Kolkata-based mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta added another feather to his cap when he scaled two out of three peaks on Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain, on Monday. He is the third mountaineer from West Bengal to have achieved this feat.
After starting his expedition on January 7, Siddhanta first scaled the third tallest peak, Point Lenana (4,985m), along with co-climber Kiran Patra and guide John Abbas. “After that, I returned to the base camp and attempted to scale the second tallest peak in less than 24 hours,” he said.
Satyarup and Kiran Patra at Point Lenana
On January 8 afternoon, Siddhanta climbed Nelion (5,188m). “This is one of the toughest peaks in the world and I am glad to have achieved this feat in such a short time,” he said. For the second peak, Siddhanta was accompanied by his guide, while his co-climber remained at the base camp.
Lack of funds and time came in the way of Siddhanta and Batian (5,199m), the highest peak of the mountain.
Talking to My Kolkata from Africa, Siddhant said Mount Kenya is tougher to climb than Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa. “I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2012, 2018 and 2020. It is a walking peak that needs proper knowledge of trekking, but to scale Mount Kenya, one needs to have excellent rock-climbing skills,” Siddhanta said.
The distance between Nelion and Batian is just 10 metres and both the summits are usually scaled in a day. But it takes hours to climb both because of the slippery rock walls in between. The toughest is Nelion. “Along with extreme fitness, one needs modern equipment to conquer these peaks,” Siddhanta said.
Siddhanta left Kolkata on January 2 and completed his mission on January 9. He is returning to Kolkata on January 16. “I will attempt for Batian again in July or December and I am sure of scaling it,” said Siddhanta.
Before him, mountaineers Anindya Mukherjee and Debanjan De from West Bengal have achieved this feat.
