Vadodara: He is challenged visually.
But support from his friend helped him travel a rough terrain for the scale of the Mount Friendship, known as Friendship Peak, at Himachal Pradesh.
Not affected by cold winds and frozen temperatures, two friends from Vadodara recently covered the peak at a height of 17,346 feet above sea level.
“I like the mountain.
I have climbed a mountain in Pavagadh, Jambughoda and Chhota udepur, among others, but the Himalayan is a totally different field because of the snowy range.
I can do it because of my friend,” said Sanjeev Gehil, 43, who worked as a post assistant in the Post Department (India Post).
Gohil was diagnosed with pigmentosa retinitis, progressive visual disorder, in 2001.
Even when he lost 100% vision now, he did not lose the desire for the forest, conservation of wildlife and climbing which he began to lose his view.
“This is my passion in the forest and mountains.
But because my friends come true,” said Gohil.
During the five-day expedition, Gohil constantly followed his civil engineer friend, Pushpak Kotiya, 33, on his shoulder or with a sling attached to his bag.
“The upper and lower movement should help me assess the next step that I have to take.
Every step cannot be predicted because there are loose stones and strict stones.
If you go wrong step into a loose stone, you can slip too,” said Gohil, who developed a bond With Kotiya thanks to his relationship with Wildlife Trust.
“We have done some mountain climbs but the Friendship Peak’s scaling is a challenge because of the cold mountains of Snowclad.
During the climbing, a traveler placed his foot into the step of the snow but it became increasingly challenging for Sanjeev because he could not see the steps.
Every step, he needs three times more energy than others, “Kotiya said.
“My dream is conquering Mount Everest one day,” Gohil added.