Also from the Thoise airbase – mainly used as a transit point for soldiers – is a rather unusual participant for a trek on the glacier. Corporal Bhupendra Singh Negi is a professional paratrooper - also a member of the IAF's Air Devils skydiving team - and is more used to jumping off aircraft at heights of 18,000 feet rather than climbing up peaks that high.

However, the young skydiver insisted on climbing up the glacier to get a feel of what his friends in the army are up to. The self confessed adventure sports buff has made more than 135 jumps in the past three years but just can't get enough of the adrenaline rush.

Last month, he took part in a para jump over the Thoise airbase. The unique point being that the jump was performed from a Mi 26 helicopter – one of the largest transport helicopters in the world.

So, the only two people who were exempt from the daily morning medical tests were Wing Commander Prakash and Corporal Negi. For the other participants, the tests went out without much of a hitch – largely due to the fact that the test results were not shared by the army doctors. The reason, an officer said, was not to cause anxiety about disqualification from the trek.

On a different note, signs of altitude sickness may have begun to creep in amongst participants. One symptom, doctors said, was forgetfulness and behavioral changes. The second day saw a few incidents of `abnormal behavior'.

... contd.