Itanagar: January Tali and Hachu Lombo have created history by becoming the first women from Arunachal Pradesh to successfully scale the 7,077-metre Mt Kun in Ladakh’s Zanskar region, marking a major milestone for the state’s mountaineering community.
The two climbers reached the summit at around 6 a.m. on July 27 after completing one of India’s most demanding high-altitude expeditions.
January Tali is from Yingkiong in Upper Siang district, while Hachu Lombo hails from Anini in Dibang Valley district.
Congratulating the duo, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) described their achievement as a proud moment for the state, saying they had etched their names in history through their courage, determination and resilience.
According to a statement from the Raj Bhavan, the Governor said the successful ascent reflected exceptional endurance and mental strength while bringing honour to Arunachal Pradesh. He expressed hope that their feat would inspire young people, particularly women, to pursue ambitious goals and excel in every field.
He also said the achievement would motivate the state’s youth to embrace physical fitness, adventure sports and perseverance while encouraging them to push beyond conventional limits.
Mt Kun, one of the highest peaks in the Zanskar range of the Indian Himalayas, is considered among India’s toughest technical climbs due to its steep snow-covered slopes, dangerous glaciers, thin air and highly unpredictable weather.
The expedition included nine climbers—seven men and two women, excluding Sherpas. Of the nine members, only four successfully reached the summit, highlighting the extreme difficulty of the climb.
For January Tali, the ascent adds another remarkable achievement to her mountaineering career. Earlier, she scaled six Himalayan peaks within two weeks, including double summits of UT Kangri (6,080 metres) and Mentok Kangri-III (6,126 metres), along with Mentok Kangri-I (6,268 metres) and Mentok Kangri-II (6,218 metres).
Officials said both January Tali and Hachu Lombo will receive official summit certificates from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) in recognition of their successful ascent.
The Governor said their historic accomplishment reflects the growing spirit of adventure among Arunachal Pradesh’s youth and is expected to inspire many more aspiring mountaineers from the state to take up adventure sports.
With inputs from IANS