Last days at HMI Darjeeling
After completing the Snow craft and Ice craft training successfully at the HMI Base Camp, we came back to the HMI campus in Darjeeling on 28 April. While coming back we all were quite happy because everyone did the good training and the best thing was that we all were fit and fine. When we reached the campus, everyone welcomed and congratulated us. Now we were left with some tasks such as a written test, a cross country competition, a sports climbing competition, and a personal interview. Before conducting all this, we were given a day for an outing so that we could enjoy and chill out.
There were two competitions that I already knew that they are out of my league, cross country and sports climbing competition. Both the competitions were new for me and I was participating for the first time. However, it was a nice experience. After all this, only a written test and an interview were left and I was not at all worried regarding the same because I attended all the classes sincerely and that is why I was confident enough. As expected, the test was gone well. The interview was taken by the HMI Principal, who was a Captain in the Indian Army. He just asked simple questions like how was your experience, how was the food and training, and etc.
Graduation Ceremony
Initially, we were given a demonstration of the graduation ceremony and then we did the practice of the same. We were quite excited for this day as this was the main day for all of us. We were about to receive a badge of honor (a small ice ax) and that badge was the sign of a Mountaineer 😎
After the graduation practice, we all came back to our room and got ready for the ceremony. Then we were given HMI pullovers and monograms to wear in the ceremony. After all the setup, HMI Principal came and started giving the badges, and simultaneously we did swiss claps. Then the moment arrived I was eagerly waiting for, the principal announced my name “Manu Khandelwal, Private candidate from Agra”. Woah! That moment cannot be described in words. I was literally on cloud nine at that moment. It was certainly one of the best days of my life.
After all this, all the competition winners were awarded by the medals and HMI Principal Capt. Rahul Goyal gave an ending speech. Firstly, he congratulated all of us and told incidents related to Mountaineering.
He said
“a Mountaineer should always be cautious and courageous. In 1952, when Tenzing Norgay Sherpa was trying to attempt the summit of Mount Everest, he was just 830 feet below the summit. Unfortunately, the weather turned bad and he decided to come down. He could have taken a risk and reached the summit to set the world record, but he did not make hurry and that is why now he is called a ‘legend’. In 1953, he summited Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary and became the first man to climb Everest and then he climbed many other peaks and made so many records. To climb a peak, caution and courage are two most important things that one should have. All the best. May you climb from peak to peak.”
Later we had an official photo session and refreshment and then we started leaving the campus as we were going back to our home. I met all my friends, instructors, and bid adieu to the campus and then started my journey back home.
Here are all the blogs regarding my HMI journey.
- Part 1 – How I came to know about this course?
- Part 2 – Exploring Darjeeling
- Part 3 – Life & Training at HMI Darjeeling
- Part 4 – Rock Craft Training at HMI Darjeeling
- Part 5 – Trek to HMI Base Camp in West Sikkim
- Part 6 – Reaching Chaurikhang Base Camp
- Part 7 – Life & Training at HMI Base Camp
- Part 8 – Peak Climbing, Snow Craft & Glacier Training at HMI Base Camp
- Part 9 – Last Days and Graduation Ceremony
Hope you enjoyed reading the blog. In case of any suggestions, improvements, or any queries, please let me know in the comments. 🙂
Congratulations on completing the Course successfully Manu.
The photographs on page 8 and 9 appear compressed/pixellated across two browsers I tried. I mean, on opening the photographs they are great but they appear downsized on the page itself.
I was curious if you could give me a brief overview of the mobile network condition over your whole 28 days period! I am enthralled by the thought of staying out of the hassles of this world, of doing what one loves doing just for myself.
Thank you soo much Sid 🙂 Actually, there was some glitch due to the website theme. Now the photos look good. Initial 10 days, while I was in Darjeeling the network was good and strong. 4G networks were available. Then in Sikkim, networks were available till Yuksom only. No networks for around 14 days. Also, while using internet in Darjeeling, do check for the network first. Coz sometimes it catches the network of Nepal and international roaming applies.
Congrats to Mountaineer Manu Khandelwal. Really proud of you man. This makes you a deserving Wraveler 😬👍🏻 Fells great to have summited Kedarkantha with you.
Thanks a ton! Harsh. Yaa, it was a great time to summit Kedarkantha with you and your group. Had an amazing time.
Bro your writing is just awesome. It’s lucent enough for anyone taking up the course. I will be doing the course in 2019 and I’m really excited about it!
Hey, thanks for the appreciation 🙂 All the best for the course.
I congratulate you to complete BMC at HMI, it is certainly a feat to boast for. I must thank you for vividly articulating your experience. I will be joining the course shortly , I feel cautioned and excited at the same time and I eagerly look forward to completing the course successfully. Your narrative certainly has helped me visualize what is in store for me. Thank you again.
Thanks a lot for the appreciation. I am really glad that you liked the blog and it helped you. 🙂