THE ULTIMATE FRESHMAN TRIP

If you thought you A couple of nights in DOC shelters was kind of rugged, look what seven freshmen and three seniors plan to do next month: they hope to climb a 21,000-foot peak in the Indian Himalayas and plant a Dartmouth flag at the summit.

The idea came from Rupin Dang '94, a wellpublished photographer and filmmaker whose father happens to be senior vice president of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. Rupin wants to make a film of what he claims is the first college-sponsored Himalayan ascent (the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club is the official group involved). So far nine men and one woman expect to make the threeweek trek. "Who gets to go depends on how hard they work" in the meantime, says Harry Midgley '91, president of the expedition.

The trip will begin with a crash course in climbing and will climax with an assault of Kala Nag in Uttar Pradesh the mountain's name means "black snake" in Hindi.

The students say they're serious about succeeding. They've already paid a $700 fee to the Indian mountaineers to "book" the mountain. Estimated total expenses for the trip: $40,000.

Rupin Dang '94