NCC begins selection trials for Twin Himalayan expeditions in Solang valley
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Manali (Himachal Pradesh), May 22, 2026: The National Cadet Corps has commenced rigorous selection trials in Solang Valley for two major Himalayan adventure missions scheduled for this year — the Mount Deo Tibba Expedition and the All Girls Parang La Trek.
The selection process is being conducted at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, with nearly 200 participants taking part, including cadets from the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, Associate NCC Officers, Girl Cadet Instructors, and Permanent Instructing Staff.
Officials said all participants had earlier cleared preliminary screening camps organised by their respective NCC Directorates before arriving in Solang Valley for the final trials.
The Mount Deo Tibba Expedition will involve an attempt to scale the 6,001-metre-high peak in Himachal Pradesh and will test cadets in glacier movement, rope handling, ice craft, and survival in extreme Himalayan terrain. This year’s mission is expected to be more demanding due to heavy snowfall and difficult pre-monsoon conditions along the route.
Meanwhile, the Parang La Trek is being described as NCC’s first interstate high-altitude Himalayan crossover expedition. The nearly 180-kilometre trek will begin in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh and conclude at Tso Moriri Lake after crossing the 5,578-metre-high Parang La Pass.
The expedition will be carried out entirely by girl cadets and women officers, highlighting NCC’s focus on promoting women’s leadership, endurance, and participation in adventure activities.
As part of the selection programme, cadets are undergoing intense physical and endurance assessments, including long-distance runs, pull-ups, push-ups, acclimatisation drills, and route marches carrying weight in mountainous terrain.
Participants will also attend a motivational session by Dicky Dolma, who became India’s youngest woman to scale Mount Everest at the age of 19.
Addressing the cadets during the inaugural session, Wing Commander Kunal Sharma stressed the importance of discipline, teamwork, mental resilience, and preparation in achieving success during Himalayan expeditions.
The initiative is being organised under the Pre-Monsoon Mountaineering Expedition-2026 programme of NCC Headquarters under the guidance of Lieutenant General Virendra Vats and aims to strengthen leadership skills, character-building, and national integration through adventure training.