Army expedition scales Leo Pargial Peak in HP

Chandigarh, Sep 6 (UNI) The Western Command Diamond Jubilee mountaineering expedition, which was flagged off from the Pooh sector on August 23, has scaled the 6673-meter high Leo Pargial Peak in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, a Defence release here today said.

The expedition had been planned to commemorate the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Western Command, which completes 60 years of its raising on September 15 this year. Led by Maj Anil Manhas of Dogra scouts, the team comprises three officers and 23 men.

The expedition was flagged off by Commander, Sugar Sector, Pooh, and the expeditionists commenced climb up on August 23 from Nako village which lies at the base of the peak at a height of 3627 m.

The team established two base camps en route at a height of 4160 m and 5480 m respectively, followed by camping sites at 5560 m and 5880 m.

The Leo Pargial is a mountaineer's delight and poses a challenge to climbers. In the recent years due to the receding snow line, the climb has become tougher. The expedition was undertaken with the aim to imbibe the spirit of adventure and to hone skills in mountaineering.

UNI