GEORGE TOWN: A group of senior citizens including a woman are determined to conquer Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) in Kathmandu, Nepal, on their next hiking expedition.
The hikers are G Raju, 68; A Balakrishnan, 63; A Chandrasegaran, 60; R Sugumar, 58; J Michael Dass, 52; J Lucas, 50; P Thanaraj Pillai, 42; P Krishnan, 32, and the only female hiker G Puvaneswary, 57.
Chandrasegaran who is the event organiser said that six of the nine hikers were Penang Sports Club members while the others were their close friends.
The seven-day expedition will begin tomorrow from Pokhara Port camp heading towards ABC located at the height of 4,130 metres.
“Hiking is my hobby for the past 26 years. Usually I hike in Penang and other states and countries but friends wanted me to experience the ABC hike expedition.
“Age is not an obstacle. If the heart wants it, we will reach it. We must like what we do, otherwise excuses will stop us.
“This is my third hike to ABC. However I have been making preparations with my friends since February by hiking at several hills including Bukit Bendera,” he said when met before taking their flight to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Penang International Airport (PIA) here today.
Puvaneswary’s main challenge would be surviving the chilly five to six hours per day hike to ABC.
The retired teacher’s expedition is well supported by her family members and her second child is also exposed to such hikes by joining similar expeditions.
“We will go up the ABC for four days and will return to the starting point in three days, my first ever international hike.
“I am already 57, if I do not do this now, I do not know when the opportunity will occur again. I am looking forward to seing the view from the top of the ABC. I still have to complete my expedition for my own satisfaction,” she said.
“I asked my female friends to join the expedition but the timing was not right for them.”