US expedition team scales 6010 m Mt Thingchingkhang

Gangtok, Oct 16 (UNI) A three member mountaineering team from US, successfully scaled the 6010 m Mt.Thingchinkhang in west Sikkim today morning at 09.02 hrs.

US mountaineers Bruce Kocka, Thomas B Ritche and Rickey Edward reached to the summit along with four climbing Sherpas, said Satish Bardewa, the expedition organiser told UNI.

The team had climbed up the summit at around 0400 hrs in the morning from Camp one located at around 5,200 m and successfully scaled the alpine peak.

The expedition team would be returning to the Camp one and most probably wind up and proceed towards the advanced base camp at Lhamuney located at the upper areas of Yuksom by today evening, west Sikkim, said Mr Bardewa.

The expedition had been conducted by a local tour operator Yak and Yeti Travels and Mr Bardewa is its CEO.

Mt Thingchingkhang had been also successfully scaled last year by a German team in an expedition conducted by Yak and Yeti Travels only.

The expedition was been flagged off on October 5 from Darjeeling.

Mountain expedition in Sikkim has been rare in the past. However, this sector was set for a boost with the state government declaring five alpine peaks open for climbing in 2005.

UNI