Giripremi Returns to Everest Glory With 2026 Summit Success

Mumbai:In a proud moment for Indian mountaineering, three members of Giripremi – the Pune-based mountaineering club – successfully summited Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak at 8,848.86 meters, in the early hours on May 21, Thursday, through the traditional South Col route from Nepal.

The 50-day expedition culminated when climbers Vivek Shivade, Mihir Jadhav, and Akhil Katkar reached the summit along with their guides Urgen Sherpa, Lakpa Sherpa and Lakppa Tenji Sherpa. The expedition was led by veteran mountaineer and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awardee Umesh Zirpe.

The Giripremi’s Everest Expedition 2026 team spent nearly 50 days in the Himalayas amid extreme conditions and a narrow summit window before making the final ascent.

The team left Pune on April 2 and spent nearly eight weeks in the Everest region as part of a systematic acclimatisation process, which included the ascent of Lobuche East Peak and acclimatisation rotations up to Camp 2 on Everest.

The final summit push began on May 17, with the team moving steadily through the higher camps. “Despite favourable weather conditions this season, the climbers had to endure over 10 hours of relentless climbing in the ‘Death Zone,’ the area above 8,000 metres where oxygen levels are critically low, and survival becomes extremely difficult for the human body,” said Zirpe, who coordinated the summit push from Everest Base Camp.

Due to health concerns, team member Nikunj Shah made the difficult but wise decision to return from just below Camp 4 during the summit push. “The entire expedition team deeply respects his courage, determination, and team spirit,” Zirpe added.

“This year’s weather window on Everest was much smaller than usual because of continuous jet stream activity over the mountain. Navigating this narrow summit window safely was a major challenge, which the team managed successfully. Good weather helped during the final push, but ultimately it was the team’s discipline, patience, mental resilience, and teamwork that made this success possible,” said Zirpe, who has now led 18 mountaineers to the summit of Everest over multiple expeditions.

The expedition was flagged off by Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on the eve of the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa in Mumbai.

This marks Giripremi’s third successful Everest expedition after its earlier achievements in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, Giripremi successfully conducted India's largest civilian expedition as eight climbers reached the summit on the same day – a rare and historic achievement that received widespread recognition across the country. In 2013, it achieved a dual Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse feat.

The expedition also supported the Government of India’s ‘Fit India’ movement, promoting physical fitness, mental resilience and an active lifestyle. Alongside the climb, the team also spread awareness about responsible mountaineering, glacier conservation, and climate change.

The Giripremi team also acknowledged the valuable support extended by Nepal-based Peak Promotion Agency, whose coordination and logistical assistance played an important role in the successful execution of the expedition. The organisation also expressed gratitude towards well-wishers, supporters, families, and sponsors who supported the expedition throughout the journey. The institution specially thanked Poornarth, Namah, NPRO, Atomberg, Mikro Innotech India, SmartMark, Asian Machine Tools Corporation Pvt. Ltd., Gokyo, and several other supporters for their encouragement and support.