Participants continue their climb on the second day of the 2017 Media and Fire and Rescue Department Annapurna challenge. — Bernama file photo
POKHARA: Sixty-two Malaysians comprising mainly media practitioners and Fire and Rescue Department officers and personnel ‘conquered’ Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) on Sunday (April 30), which also earned them a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records.
The first participant reached the 4,130 metre-ABC at 11.20am local time (Sunday) after starting off from Deurali Camp at 7.30am (Sunday) while the rest of the group arrived safely at 2pm in snowy condition.
A snowstorm and slippery trek compounded by negative degree Celsius temperature along the way yesterday did not dampen the spirit of the Media and Fire and Rescue Department Annapura Challenge 2017 participants.
They also created history in the sense that their feat is now in the Malaysia Book of Records for being the largest number of participants in a Malaysian group to successfully reach the ABC.
Many of the participants were overwhelmed by their achievement and let their tears of joy flow freely as they shared their respective experiences among themselves about the climb.
Proudly, they propped up a 6×12-metre Jalur Gemilang that weighed 11kg and in patriotic enthusiasm sang ‘Negaraku’ and ‘Jalur Gemilang’.
Expedition leader Fazli Ahmad said the achievement was something to be proud of considering that the participants were of different ages and working background.
“When we first planned to have the expedition eight months ago, some of the committee members and participants doubted their ability.
“But we accomplished the mission albeit with team cooperation among the participants in the four-day expedition involving 41 kilometres,” he told Bernama here today.
The team comprising 31 media practitioners, 21 fire and rescue officers and personnel, five Health Ministry representatives and five youth representatives began the expedition on Thursday. – Bernama