His mountaineering passion came crashing down after he was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis four years ago. but 63 years old Gangotri Sonejic is undisturbed and ready to depart for all Himalaya on Tuesday.
The gritty lady will guide the journey of nearly 5,000 km across the Himalayan ranges for the next five months Padma Bhushan Bachendri PalFirst Indian woman to reach Mt. Everest Summit. “This is my last chance to trek in the Himalayas. I will never let anyone play loot games and stop me from pursuing my passion. Bachendri and I have trekked together in the past, so we know each other very well.”
Soneji, a resident of Vadodara, told TOI. She had also trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2018 and this gave her the confidence to try the Himalayas. “My two kids encouraged me,” she said. Soneji was a national level swimmer in his younger days.
“I had to quit swimming due to a severe ear infection. So, I used an 18 inch . tried rock climbing on mount abu And immediately engaged in adventure sports. Later, I did about 15 expeditions in the Himalayas,” she recalled. But after marriage, she had to take a long break from mountaineering and shifted to the US.
“When I returned to Vadodara in the late 1990s, I decided to pursue my passion again. I came in contact with Bachendri and we started trekking together. I also studied psychology at the age of 45 And scuba diving followed,” said Soneji, who also rides a bicycle from Kolkata Kanyakumari In the past.
The gritty lady will guide the journey of nearly 5,000 km across the Himalayan ranges for the next five months Padma Bhushan Bachendri PalFirst Indian woman to reach Mt. Everest Summit. “This is my last chance to trek in the Himalayas. I will never let anyone play loot games and stop me from pursuing my passion. Bachendri and I have trekked together in the past, so we know each other very well.”
Soneji, a resident of Vadodara, told TOI. She had also trekked to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2018 and this gave her the confidence to try the Himalayas. “My two kids encouraged me,” she said. Soneji was a national level swimmer in his younger days.
“I had to quit swimming due to a severe ear infection. So, I used an 18 inch . tried rock climbing on mount abu And immediately engaged in adventure sports. Later, I did about 15 expeditions in the Himalayas,” she recalled. But after marriage, she had to take a long break from mountaineering and shifted to the US.
“When I returned to Vadodara in the late 1990s, I decided to pursue my passion again. I came in contact with Bachendri and we started trekking together. I also studied psychology at the age of 45 And scuba diving followed,” said Soneji, who also rides a bicycle from Kolkata Kanyakumari In the past.