A Delhiite and a Gurgaon-based resident who share a passion for adventure sport did a series of challenging tasks at the Arctic for a show titled “Mission Arctic” to be aired on National Geographic Channel this Sunday.
Delhi boy Chirayu Sood and Gurgaon-based professional Alamjit Singh first underwent a physical fitness test along with six others in India. The eight adventure-seekers had to perform activities fraught with danger like cycling along the slippery slopes of the Himalayas.
The duo trounced all the competitors and headed for the treacherously deceptive landscape of the Arctic. They had to undergo a gruelling test of physical endurance and mental prowess.
In their final face-off, the two competitors took on the forces of nature in challenges like sea kayaking, harnessing polar dogs, setting up their own tents and sledding in the extremities of the Arctic.
Sharing his experience of surviving the inhospitable conditions, Chirayu says it was fun to build a cave and participate in a dog sledge race. “You always have to push yourself to survive in adverse conditions. We do not get to do such tasks and it was fun at times.”
Since the duo had participated as a team in one of the competitions in their India leg, they shared a friendly rivalry. Alamjit, who in the past has taken a scuba diving course at Andamans and climbed the treacherous peaks of the Himalayas, said his trip to the Arctic was a “dream come true.”
“I succeeded in going to the place so many of my childhood heroes have explored. The tasks at Arctic were linked to our activities in India. There was a blizzard and we where given just a shovel. Then we had to become friendly with dogs and learn how to handle them. It was important to learn which dog goes where.”
Since Alamjit is a vegetarian, he consumed eggs, milk and cheese. “We were not staying in a hotel where we could order unlimited food. While we were participating in the Indian leg, we had to cook our own meals at times. Thankfully, I know how to cook a little.”
On how he was selected, Alamjit said the channel had advertised in a newspaper asking those wanting a thrilling adventure to apply. “We had to send in videos in which we talked about ourselves, including which adventure sport we have been associated with previously.”
Accompanying the twosome was host and video jockey Yudi, who guided them to their ultimate goal of hoisting the Tricolour in the terrain of the North Pole.
