Prabhu M
@prabhum.bsky.social
Bangalore-based journalist. I cover tech, politics, and development topics in Asia.
#Day36 #ZiroValley One last day of travel before I board the fight to #Bangalore. Sunrise from Pani Yalang, Walk along the wet paddy fields, a visit to #NaaraAaba vineyard and, while strolling around Ziro Music Festival ground…
November 16, 2025 at 1:14 AM
#Day36 #ZiroValley One last day of travel before I board the fight to #Bangalore. Sunrise from Pani Yalang, Walk along the wet paddy fields, a visit to #NaaraAaba vineyard and, while strolling around Ziro Music Festival ground…
#Day35 #ZiroValley. Finally #travelling in #ArunachalPradesh not as part of the course. While the Ziro music festival is over and colourful fields with paddy is harvested, the place still some offers splendid attractions.
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
#Day35 #ZiroValley. Finally #travelling in #ArunachalPradesh not as part of the course. While the Ziro music festival is over and colourful fields with paddy is harvested, the place still some offers splendid attractions.
#Day34 As expected Travel_Arasan won first place for best in physical fitness (running, climbing). I was to travel to Itanagar and then #Ziro valley. Bus service disrupted and I had to run around to manage to reach Itanagar on time. Last minute hiccups. #ArunachalPradesh #Travel
November 14, 2025 at 6:03 AM
#Day34 As expected Travel_Arasan won first place for best in physical fitness (running, climbing). I was to travel to Itanagar and then #Ziro valley. Bus service disrupted and I had to run around to manage to reach Itanagar on time. Last minute hiccups. #ArunachalPradesh #Travel
#Day32 Written exam on #mountaineering basics. Many were preparing as if they were writing #UPSC qualifier. I am writing one after almost 15 years. We also had an artificial wall climbing test. #Rockclimbing
November 14, 2025 at 5:49 AM
#Day32 Written exam on #mountaineering basics. Many were preparing as if they were writing #UPSC qualifier. I am writing one after almost 15 years. We also had an artificial wall climbing test. #Rockclimbing
#Day31 It was time to further descend and go back to #NIMAS campus in #Dirang we had to run 8kms in 1 hour with the 20kg load. I finished in 63 mins, better than half the crowd. Kudos to
Self. After that again 4-5kms #trek. We got network and pouring messages made the last
Mile a difficult walk.
Self. After that again 4-5kms #trek. We got network and pouring messages made the last
Mile a difficult walk.
November 14, 2025 at 2:35 AM
#Day30 With freezing temperature in #NewMelling #Jithang And #Mago many had skipped taking bath for weeks. But some of us didn’t mind the cold river water. So it was time for river crossing, a way to forcefully get students take dip in cold water, besides teaching #mountain life. Fun time/Team
Work.
Work.
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 AM
#Day30 With freezing temperature in #NewMelling #Jithang And #Mago many had skipped taking bath for weeks. But some of us didn’t mind the cold river water. So it was time for river crossing, a way to forcefully get students take dip in cold water, besides teaching #mountain life. Fun time/Team
Work.
Work.
#Day27 It was time to learn casualty rescue drill. New Melling, with rocky terrain became our new glacier training area. Our rope instructor shared how the death of his trainers in #mountains, stuck by an #avalanche, had stopped him from
going on any #expedition. Know when to pull back.
going on any #expedition. Know when to pull back.
November 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
#Day27 It was time to learn casualty rescue drill. New Melling, with rocky terrain became our new glacier training area. Our rope instructor shared how the death of his trainers in #mountains, stuck by an #avalanche, had stopped him from
going on any #expedition. Know when to pull back.
going on any #expedition. Know when to pull back.
#Day26 Long day of #trek. 32 kms with 20 kg weight, the team started to descend. Instructors took a chance based on our capabilities. We completed. I was tired, but discussing politics with like minded people and sharing #travel journeys kept me going. Knee pain aggravated, yet I didn’t give up.
November 14, 2025 at 1:06 AM
#Day25 The snow capped mountains was sparkling at night. We were closer to Tibetan borders. The group trekked further to acclimatise as part of daily routine physical exercise. Our rigorous ice craft training started at the base camp. #Mountaingears #Mountaineering #ArunachalPradesh #NIMAS
November 14, 2025 at 12:58 AM
#Day25 The snow capped mountains was sparkling at night. We were closer to Tibetan borders. The group trekked further to acclimatise as part of daily routine physical exercise. Our rigorous ice craft training started at the base camp. #Mountaingears #Mountaineering #ArunachalPradesh #NIMAS
#Day24 Survival day. We had to set up a makeshift shelter from the available resources in the woods and survive with limited food, water and clothing. Due to bad weather, it was confirmed that we’d not go to Merathang #Glacier. First batch in 3 yrs. Mules and horses had died up in the mountain.
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 AM
#Day23 Finally the sky looked clear and we travelled to Jethang base camp at 13000ft. By now we were used to carrying weight and rucksack wasn’t a pain anymore. We set up tents. I had my first coffee after nearly 70 days.
November 13, 2025 at 11:57 PM
#Day23 Finally the sky looked clear and we travelled to Jethang base camp at 13000ft. By now we were used to carrying weight and rucksack wasn’t a pain anymore. We set up tents. I had my first coffee after nearly 70 days.
#Day22. It’s Karnataka Rajyotsava. Mind wandered. Thoughts of family, friends, colleagues came for the first time. No power to charge
Phones. No books either. I cleared the #bloodpressure test after failing initially. Thanks to the institute for testing many times before going to #HigherAltitude
Phones. No books either. I cleared the #bloodpressure test after failing initially. Thanks to the institute for testing many times before going to #HigherAltitude
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
#Day22. It’s Karnataka Rajyotsava. Mind wandered. Thoughts of family, friends, colleagues came for the first time. No power to charge
Phones. No books either. I cleared the #bloodpressure test after failing initially. Thanks to the institute for testing many times before going to #HigherAltitude
Phones. No books either. I cleared the #bloodpressure test after failing initially. Thanks to the institute for testing many times before going to #HigherAltitude
#Day21 It poured continuous in #Mago. The camp site was terrible. Shoes wet. Clothes wet. No lights. Even soldiers posted there lived in harsh conditions. It looked like a camp of illegal migrants on the borders. Only respite-colourful trees during the fall season. 50 of us in one bunker (no dorm).
November 13, 2025 at 9:34 PM
#Day20 Trek to #Mago 11,500 ft. It’s the start of our journey towards the glacier area. But the weather was acting up. It started to rain. With 20kg load, all we could see was the road ahead. Heads down. Back bent. The down jacket and windcheaters that #NIMAS gave were put to use #ArunachalPradesh
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 PM
#Day20 Trek to #Mago 11,500 ft. It’s the start of our journey towards the glacier area. But the weather was acting up. It started to rain. With 20kg load, all we could see was the road ahead. Heads down. Back bent. The down jacket and windcheaters that #NIMAS gave were put to use #ArunachalPradesh
#Day18 It’s the day of rock
Climbing test. Jimmy Singh Chauhan, an army person training us, my rope instructor, climbed one of the rocks in 10 seconds. Thankfully they gave us 2 mins and I finished on time and touched the carabiner as required. #Arasan from Tamil Nadu was among the top performers.
Climbing test. Jimmy Singh Chauhan, an army person training us, my rope instructor, climbed one of the rocks in 10 seconds. Thankfully they gave us 2 mins and I finished on time and touched the carabiner as required. #Arasan from Tamil Nadu was among the top performers.
November 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#Day17 The jacket and woollen balaclava that I wore was that of my ex-girlfriend’s. But I cared less. People again made remarks about it. #Gendered identity of products is #commercial. For me, if it serves the purpose, I’d use it. #Mountians are all about #Minimalism. #StopBuyingUnnecessarily
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
#Day17 The jacket and woollen balaclava that I wore was that of my ex-girlfriend’s. But I cared less. People again made remarks about it. #Gendered identity of products is #commercial. For me, if it serves the purpose, I’d use it. #Mountians are all about #Minimalism. #StopBuyingUnnecessarily
#Day16 One of the male students had messed up in the dorm. So the entire batch got punished. More workout and no breaks. Besides, since the physical training happened on public road, one of Method of Instructions (MOI) students, a young women, got hit by a two wheeler. #Nimas #TrainingHazards
November 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
#Day16 One of the male students had messed up in the dorm. So the entire batch got punished. More workout and no breaks. Besides, since the physical training happened on public road, one of Method of Instructions (MOI) students, a young women, got hit by a two wheeler. #Nimas #TrainingHazards
#Day15 The groups were divided into different ropes and it was our turn to distribute food. On the #mountaineering front, we learnt how to set up natural and artificial base using rock pitons.
November 13, 2025 at 11:34 AM
#Day15 The groups were divided into different ropes and it was our turn to distribute food. On the #mountaineering front, we learnt how to set up natural and artificial base using rock pitons.
#Day12 Rigorous natural rock #climbing training starts in New Melling at 9000 ft. It’s also the start of physical endurance training. At least 200 daily push ups. Kind of #military training run by army people. Students were asked to collect wooden logs to heat water from the stream for drinking.
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
#Day11 Travel to New Miling, the rock climbing base. It was the first of treks carrying all the heavy trekking gears including scarpa boots for ice areas. I had my first cup of #tea in months. I had quit to keep my BP under check. 20kg weight and 12kms trek+4hrs bus ride. #ArunachalPradesh #Travel.
November 10, 2025 at 10:12 AM
#Day11 Travel to New Miling, the rock climbing base. It was the first of treks carrying all the heavy trekking gears including scarpa boots for ice areas. I had my first cup of #tea in months. I had quit to keep my BP under check. 20kg weight and 12kms trek+4hrs bus ride. #ArunachalPradesh #Travel.