Wind Aamot, a resident of Norway soon after his arrival in Gulmarg on January 28, 2023 went for the heli skiing from Afarwat mountain and lost his track and rescue teams in Gulmarg established the contact through loud sounds and lights all across the Gulmarg resort and after hectic efforts Aamot was traced and rescued in the three hour long rescue operation.
Aamot started his skiing at the age of five years in Norway and was very much fascinated about Kashmir especially Gulmarg and after landing in Kashmir valley took ride to reach Gulmarg on January 28 afternoon as he was for the first time in Gulmarg resort for the skiing of high snow slopes.
Wind Aamot, 49 year old of Norway started high skiing from Afarwat and while reaching down near Gandola first phase he lost his track as he was without proper guide and according to him he was following two tracks and due to cold, low battery and loss of mobile connectivity he lost all the contacts and got stuck in the dense area of Khar Nallah forests of Drung.
Mohammad Ashraf, senior skiing patrolling official of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department who are doing rescue operations in Gulmarg since 2006 says that on receiving information from Gulmarg Guide Association about the missing of foreign snowboarder a quick rescue was launched by all the teams of JK Tourism, JK Police, Gulmarg Avalanche Academy, Snow skiing patrol made all the efforts to trace him.
He further says that all the rescue teams went out in snow with all latest technological gadgets in all the areas from top and bottom sides and kept high sound calls and lights and snowboarder responded to the calls and was rescued well on time as his condition was very weak due to cold weather and fog in the dense area of Khar Nallah. He further says that while returning to Gulmarg Gandola 01 it took them almost three hours and around 6: 30 pm he was safely rescued and reached back to the Gulmarg.
Aamot, giving details about his rescue operation led by the rescue teams is very thankful to all of them especially the skiing patrol team who rescued him from the dense snow area of Khar Nallah and was offered tea and Kahwa on his return to the base areas of Gulmarg. Amot says that he was for the first time in Gulmarg for the skiing and while coming down from Afarwat Mountain he lost all the contact and was rescued by the teams well on time as he was trying and walking towards the sounds and the lights which saved his life.
Gulmarg is a town nestled in the Pir Panjal range of the Western Himalayas at an altitude of 8,690 feet above sea level. Literally translated as ‘Meadow of Flowers’ it is encased by glimmering snow peaked alps, verdant green pastures, colorful meadows, deep valleys and pine covered slopes.
A picturesque beauty, it is known for its ski resort which was established in 1927, the Gulmarg Gondola – Asia’s second longest cable car ride and the highest golf course in the world at an elevated altitude of 2,650 meters. Gulmarg is an absolute delight for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Called the ‘heartland of winter sports’, it offers a plethora of activities such as skiing, snowboarding, horse riding, heli-skiing, snow scooter, tobogganing, etc. and sightseeing options. The best season to visit Gulmarg is from October to June as it is the perfect destination especially during winters when the snow capped landscape transforms into the premier destination for winter sports in India.
Skiing in Gulmarg Kashmir is a lifetime experience. The slope reaches the thrilling backcountry with pine trees, open alpine bowls, and virgin peaks. Gulmarg skiing is done at one of the highest altitudes in the world reaching 3,979 meters in two phases. The first phase is from Gulmarg at 2,600m to Kongdoori at 3,080m. The second phase which has 36 cabins and 18 towers takes passengers to a height of 3,979m on the Apharwat Peak. A chair lift system connects Kongdoori with Mary’s shoulder at 3400m for taking skiers to Alpine.
Skiing in Gulmarg is safe and guided by well-trained patrolling teams. Gulmarg ski patrol is a team of Avalanche Forecasters and well-trained Ski guides with brilliance in timely rescue. Ski patrol updates daily snow forecasts and avalanche advisories. This adds safety to Gulmarg skiing and makes skiing the best experience in India.
The cable car ferries people up 1,348 ft vertical rise to the Kongdoori station. Kangdoori station is heaven for a basic skiing course and ideal for beginners. It has many skiing slopes with mild steepness. The second phase starts from Kongdoori and the cable car takes up 4,482 ft to the Apharwat peak. Gulmarg has a chair-lift facility from Kangdoori to Marry Shoulder.
Skiing is one of the attractive winter adventure sports in Kashmir. In winter season, gentle slopes of snow-clad landscapes of Gulmarg offer immense opportunities to indulge in skiing activities. Lush green mountains of Gulmarg are transformed from a sleepy agricultural town to a winter wonderland. Other winter activities one can enjoy in Kashmir are ice-skating, ice-hockey, heli skiing and cross country skiing.
Gulmarg had been a popular skiing resort from decades as it hosts some winter festivals and carnivals during Christmas and New Year. The best time for skiing in Gulmarg is from mid December to mid April. Quality equipments for skiing activity are available on rent on the J&K Tourism owned ski shop. Skiing in Gulmarg is ideally suited for both learner and expert skiers alike.
(The author is a regular columnist and can be mailed at [email protected])
