Indian Army Corps of Signals Climbs 6,250m Mt Mentok Kangri in Ladakh, Eyes Final Peak
The Indian Army’s Corps of Signals has completed the second summit of its high-altitude mountaineering expedition in Ladakh, with a 20-member team reaching the 6,250-metre Mt Mentok Kangri on August 24, 2026. The climb came shortly after the same team opened the expedition by scaling the 6,100-metre Mt Kyagar Ri on August 13, putting it two-thirds of the way through a three-peak mission in one of the country’s most demanding mountain environments.
The expedition is being conducted under the theme “Dreams of Valour – Three Peaks, One Mission, Infinite Resolve,” also referred to in the source as “Dream of Valour – Three Peaks, One Resolve.” According to the Corps of Signals, the programme is designed to test the soldiers’ endurance, leadership, technical mountaineering ability and collective resolve in extreme high-altitude conditions.
Lieutenant General Vivek Dogra, Signal Officer-in-Chief and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Signals, flagged off the three-summit expedition. Before heading into the mountains, the team underwent extensive preparation at the Army Mountaineering Institute in Siachen, where training focused on acclimatisation, endurance building and coping with low-oxygen conditions.
The preparation also included practical instruction in rock climbing, jumaring, rope work and the use of specialised equipment needed for steep and technically difficult terrain. Survival and rescue techniques formed another important part of the training, reflecting the risks associated with climbing in the unforgiving Himalayan environment.
High-altitude climbing in Ladakh places unusual strain on even experienced mountaineers. Temperatures can drop sharply, oxygen levels fall as elevation increases and weather can change without warning. Snow and ice conditions add to the difficulty, while the constant possibility of altitude-related hazards makes coordination, discipline and teamwork essential. The Corps of Signals said the successful back-to-back summits of Kyagar Ri and Mentok Kangri demonstrate the team’s physical conditioning and technical competence under these conditions.
The expedition has three designated objectives: Mt Kyagar Ri at approximately 6,100 metres, Mt Mentok Kangri at 6,250 metres and Mt Chamser Kangri at 6,622 metres. With the first two peaks already completed, the team’s attention now turns to the final and highest climb, Mt Chamser Kangri.
That last ascent is expected to be the toughest stage of the mission. At 6,622 metres, climbers will face even lower oxygen availability, prolonged exposure to extreme cold and rapidly shifting weather, while still needing to maintain sound judgement and coordination. The source describes it as the expedition’s most demanding test of endurance and mountaineering skill.
Beyond the immediate achievement of reaching the summits, the expedition is also intended to reinforce the Corps of Signals’ tradition of adventure and help develop a new generation of Army mountaineers capable of operating in high-altitude terrain. The successful climbs are being dedicated to the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty shown by Indian Army personnel serving in some of the country’s toughest regions.
The Corps of Signals has framed the mission as more than a sporting or adventure activity. In its telling, each ascent reflects military values such as courage, teamwork, leadership, resilience and service before self. The planting of the Tricolour and the Corps of Signals flag on the summits of Mt Kyagar Ri and Mt Mentok Kangri has been presented as part of that message, symbolising the team’s progress and collective effort.
If the team succeeds on Mt Chamser Kangri, the expedition will conclude with a complete three-peak traverse across Ladakh’s high mountains, bringing the Corps of Signals’ “Three Peaks, One Mission, Infinite Resolve” campaign to a successful finish.
