“ZENPod” Season-2, episode 10, featuring Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu, the First Indian Woman to Skii the South Pole, a historic ski-run and crossed a 900 kilometer Antarctic ice trek to reach the South Pole.
“Spirituality is Happiness, Solace, something that gives me a deep connection to the higher power..”,– says Reena Kaushal Dharmshaktu in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan
Reena Kaushal Dharmashaktu made the historic ski-run as part of an eight-woman woman Commonwealth team, marking 60th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth. She was selected from among 800 applicants.
Some of her notable expeditions have been:-
• A Cycle trip from Calcutta to Kanyakumari to promote cleaner , greener and healthier India, Organised by Women Adventure Network of India
· Summit of Sri Kailash (about 7000 mts) in the Himalayas, & the First ascent of Mt. Argan Kangri (6789 meters) in Ladakh with All India Women Expedition of IMF
· Summit of Fluted Peak (6000+ meters) with a Japanese team
· Summit of Gangotri (about 7000 meters) with all Women Expedition of Indian Mountaineering Foundation
In addition, Reena has :-
· Successfully completed the prestigious Mountain Instructor Course, the Mountaineering course several times, from National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS, USA) in Alaska.
• In addition, she has also conducted a High Altitude Backpacking course for National Outdoor leadership School several times in the Gauri Ganga Valley in Munsiary, in which she crossed the “Ralam Pass” @ an altitude of over 15,500 feet and also conducted a Backpacking Course at the Nanda Devi Base Camp
• Successfully completed Basic, Advance and Method of Instruction (MOI) mountaineering courses from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI), Darjeeling
• She is a Certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR), which is an intensive training
• Led the ‘All India Women Expedition of IMF, to Mt.Phawara rang (aboput 6400 mtrs) in Kinnuar range of Himachal Pradesh, followed by another one to Mt.Nun (over 7100 metres) in Karakoram Range of Ladakh
In her professional work capacity, Reena is currently working in the Sports Department for the government of Uttarakhand, helping set up a mountaineering institute. She also does Freelancing as an outdoor instructor for National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS, USA). She works with idiscoveri (an experiential training outfit) as an outdoor instructor.
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.
