A team of Western Railway (WR) motormen recently trekked across Auden’s Col pass, located at an elevation of 18,012 feet above sea level in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas, braving glaciers and avalanches. While the motormen returned unscathed, two trekkers, including one who had joined the team en route, lost their lives along the way.

Chief Loco Inspector Munesh Kumar Kulshrestha (middle) and another member of the expedition take a well-deserved break

Auden’s Col connects the Rudugaira and Bhilangana valleys and lies between the Gangotri III and Jogin I peaks. The trek across the pass is marked by tricky glacier crossings and desolate wilderness, making it a popular yet daunting destination for experienced mountaineers. The railway team also completed the Kedartal (a glacial lake situated at an altitude of 15,580 feet above sea level) and Patangini Dhar treks — a rare triple feat on a single Himalayan expedition.