By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: To scale the Mount Everest meant realizing the biggest dream for mountaineer and MLP constable Wansuk Myrthong who could not stop crying once at the summit of the world’s highest peak.
The first woman to achieve the feat from Meghalaya, Myrthong arrived home to a warm welcome from friends and relatives on Tuesday evening.
“I am enjoying every moment since transforming my dream into reality,” a cheerful Myrthong said while addressing media persons at her residence on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old MLP constable, who has done it all from playing football to competing with boys at other sports, said, “Right since 2008 when I developed interest in rock climbing, I always wanted to climb the highest peak in the world.”
However, lack of sponsors meant that Myrthong had to wait for five years before she was chosen from the State for the 1st North East India Top of the World Mt Everest Expedition 2013 funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC).
Recalling her recent experience, Myrthong said, “After the selection my entire focus was on improving my physical fitness as you have to be extremely fit to scale the Everest. I started doing yoga and other exercises.”
After the expedition was flagged off by President Pranab Mukherjee on March 20, the 16-member expedition team from North East had to undergo rigorous training to acclimatize with the weather conditions.
“Before taking the final expedition to the top of the mountain, we carried out three training sessions by climbing a portion of the peak and returning back to the base camp below. These sessions were very important since we needed to acclimatize with the cold conditions,” Myrthong said.
The lone woman from the State to scale Mt Everest said that she had to undergo a lot of pain to achieve the feat.
“We started trekking at around 2 am in the morning. It was risky to trek under sunlight due to the threat of an avalanche. The long journey to the top was also horrifying at times as there were bodies, of those who could not make it, hanging in the middle of the peak,” Wansuk said.
“When I was very tired, I continuously pushed myself to press harder. Finally, when I reached the top, I was not very sure whether I made it.
“Little later, I realized I had accomplished my mission…I could not stop crying,” an emotional Myrthong said while adding that it was at around 8.30 am on May 18 that she made it to the top of Mt Everest.
Myrthong thanked her family and former 1st Meghalaya Police Battalion (MLP) commandant Francis Kharshiing for motivating her to pursue her dream.
Earlier in the day, Myrthong was also felicitated by Governor RS Mooshahary at the Raj Bhavan.
“You have made us proud and it’s a great honour for the police as well as the entire state,” Mooshahary said while felicitating Myrthong during a small function.