What if the biggest mountain a woman has to climb is not in the Himalayas, but the expectations placed on her?
For mountaineer Subodh Kumar Chandola, climbing is about much more than reaching a summit. It is about courage, confidence and giving people the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.
An Everest summiteer from Uttarakhand, Chandola is now helping a new generation of women climbers find their strength in the mountains.
He is leading the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) All-Women Mount Srikanth Expedition-2026, with seven women mountaineers forming part of the team. The expedition was flagged off on 17 September 2026 at Lok Bhavan in Dehradun by Uttarakhand Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Gurmit Singh.
For the women taking part, this is not simply a trek. It is a test of endurance, courage and self-belief and a powerful statement that women belong wherever courage and determination are required.
Mount Srikanth, rising to 6,133 metres in Uttarkashi’s Garhwal Himalayas, presents formidable challenges, including extreme altitude, difficult terrain and unpredictable weather.
But the expedition represents something much bigger than the mountain itself.
The SSB is looking towards building the experience and confidence needed for future high-altitude challenges, including an ambition to develop a women’s mountaineering team for an Everest expedition in 2028.
And at the heart of this journey is Chandola not simply as a climber, but as a mentor.
Having experienced the demands of high-altitude mountaineering himself, he is now passing that knowledge on to women who are preparing to push their own boundaries. His role is not simply to lead them up a mountain, but to help them develop the confidence to lead themselves.
Because empowerment is not about telling women that they are strong. It is about giving them the opportunity to discover their strength.
The Governor, while flagging off the expedition, described the all-women team as an inspiring example of women’s power and empowerment, emphasising that Indian women are capable of meeting any challenge.
For Chandola, those words translate into something tangible: training, preparation, discipline and trust.
The mountain will test these women physically and mentally. There will be moments of exhaustion, uncertainty and fear. But there will also be something more powerful the knowledge that they have earned their place on the mountain.
A successful mountaineer can reach a summit. A great mountaineer can help others reach theirs.
As Chandola guides these women towards Mount Srikanth, his own legacy is taking a new shape. The man who once climbed the world’s highest mountain is now helping others prepare to chase their own Himalayan dreams.
Perhaps that is the most meaningful kind of mountaineering legacy.
Not simply standing on top of a mountain yourself, but helping someone else believe that she can stand there too.
