Pune: Veteran mountaineers Niranjan Palsule and Milind Pote have received this year’s Girimitra Puraskar for their outstanding contribution in mountaineering. 

The awards were given on the occasion of the 17th year celebration of Girimitra Sammelan, organised by Maharashtra Seva Sangh, Mulund on Friday.

Palsule is associated with Giripremi while Pote was the deputy leader of  ‘1992 Maharashtra Everest Expedition’.

At a tender age, Palsule started his mountaineering journey and used to trek around Sahyadri and historical forts. 

He is an experienced rock climber who has climbed Lingana, Ratangad, Tailbaila and other momentous rocks in Maharashtra. 

He said, “After completing the basic mountaineering certification course from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, I joined Giripremi in 1988. Gradually when thinking to cater to the younger generations, we incepted the Guardian Giripremi Institute of Mountaineering (GGIM). 
I have worked on various government committees for the betterment of mountaineering and has laid the foundation along with Maharashtra Mountaineers Rescue Coordination Centre (MMRCC) as a part of Giripremi and GGIM.”

Pote completed his basic mountaineering course in 1986 and went to Poland in 1990 for Advance Ice Craft Course. 

He was a deputy leader of 1992 Maharashtra Everest Expedition. He climbed up South Pole and unfortunately couldn’t reach the summit. 

Milind Pote said, “I have climbed several 5,000 and 6,000 metre peaks in Indian Himalayas and was also a member of a first successful expedition on the Bhrigupanth peak.”