National Snow Hiking And Trekking Begins In Nathiagali

National Snow Hiking and Trekking Championship with the collaboration of Directorate of Sports KP and Alpine Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got under way at snow covered Nathiagali, famous for its scenic beauty and trekking

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Feb, 2018 ) :National Snow Hiking and Trekking Championship with the collaboration of Directorate of Sports KP and Alpine Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got under way at snow covered Nathiagali, famous for its scenic beauty and trekking.

Players from across Pakistan took part in the snow hiking and trekking under pine and oak trees and lush green grass adding to the beauty of Nathiagali. The mountains in Nathiagali are great for trekking.

The championship attracted large number of youth both male and female in this adventurous sports financed by the Directorate General Sports KP with the aim to provide ample opportunities to the youth to come and enjoyed adventurous sports.

The trekking started from the Governor House till Miranjani Hill which is the tallest in that area and the height is 2960 meters. The participants were divided in three different categories, Organizing Secretary Najeeb Ullah Khattak told APP here on Saturday.

He said in the first category boys in the age of Under-20 took part in the male contest, followed by girls and youth categories. He said after day long trekking, which also attracted tourists from the entire country and foreigners as well.

Many places in Nathiagali will remind of the British Rule because this used to be their summer resort during the British Raj, he added. He said, Nathiagali is also a great station in the snowfall season.

It is covered with snow entirely and adds to its scenic beauty. One can plan a trip and take their kids where you can make a snowman and have a snow fight. Even a daytrip to experience snow fall can be done if you are based in Islamabad, he said, adding, the mountainous terrain of Nathiagali is fully covered with snow in winters.

"We did this well organized hike with a tour group of more than 100 participants as the snow trekking is a bit harder in winter, specially on 6inch to 2feet thick snow," he said. "There was slippery ice at some places in shadow and melting snow on sunny sides," he said, adding a practice is necessary before going on such tracks besides taking some food, water as there is nothing available." Humam Ahmad while talking to this agency soon after completing his trekking on the first day, said that some places and the path becomes a little difficult, however the journey is amazing.

The path, he said, is covered by Pine trees. The top is a vast plan covered with snow with sloping ups and down, he said. There are no trees on the top, only wild flowers, he informed. He said the KP female team is representing Laiba Ijaz, a current national junior squash player, with other squash players comprising Kainat Khan, Kalsoom Khan, Zohra.

The male team comprising Humam Ahmad, Haris Ahmad, current national badminton champion Murad Ali, Nadeem Khan, Hayat Ullah.