MINGORA: Rock climbers and mountaineers have called for the promotion of adventure tourism in Swat saying the region has huge and unique rocks and high peaks.

They were speaking during the award distribution ceremony at the conclusion of the first-ever two-day rock climbing training course in Swat on Tuesday.

The session was conducted by the Mountain Wilderness International’s Pakistan chapter in collaboration with Swat trekkers and SPS Trekking Club.

Rock climbing training course ends

Afzal Sherazi, Mohammad Taufeeq and Mohammad Zunaib were the instructors of the training course.

“Unexpectedly, we found youths to be very enthusiastic and physically fit, who learnt the rock climbing techniques fast. They must take more professional courses and climb some challenging peaks in Swat, including Falakser and Mankial,” said chief instructor and Mountain Wilderness, Pakistan chapter, president Afzal Sherazi.

The instructor said Swati youths were very energetic, who participated in the training session zealously.

He said Swat got amazing mountains, many of which were very challenging for scaling, and the local youths had great potential and willingness to climb them.

“I understand that if youths of Swat learn rock climbing and professional trekking, they can contribute to the promotion of adventure tourism in the valley,” he said.

Young mountaineers from Swat, who took part in rock climbing, said they had learned basic rock climbing skills and that the training session changed their approach towards rocks and mountains.

“Rocks and huge boulders were always a hurdle to their way during treks. We would change our course and take longer track to climb peaks whenever rocks and boulder came in our ways,” said local trekker Amjad Ali.

He said the training session enabled him to overcome fear of rocks and therefore, he could easily climb them.

“Now we will not change our routes whenever there are rocks and will climb them easily,” he said.

The youth said rock climbing was tough and technical but it was not impossible and that he was lucky to have thousands of rocks around in Swat.

Trekker Azharuddin said the skills and techniques he learnt during the training session helped him climb huge and steep rocks and that he would continue climbing rocks and train others.

Tariq Aziz of the SPS Trekking Club, who hosted the training session, thanked instructors of the Mountain Wilderness for their support and said the Mountain Wilderness would arrange more such events for amateur trekkers of Swat.

Certificates and souvenirs were later distributed to participants and trainers.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2018