www.rimoriverexpeditions.com You are in About RIMO | The Team   THE TEAM Chewang Motup Motup was born in Kyagar Village, located in the Nubra Valley in Ladakh, and educated at Tyndale Biscoe School, run by Scottish missionaries in Srinagar, Kashmir. The school encouraged the outdoor spirit in its students and it was here that Motup’s love for the mountains was forged, trekking and climbing in the Kashmir Valley during his school holidays. He climbed his first peak, Harmukh, at the age of 13. Motup’s experience now spans the Himalaya, from Garhwal, Himachal, Ladakh, and Zanskar to Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan Motup’s knowledge of Himalayan peaks, trails, rivers and locales is extensive and he is frequently consulted by leading mountaineers both from India and abroad, planning expeditions to difficult to reach and unexplored Himalayan peaks and passes. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for the mountains with his clients. In 1986, Motup guided the first ever traverse of the Siachen Glacier with a team of Americans and reached Indira Col & Turkestanla. In 1993 he co-led a climb for the Rainier Mountaineering team to Mt. McKinley, Alaska. He was also selected by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation in 1999 to lead an expedition to Mt. Gya (6,794 m) in Himachal Pradesh (2nd ascent) where all team members reached the summit. Motup was part of a select team of scientists and mountaineers chosen by the IMF (Indian Mountaineering Foundation) to enter the Nanda Devi Sanctuary in 2001 (closed since 1982) to assess the reserved area and evaluate the impact of its closure. He along with 2 Sherpas reached Sunderdhunga Col, a feat achieved for the 2nd time after Shipton and Tilman’s expedition of 1936. In 2002, Motup went as a team member of the Indo-Japanese Karakoram expedition where they traversed the Shyok river valley from the Shyok village to Karakoram Pass along the ancient winter trade route – the first expedition to achieve this in the last five decades. This was also the first ever team to step foot on the expansive Teram Shehr ice plateau, one of the highest in the world, at an average altitude of 20,000 ft. Motup also trekked into the deep interiors of Arunachal Pradesh towards “The Great Tsangpo Bend “, where the Tsangpo river makes a turn and enters India as the Brahmaputra. Besides mountaineering and trekking, Motup is an experienced river runner. He was selected to lead the Indian team to the world rafting championship held in Nantahala, North Carolina, in 1990. He was also the chief training instructor for the team that made the first descent of the Brahmaputra River in 1991 and has rafted down numerous rivers in India. Yangdu Gombu Yangdu Gombu was born in Darjeeling to a mountaineering family and also grew up with a passion for the mountains. Her father Sherpa Nawang Gombu, the first man in the world to have climbed Everest twice (with the Americans in 1963 and again with the Indians in 1965) encouraged her interest in a mountaineering career. She has trekked extensively in Nepal, Sikkim, Zanskar and Ladakh and was a trek leader in Nepal for California-based Mountain Travel*Sobek. Yangdu has been an instructor for the adventure course at the world-famous Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, where her father was the former director of field training and is now its honorary advisor. She has also conducted field research on children’s health in rural Nepal for the World Health Organization. Yangdu combines her love of the outdoors and in-depth field experience with a passion for handling complex logistical operations. She is a detail person and looks after trip logistics, field staff co-ordination and client communication. Her thoroughness and responsiveness to clients across the world is legendary, and it is her organizational skill that ensures that every minute detail is noted and all requests met. Alka Deb A graduate in Mathematics hons from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi, Alka has also completed a tourism and ticketing course. Alka’s association with Rimo Expeditions has been since 1997 and her’s is a familiar name to anyone who has booked a trip with Rimo. One of the pillars of Rimo Expeditions, Alka handles all bookings, hotel reservations, flights, tours and manages the office effortlessly. With an in-depth knowledge of the country, Alka will most efficiently plan your holiday and extension tours ensuring it goes smoothly in any corner of the country as she meticulously looks into all the fine details… for that perfect tour! RIMO LEADERS Uden Sherpa Uden completed his school and graduation from St. Joseph’s School, North Point, and Darjeeling. Uden has completed his Adventure Outward Bound Course, Basic and Advance Mountaineering Courses from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling and has been leading treks in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Bhutan, South India, Garhwal and Ladakh. A very responsible and dedicated person with a very pleasant temperament, Uden speaks fluent English, is knowledgeable about the local culture and environment and has been receiving rave reviews for his leadership from the groups he has been guiding. Kunzang Sherpa Kunzang Sherpa completed his schooling from St. Paul’s Darjeeling and college from Delhi University. Kunzang has been leading treks in Darjeeling, North and West Sikkim for the past 10 years and in Ladakh, Nepal, Tibet for the past 6 years. Kunzang is fluent in English and knowledgeable about the local culture and environment. Calm and composed in even emergency situations, Kunzang is a patient, caring and dedicated person who carries out all responsibilities – be it in the office or up in the mountains - with confidence. All clients / groups are very confident, happy and comfortable under his able guidance. Tenjee Sherpa A graduate from North Bengal University, Tenjee Sherpa has been leading treks since 2001 as one of our leading mountain guides. Prior to joining the tourism Industry Tenjee had been a mountaineering Instructor in the reputed Himalayan Mountaineering School of Darjeeling for 5 years. Tenjee has been on several Himalayan Expeditions and has climbed Kedar Dome (6648m), Kun (7077m) besides many trekking peaks in Ladakh and Sikkim. Tenjee has been guiding our treks and expeditions in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Garhwal and Kumaon, Ladakh and Bhutan and was invited by clients to be their guide on a climb to Mt. McKinley in Alaska in 2007. This alone shows how confident clients are with him. With his vast trekking and climbing experience and knowledge of the mountains, Tenjee is capable of handling trips in any corner of the Himalaya. Rinchen Dolma Rinchen would be the first woman Ladakhi trekking guide. Hailing from Nubra valley in Ladakh, Rinchen studied at Lamdon School, Leh. Rinchen went on to work for the disabled in Ladakh after completing her training program from Delhi. Rinchen completed her monastery guide course from Leh and began in this Industry as a monastery guide but soon went on to leading treks by popular demand. Rinchen has been undergoing intensive German language courses in Austria and she is now able to carry on a general conversation. Leading German speaking groups is improving her language skills and she hopes to become fluent in the German language very soon. She is an asset to us for the many Ladies’ treks and tours we get and family tours. With a charming personality and knowledge of the local culture, clients feel very much at ease with her and she is amongst the most popular tour guides. Rinchen is fast becoming a well known tour guide and still remains the only woman trekking guide in Ladakh. Tashi Gyaltsen Tashi Gyaltsen was born in the village of Takmachik in Ladakh. Tashi started his career with Rimo as early as 1996. Tashi has also undergone his Basic mountaineering course from HMI, Darjeeling. Tashi underwent a French speaking course in Delhi and was invited to France by friends he made on treks. A gentle and caring person, Tashi is very resourceful and always ready to help. Tashi has trekked through the interiors of Zanskar and Ladakh as well as Garhwal, Kumaon, Sikkim and Darjeeling. With his many years of experience and travels, Tashi remains one of our popular trek guides. Skalzang Rigzin Rigzin joined Rimo as a trekking help in 1999. Born in the village of Tingmosgang in Ladakh Rigzin with his strong determination and hard work rose quickly to become a trekking guide. He underwent English speaking lessons in Delhi and completed his basic and advance mountaineering courses. Rigzin has also participated in several mountaineering expeditions in the eastern Karakorams Arganglas with Sir Chris Bonington, Rimo IV, Padmanabh including Siachen Glacier and has proved himself to becoming a great mountaineer. Rigzin spent 2 years at the prestigious Bryanston School in England as an outward bound instructor where he has given training and instructions on outdoor related activities to the students. Fun loving and very straight forward Rigzin has great leadership qualities. With his vast experience in such a short time Rigzin continues to be a very popular guide. Nima Bhutia Nima hails from the small town of Rimbik near Darjeeling. Having completed his various mountaineering courses, Nima worked in the capacity of an adventure and mountaineering Instructor at the prestigious Himalayan Mountaineering Institute before joining us at Rimo. Calm and composed, Nima has trekked across the Himalaya in Nepal, Garhwal, Kumaon, Ladakh, Himachal and Sikkim. Dedicated and hard working, Nima, with his in-depth Himalayan experiences has been handling some our most difficult trekking trails with the same ease as a well traveled trail. Jamyang Namgyal Jamyang Namgyal hails from Sankar village in the outskirts of Leh, Ladakh. After completing his schooling in Leh, Jamyang went on to Jammu and Chandigarh to complete his graduation. Very well versed in Buddhism and the local culture, Jamyang started as a freelancing monastery guide during his summer vacations to earn pocket money and there has been no looking back now as he has gone on further to lead treks also. With his knowledge and gentle and caring nature Jamyang sends back very satisfied and happy clients. Pemba Sherpa Pemba has completed his basic and advance mountaineering courses as well as his Method of Instruction and Mountain rescue courses from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling where he also worked for 3 years as an Instructor before joining Rimo Expeditions. Pemba also spent 2 years at Bryanston School as an outward bound instructor and passed his leadership training programs and map reading successfully. Very pleasant natured and always smiling, Pemba has been guiding in Ladakh, Sikkim and Bhutan. Skalzang Lhondup Skalzang hails from the Nubra valley in Ladakh. Skalzang handles all the reservations and group movements in Leh. In the winter months he is in our Gurgaon office handling group movements in Garhwal, Kumaon and Sikkim. Skalzang has also proved to be a great asset in the field and has been successfully guiding our treks in Ladakh. Bhim Lama Bhim Lama comes from Nepal. Bhim has trekked extensively all over Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Zanskar, Himachal, Garhwal and Kumaon and has been with Rimo since 1996. He has worked his way over the years to become amongst the most sought after guides. Very pleasant and patient, Bhim develops an excellent rapport with clients and colleagues alike and has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience which he shares with his clients. Bhim is also a very talented artist and paints thangkas in his spare time. OFFICE STAFF Rajib Ahongsangbam Rajib comes from the northeastern state of Manipur. Rajib is our transfer executive, Rimo’s “face” at the airports as he meets guests, escorts them to hotels, and gets them on and off trains, buses and planes – all in a pleasant manner with a constant smile. Thinles Dorjay Thinles is whom you all will get to meet in Leh. Hailing from the remote Phokar village of Ladakh, Thinles has over the years grown up in Rimo Expeditions from a young lad of 16 when he joined. He now handles the office logistics, transport arrangements in Leh, meets all clients, is there at the airport to meet you and see you off. Quick thinking and hard working, Thinles has started guiding treks in Kumaon, Himachal, Ladakh and all clients have been very happy with the ease he handles all situations. Dorjee Rinzing A Tibetan from Darjeeling and a graduate of Hans Raj College, Delhi University. Dorjee handles hotel bookings and transport logistics for our Delhi, Himachal group movements. Very efficient and dependable, he also single handedly manages all logistics and reservations of Northeast groups.