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah said the department provided logistic support to the climbers.
“This is after a long time that the climbers from Valley scaled the peak. We are committed to promoting adventure tourism in the Valley. The promotion of adventure tourism will also help local climbers earn livelihood,” said Mahmood Shah.
He said the Department of tourism is also planning climbathon, Nun and Harmukh climb.
“We are also actively involved in training the local youth in adventure sports.”
Climbers: Adil Shah, Gullu(team leader), Dr Amin Reshi, Mudasir Sopore, Hazik Shah, Taous Baba, Arshid Majeed, Ajaz SoFi, Abrar Siddiqui, Sayyed Tahir.