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Vertical
Bhutan Climbing Club |
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Little
is known about early climbing attempts on Thimphu's only salient
climbing rock-"THE NOSE". Ideally situated just above
Thimphu, the area was first discovered by Stefan Priesner, an
Austrian working with United Nations Office in Thimphu together
with two trekking guides from Lhomen Tours and Treks in the summer
of 1996.The route which was climbed top rope, was later named
"Reach and Preach". The nose was later developed when
the routes were first bolted in April and May 1998 thus resulting
Bhutan's first climbing gym. Rock climbing in Thimphu gained its
popularity after Stefan, Dilu, Arun, Robin and few students who
were also being trained decided to form a club and training center
for rock climbing. The club, "Vertical, Bhutan Climbing Club"
was formed in 2000 with 18 members from which, 11 are students.
The club's main objectives are to train Bhutanese youth, organize
rock-climbing events etc. The club has recently, been featured
by the National Television Network for encouraging the youth in
this field. As mountains are sacred and considered to be deity
in Bhutan and there is hardly any mountaineering so we satisfy
our mountaineering ambition by climbing rocks. The "Vertical"-
Bhutan Climbing Club (VBCC) is a young group of rock climbing
enthusiasts that is determinedly trying to establish and promote
the sport in Bhutan. It is our long-term aim to popularize rock
climbing not only as a worthwhile hobby but also as a mainstream
sport. Judging from the enthusiasm evident in the encouraging
number of fresh faces at the rock each week, we have reason to
believe that the club can expand to a nationwide scale.
To be realistic,
though, we have had to content ourselves with measured pace
and set about establishing strong roots in the capital, Thimphu,
for starter... At present the club is trying to reach out to
Bhutanese youth, who seems to have a lot of free time, by having
discussions with Bhutan Youth Center to jointly organize Rock
Climbing events. We are also hoping to develop a library on
rock climbing.
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