If you want to achieve anything you set your mind to, you have to concentrate and work hard until you succeeded, says Mehul Joshi, a businessman from Gujarat who has recently conquered world's highest peak Mt Everest.
It was the 36-year-old's dream for the past five years, and his dedication helped him conquer the summit on 16th May 2018, 4.30 IST.
Mehul targeted ascended Mt Everest at from the north side which comes under Chinese territory.
Talking to SBS Gujarati about his once in a lifetime moment Mehul Joshi said, "I will never forget the moment of hoisting the Indian flag after reaching the highest peak. I will cherish the moment forever.
Certificate to Mehul Joshi by Chinese Mountaineering Association for climbing Mt' Everest. Source: Mehul Joshi
"At the peak, you cannot stand more than five minutes but I was lucky, I had a good amount of oxygen which allowed me to spend 35 minutes at the world's highest level," said Mehul.
Only vegetarian in the group
According to Mehul, there were 36 members from all over the world on the mission, but he was the only vegetarian in the group which put him in some difficulty. His only option was to eat dal and rice for survival in order to get carbohydrates & protein. In the journey he lost 15 kilograms of his total weight.
45 days of the journey towards Mt Everest (In Metres)
Base camp 5200
Interim Camp 5650
Advance base camp 6230
Crampon point 6400
Camp 1 7100
Camp 2 7900
Camp 3 8300
Summit 8844
Diagnosis of Diabetes
Mehul with the poster of his well-wishers. Source: Mehul Joshi
"It was I think 2012, suddenly, I noticed a change in my behaviour, I became short-tempered. I went to see the doctor and the reports were not normal. I was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. At that moment, I decided to accept a healthy life and started regular exercise," he told SBS Gujarati.
Mehul's list of mountaineering
Mount Satopnath 7073 meters
Mount Bhagirathi 6512 meters
Mount Stok Kangri 6153 meters
Mount Thelu 6005 meters
Mount Elbrus 5642 meters
Mehul completed the 1200 kilometre Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) long distance cycling event in 2015, and has also completed two ultra marathon of 100 kilometers.
Training
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani congratulated Mehul Joshi for his achievement. Source: Mehul Joshi
Mehul had trained for two years which included functional training, cycling, running and all kinds of endurance training such as long distance running, cycling, two day high intensity interval training, climbing with weights along with yoga, meditation, and mental fitness.
"The training before climbing Mt Everest is the hardest part of the journey.
If you survive that training mentally and physically, you will be able to climb Everest" says Mehul.
Friends - family supported Mehul to fulfill his dream
Mehul Joshi with the photo of his family members. Source: Mehul Joshi
Conquering Mt Everest requires considerable money - around 4 million Indian Rupees. Mehul said, "I received massive support from my friends, they helped me with around 1.5 million Rupees and my father took 1.5 million on fixed deposits to support me."
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