Manali: With as many as 800 adventure seekers currently undergoing training in various disciplines in various locations, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, by end of the month would have trained more than 6700 in adventure sports through 2009-10.
Speaking about the adventure activities being undertaken, Randhir Singh Salhuria, director of the institute said besides the 150 currently undergoing training at mountaineering institute at Manali, there were 75 youngsters at regional adventure sports centre Hatkoti (Shimla district), another 75 at High altitude trekking and skiing centre Narkanda (Shimla district) who were being trained.
He added that snow skiing training was being imparted to 118 people at the Dhundhi slopes near Solang upstream from Manali, 135 persons were undergoing training in water sports at Regional Water Sports Centre, Pong Dam (Kangra District) and 77 young people were doing a 14 day adventure training course at Regional Mountaineering Centre, Dharamshala in Kangra district.
Besides all these activities, it was for the first time that an adventure camp had been set up at Pirdi near Kullu where 150 are being trained in white water river rafting, said Salhuria.
The institute trains adventure lovers in mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing, skiing, swimming, rowing, kayaking, surfing, para sailing and water skiing, he said.
Mountaineering Institute was playing a pivotal role in promoting the adventure spirit among young people and by end of 2009-10 we will have trained more than 6700 enthusiasts in various adventure sports, said the director.
