She was diagnosed with osteoarthritis four years ago, and doctors advised her not to trek again. Defying the doctors, Gangotri Soneji, a Barodian, not only trekked but also conquered the Himalayas. And all of this at the age of 63!
“I am so ecstatic,” Soneji, who was the only woman from Gujarat in the team of 11 told.
“Trekking through the Himalayas, marching on some dangerous routes and watching the world from the peak of mountains were an unforgettable experience. Especially, when I had challenged myself to go on the expedition against medical advice. The expedition started as a challenge but soon turned into an exciting journey,” she recalled.
They embarked on the Trans Himalayan expedition led by Padma Bhushan Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mt Everest. “There were some treacherous climbs and bad weather conditions, but I wasn’t going to let my body pain get in the way of my goal. Bachendri and I have previously trekked together, so we are well acquainted “She stated.
Gangotri Soneji responded to a question about her most memorable moments by saying, “Walking through the mountains with lush green cover on both sides was thrilling. But we also had tense moments, such as when one of our team members slipped and fell at Lamkhaga pass, injuring himself.” After the expedition, Soneji and the rest of the team met with President Droupadi Murmu and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Soneji, a former national swimmer, discovered rock climbing at the age of 18 and fell in love with it. She went on numerous treks and nearly 15 expeditions in the Himalayas before taking a break to relocate to the United States following her marriage. Soneji returned to Vadodara in the 1990s and resumed her passion.
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