Breaking Stereotypes: Young Women from Swat and Chitral Conquer Mountaineering

A group of young women from Swat and Chitral have defied traditional stereotypes by successfully completing ice and rock climbing, and high-altitude trekking activities. Their historic achievement was also a mission to study the impact of climate change on glaciers and fragile mountain ecosystems. The 10-day eco-friendly rock and ice climbing training was organized by Mountain Wilderness International in collaboration with the KP department of culture and tourism, and was designed by the Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness. The initiative offered new opportunities to women from Swat, Chitral, and the remote Kalash valleys.

Key Takeaways:

• The training was designed to provide new opportunities to women from Swat, Chitral, and the remote Kalash valleys, and was conducted entirely by women instructors and climbers.
• Participants mastered the rigors of climbing and stepped onto glaciers for the first time in history, with some having never done such activities before.
• The training included glacier progression, rope techniques, high-altitude trekking, and the use of technical gear, as well as theoretical sessions on environmental protection, high-altitude medicine, first aid, mountain geography, and map orientation.
• Participants, including Mehrosh Akhtar and Laila Rauf, described the experience as transformative and eye-opening, highlighting the importance of protecting glaciers for future generations.
• The programme was supported by the Club Alpino Accademico Italiano and Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente.

Statistics:

• The training took place over 10 days.
• The programme was conducted entirely by 5 women instructors and climbers: Lorenza Pratali, Sara Pozzetti, Francesca Zennaro, Sarah Haase, and Erminia Devoti.
• Participants from Swat and Chitral undertook ice, rock climbing activities.
• Certificates and diplomas were awarded to participants at a ceremony held at Postgraduate Girls College, Saidu Sharif.

Sources:

• Mountain Wilderness International
• KP department of culture and tourism
• Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness
• Club Alpino Accademico Italiano
• Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente