Saturday, February 5 2005 20:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Members of the first successful expedition team to the third highest peak in the world, Kanchenjunga, George Band, Norman Hardie and John Jackson were today (Feb 5, 2005) given a standing ovation at a special function organised in Mumbai to celebrate 50 years of the first successful ascent to the mountain peak.

The mountain heroes, who are in the city to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of the first successful ascent to Kanchenjunga on May 25, 1955, were accorded a hero's welcome by members of one of the oldest mountaineering club, The Himalayan Club.

Kick-starting the yearlong celebration, Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna said the act of climbing one of the technically toughest mountain peaks was nothing less than act of dare devilry and reflected the courage, perseverance and spirit of the trio.

Saluting the mountaineers, Krishna said it was laudable that the team was able to scale the peak at a time when there was no satellite communication system or the sophisticated equipment and modern sports gear.

Though now senior citizens, the trio's faces still displayed the same grit and spirit to climb the peak all over once again, he said while calling for widescale promotion of mountaineering and trekking activities in the State. "School and college students should be encouraged to take up such activities by organising trekking trips during vacations. The training should be imparted by professionals who could infuse in the youngsters the attitude of climbing for sheer pleasure and discovery of hidden potentials", Krishna added.