From its humble beginnings in the corridors of Elphinstone College to being an esteemed member of the prestigious Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), the Explorers & Adventurers (E & A) has come a long way. Attracted by a common interest to pursue mountaineering and other forms of adventure sports as a hobby, a group of Elphinstonians came together to form this Club.

          Over the years, E & A has grown into one of the premier Adventure Organizations in the country. The organization currently has a membership of over 500 active members from all walks of life. E & A celebrated its 30th Anniversary in December 2005 by holding an Adventure Meet where various forms of adventure sports were showcased. The occasion was also graced by the presence of Everest Summiteers, Arjuna Awardees and National Adventure Sports awardees like Ms. Chandra Prabha Aitwal, Ms. Rita Marwah, Ms. Bimla Deoskar, Everester Shri Sonam Wangyal, Shri Anup Sah, Shri Sorab Gandhi and others.

Activities:

          Consciously moving away from being a pure trekking outfit, E&A has broad based its activity format to attract a varied pool of interested participants. Therefore, in addition to the several treks & nature outings that are regularly organised throughout the year in the Western Ghats, the organization has been involved in the following:

• E & A has been conducting numerous mountaineering expeditions and high altitude treks in the Himalayas – notable ones being the successful expeditions to Mukerbeh, Satopanth, Bhagirathi, Nanda Devi (East), Dharamsura, Panchchuli, Shri Kailash, Ali Ratna Tibba, Auden’s Col, Kalindi Khal, Stok Kangri, Sentinel, the Everest Base Camp & the Annapurna circuit to name a few.
   

• Desert treks in the Rann of Kutch and the Thar Desert, sanctuary visits, coastal hikes, jeep safaris as well as pilgrimage treks to various sites of religious and spiritual significance in India and abroad have been the other initiatives.
   

• Quite a few of the Club members are active in the field of rock climbing –a sport that is now increasingly becoming popular among youth. Successful attempted ascents on difficult rock patches in the Sahyadris have been made in the past.
   

• Our members have taken part in various allied competitions, sporting events and trekking expeditions at both National and International Levels and have won awards and accreditations in recognition of their continuing efforts in this direction. Members have also indulged in various adventure sports ranging from just trekking and rock climbing to the more exotic ones – para gliding, skiing and even sky diving.
   

• Towards discharge of its societal responsibilities as a conscious citizen of this country, inculcating and promoting the spirit of adventure and a sense of responsibility among the youth of today has also been a cornerstone of its activities.

1. The Club also organizes treks/ outings for corporates, educational institutions as part of its initiatives to develop confidence in the participants and sensitize them to ecological issues. E & A has been conducting outings and camps for various reputed schools and organizations like the Delhi Public School, St. Villa Theresa etc with a view to raising awareness and instilling in young minds a liking for the ‘Great Outdoors’.
    

2. An annual feature of the Club’s activity has been the Adventure Course for children being conducted diligently for over two decades till today. Nearly 900 children all over the country have participated in this course as on date.
    

3. A medical camp was conducted in the Kumaon region as a gesture of goodwill towards the people of the villages who give us unconditional joy and support during our travails in the mountains.
    

4. Camps have been structured and conducted even for differently enabled children keeping in mind their specific requirements, limitations and the profile of the participants.

          All these programmes are conducted with just in-house support so to say– the organization draws on the skills and expertise of its experienced members from various walks of life – all of who chip in without any expectation of any material benefits...aided by a network of its mountaineering fraternity developed over the years.

What’s’ next?

          Preparations are currently in progress for conducting the Annual Himalayan camp cum trek for children between 12 and 17 years of age in May 2007. The programme is being organized in the Manali region of Himachal Pradesh.

          On the anvil is a Trans Himalayan Expedition covering the entire range from Arunachal Pradesh in the North East to Siachen in the North West. Commencing from Arunachal Pradesh, the route will run through the regions of Bhutan - Sikkim - Nepal - Tibet - Kumaon - Garhwal - Kullu - Spiti - Ladakh & finally culminate at Siachen. The duration of the Expedition would be around six months. Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? Certainly No.

The E & A Monsoon Treks

 

Are u game ?

          Those interested in joining /participating in the Club’s activities or assisting in its various endeavours including the Himalayan programmes can contact its Hon. Secretary K. Vishwanath (98197 12301) or meet in person at the Club’s walk-ins on Wednesdays between 6.30 PM and 8 P.M at Milan Coffee House, Nagindas Master Road (behind Kandeel), Fort, Mumbai. Yearly membership costs a drain of a mere Rs. 150/- (plus a one-time entrance fee of Rs. 100/-). For more information on the Club and its activities, you may also correspond at our e-mail address: eanda123@gmail.com.