A class 1 student from the city has set a record by becoming the youngest mountaineer from Maharashtra to scale the base camp to Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.Six-year-old Advait Bhartiya is also the youngest Indian to have reached the spot in the winter.
Advait’s mother Payal, who is also an avid trekker, said, “Initially, I had planned to go to the base camp alone but Advait insisted on joining me. I told him that he could join if he managed to train and prepare for it.For the next month, his training included climbing 100 floors daily .”
The 13-day expedition began late last month and Advait, all of six years and 10 months, managed to scale the base camp on November 3.The base camp is located 17,593 feet above sea level.
“I want to climb Mt Kilimanjaro next,” the ambitious boy said, when asked about his plans for the future. Advait is no stranger to adventurous activity.
According to Payal, he completed his first 5-km run before he turned three.He is presently also into swimming and parkour. Asked if he also aspires to be the youngest to scale Everest, his mother replied, “He wants to do that. But that is a lot more dangerous than reaching the base camp.” Advait also dreams of scaling Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe, The Times of India reported.
Currently , the record for the youngest person to trek to the Everest base camp is held by Delhi-based Harshit Saumitra. On October 17, 2014, the then five year old reached the base camp and trekked ahead to Kala Patthar Peak at 18,519 ft, becoming the youngest person to reach there.