It was in 1975 in Indian Himalayas, I was with the Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) as a Liaison Officer of Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) IMF We were 12 Japanese and 7 Indians. We went for climbing a peak, named Sickel Moon in the Jammu of J&K. This peak was then virgin.
It was in the month of July to mid-September. We had only one member who was in the earlier experience to be the part of expedition to this peak in 1973, it was a joint expedition with the Indian Army and JSDF.
We had walkies talkies that we're able to communicate Advance Base Camp to upper camps.
It was in the month of July to mid-September. We had only one member who was in the earlier experience to be the part of expedition to this peak in 1973, it was a joint expedition with the Indian Army and JSDF.
We had walkies talkies that we're able to communicate Advance Base Camp to upper camps.
One day one shepherd reached the Base camp with some milk local product for me. He came from a distant place, he was going back in the evening at his location, I had inquired about his location, I thought it may not be good to return at this time. He stayed at our camp and left his place in the next morning.
We had an accident at the summit camp, we lost two lives Lieutenant Takachi of JSDF and Havildar Ang Chotar, a Sherpa from Darjeeling, West Bengal, This team had no doctor, we had to approach the nearest Medical Officer for the death certificate.
A rescue team went to summit camp to bring down two dead bodies. The shepherd was among the rescue team, he brought down Havilder Ang Chotter's body all the way from summit camp. The aluminum ladder was used to carry the body, it took 48 hours to come down to Base Camp.
The shepherd only requested some excess rice to give him for his stay at that altitude for his remaining period of stay thereat.
I do not forget his kindness until today.
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