The Rediff Special / Madhumita Chakraborty

The Adventurers

Bachendri Pal, 43: She was one of seven children born to a farmer in Uttarkashi, Uttar Pradesh. Her parents, who could not afford to educate their other children, educated her up to the B Ed degree, hoping she would become a teacher. Naturally, they were ''devastated'' when she chose to climb mountains instead.

Today, of course, they are proud of Bachendri, the first Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest. She is currently employed as deputy divisional manager (adventure programmes), Tata Steel Adventure Foundation

Anita Sarkar, 40: Also a trained mountaineer. She met Bachendri at a pre-Everest camp and has been inclined to go mountaineering with her ever since. She got her current job with the South-Eastern Railways from the department's sport quota.

Kokila Sudha: An advocate at the Bangalore high court, Sudha is also a teacher. And as if this were not enough, she recently underwent a course in search and rescue operations from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi.

Chetna Sahu, 29: The youngest in the team, Chetna got married last year and is a housewife. However, this did not deter the young lady from deciding to leave her "very loving and co-operative husband," an assistant manager with Tata Steel in Orissa, and go on the trek.

Sumita Roy, 35: An employee of Tata Steel's electronic department, Roy is a trained mountaineer, although she has not participated in any big expedition as yet. The Himalayan Traverse is a "very big challenge" for her.

Chaula Jagirdar, 36: Married, with a five-year-old daughter. Jagirdar works as an instructor at the Gujarat Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Institute. Her businessman husband, she says, is very supportive.

Vinita Muni, 31: A Bombay-based artist, Vinita "loves the mountains" as does her chartered accountant husband. And so he was "very understanding" when she chose to join the team of nine adventurers to embark on the Himalayan Traverse.

Malika Virdi, 35: A farmer, teacher, and fashion designer, Virdi leaves a "supportive" husband and three-year-old son behind for this trek. Her scientist husband too loves natures, she says.

Nanda Patel, 30: An architect and businesswoman Patel has trained in mountaineering abroad. She is also an expert skier.