Manipal: An intense three-week expedition from June 4 to 24, for a team of students from MAHE, through the rugged terrains of Spiti Valley, turned out to be an immersive experience blending sustainability, grit, and community engagement.

The expedition was led by Prof Ganesh Nayak, founder, centre for outdoor studies, MAHE, Manipal, with seven students including Riana Mammen, Milika Manwani, Ronan Madan, Sriram Nagur, Rhea Basak, Tanvi Yadlapati, and Nikhil Kurana.The expedition was structured in three phases, with the first leg covering the high-altitude stretch from Kalpa to Kaza. Guiding the team was professional bike expert Alex from Georgia and programme coordinator Sagarika Bhatia.

The second phase took a detour, as the group collaborated with Spiti Ecosphere to construct a check dam in Demul village. "The intervention is part of an initiative to combat the effects of climate change in the region.

Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Summers are becoming harsher. These check dams, built at higher altitudes, help create artificial glaciers that regulate water flow during dry months," said Nayak.

The team spent five days in Demul village, living with locals, gaining a deep understanding of life in one of India's remotest regions, Nayak added.The final phase took the team from Kaza to Manali, navigating broken roads, multiple punctures, and chain failures, all while being fully self-supported. "We had a backend medical team in place. On two occasions, we evacuated members to lower altitudes due to health concerns," said Nayak.Riana Mammen, said this was her second bicycle expedition, the first was to Sikkim last year. "I was made the team lead and my responsibilities began even before the tour officially started," she said. "The journey was the most rewarding experience. Each evening, the team would gather over dinner to discuss the next day's route, number of kilometres to cover, the possible hazards, PHCs along the way, and got briefed on the terrain.

It is impossible to come back from such a ride unchanged," she added.The team pedalled an average of 30 to 90 kilometres a day. "The biggest challenge was the sheer isolation on the road. The sun was harsh, and at times, the wind was so strong that even while going downhill, we had to pedal hard just to keep moving," she explained.For the final two phases of the ride, the team brought on board Mohit Raj Kapoor, an adventure photographer.