#20 Mohit Oberoi - From Himalayan Summits to English Channel Swims, Defining Adventure Sports in a Country of One Billion - Ageless Athlete - Stories and Secrets of Adventure Sports Icons

Episode Transcript
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Kush (00:05):
Folks welcome back to each this athlete, excited to share
that I climbed outside this pastweekend.
For the first time in eightmonths.
Went to Sonora place nearYosemite and did some sport
climbing amongst theseoverhanging basalt cliffs.
This was the longest.

(00:25):
I think I may have gone without.
Climbing outside.
In the past decade.
I'm still injured.
The body still feels a bitbroken.
But I feel I'm mending along.
Slowly, but surely.
Today, my adventure seeking anddream chasing friends?
Get ready to be inspired by astory that proves anything is

(00:47):
possible.
No matter where you come from.
Today on aging athlete viataking you to India.
A land of vibrant culture.
And breathtaking landscapes.
To meet Mohit.
Oberoi a man who carved his ownpath in the world of adventure
sports.
This episode is very special tome.
As it allowed me to travel backto India, the country of my

(01:11):
roots.
And bring on somebody who haslong been a source of
inspiration for this young kid,Greg, up in Delhi.
Dreaming of the mountains.
Now you might think of India andpicture bustling cities.
Or ancient temples, but forMohit Oberoi, or Mo, amongst

(01:31):
friends.
It was a playground ofunexplored potential.
Growing up in a country whereadventure sports were not
exactly mainstream.
More and his friends.
Practically pioneered theclimbing scene.
Scaling cliffs with homemadegear and a whole lot of
determination.

(01:52):
Mo's thirst for adventure.
Doesn't stop at the cliffs.
He went on to compete in variousiron man triathlons, perhaps one
of the first people from Indiato do so he did become also the
first Indian to sell across theEnglish channel.
Yes, that English channel.
And also Gren.

(02:13):
Ultra marathons.
That would make.
Many season athletes Veep.
He has completed some epic, fastbacking trips, scaling.
And in chaining summits acrossthe Himalayas, we will talk
about some of them.
More is living proof that youdon't need fancy facilities.

(02:34):
Or a well-trodden path toachieve the extraordinary.
And let's be real folks.
Most journey.
Hasn't been all sunshine andrainbows.
His face challenges.
And many moments of doubt.
But that's what makes his storyso damn inspiring.
He embraces vulnerability.

(02:54):
Learn from his mistakes.
And keep pushing forward with asmile on his face.
With the curiosity of abeginner.
He is the ultimate vulnerableadult learner.
A team that we explored in thelast podcast as well.
So get ready to be amazed by theworld of mouth.
we'll hear about his early daysas a climbing pioneer in India.

(03:18):
His transition to other enduringsports.
We will discover how he feelshis body and mind for those.
And what keeps them motivated tokeep exploring.
And of course we learn about theimportance of community.
Positive support and believingin yourself.
Even when the odds seemdaunting.
We also talk about how he'sraised.

(03:40):
India's perhaps India's firstclimbing family.
Besides him.
Himself.
Annie, his wife lives.
His sons.
A ball and I'll be my new artcrushers sending double digit
bullet problems.
All across the Himalayas and inthe south of India.

(04:02):
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(05:11):
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You can find the link and codein the show notes.
So let's.
Start the show.
This is aged athlete and moststory is a powerful reminder.
That adventure knows no bounds.

(05:35):
Hey Mo.
great to have you on the show.
I already know that this isgoing to be one of my, uh,
favorite, episodes.
for a few reasons, one is youare in my mind, a true multi
sport athlete.
You do so many different,diverse, interesting things.
And also you are practicingthese sports often in India, in

(05:59):
a country I grew up.
So I sometimes think I get tolive my, uh, my outdoor dreams
vicariously with you, to startoff.
Let's start with climbing.
That is how you and I initiallyconnected and, correct me, but I
think climbing in many waysmight Still be your favorite

(06:20):
sport.
To start off, I want to ask youto take us back a few years ago
when you visited California toclimb in Yosemite and as you
were driving down the valleyfloor you looked up and you saw
El Capitan and I saw your facelight up.
Please describe what did you seeand what you were feeling at

(06:44):
that time.

Mohit (06:45):
Yeah.
Thanks Ishu for having me on theshow and yeah, I mean, it was
the first thing was thanks toyou that, uh, I could make this
El Cap or the Yosemite dreamcome true, which is coming, to a
place.
It was more of a pilgrimage tome, to be honest, because I'd
seen photos of El Cap since Iwas in the teens from the
Mountain Magazine and ClimbingMagazine photos of starting from

(07:09):
the first ascent of ZenyattaMondatta to Randy Leavitt
jumping, climbing El Cap andjumping off.
So it is something which is, itwas there lying dormant for
three decades.
And as we crossed the tunnel andentered Yosemite and mixed
emotions, right?
One was a dream come true that Iwas finally here at this cliff
which I had dreamed of almostfor three decades.

(07:32):
And the second was of course ofawe that how the hell are we
going to try and climb this now?
So the mixed emotions, but itwas, it was just, it was great.
It was brilliant.

Kush (07:41):
that is a great recollection indeed and I hear
you on the The flood ofemotions, you know, you, you see
El Cap and it looks amazing.
And then you realize that youhave this daunting project ahead
of you to attempt to, get to thetop.
That is quite something.
And we will get back to your ElCap trip later in the

(08:02):
conversation.
But to, ask you a little bitabout, what are these different
sports that you do?
And did climbing become anintegral part of your life?

Mohit (08:14):
to be honest, I'm a adventurer at heart.
I think that's what I'veconcluded.
I need an adventure.
so climbing is something Istarted off, uh, in my teens.
it was always an adventure to goout.
It was not about performance.
It was not about grades oranything.
It was about having, having thisadventure, having an Epic
outside, you know, having thesemega days out.

(08:37):
of course, initially it wasvery, uh, short multi pitch
climbs, but then we were alwayson the track climbing and, uh,
almost no bouldering then, but,it was an integral part of my
upbringing.
And then, of course, I branchedout little later into other
sports, mainly running or, uh,swimming or, uh, trail running
or mountaineering.
these, of course, followedclimbing where I wanted to get

(09:00):
into bigger adventures.
But I always feel, uh, you'reabsolutely correct.
I'm a climber at heart.
I keep doing these sports offand on, but then I always swing
back to climbing as my, as my goto sport.
that's correct.

Kush (09:13):
Mo, what were your origins into climbing?
If I recall, I'm a few years shyof you, but when I was growing
up, climbing was not a prominentsport in Delhi, in India.
What were your beginnings as anadventurer and as a rock
climber?

Mohit (09:31):
So we started in school, uh, issue.
Basically we went hiking acouple of times and there were
these, that time there werethese very dedicated bunch of
people used to run clubs.
And these were hiking clubs andthey would dabble in a little
bit into rock climbing andmountaineering.
And they had this thing calledthe training camp, uh, for
children or adults.

(09:53):
And, did a couple of small hikeswith them, day hikes.
And then I, Join them for aclimbing course in which they
will teach you very, the days weused to tie a bowline around
your waist and there were daysof the waist belay.
So these were like very basicwith pitons, and there was no
camming devices on wires oranything.
I'm talking about lateseventies, early eighties, 81,

(10:15):
82.
And there was about hip belayand repelling with stomach
repelling or delphi seatrepelling, what you call now.
So these are very basic.
basic kind of climbing things.
That's what the start of the artwas then probably, uh, in India,
at least.
that triggered off my interestfor climbing, rock climbing,
because I found that to be thenext step for my days of hiking.

(10:36):
when I started off, I did acourse.
uh, I found a magazine run bythe Indian Marketing Foundation,
which had an article about rockclimbing around Delhi.
And I was like, okay, if someonecan go, why don't I go and visit
this place, which is actuallynear the Qutub Minar, which is
very close in Central Delhi,close to Central Delhi.
I mean, I would say suburbsthen, but now it's almost center
of Delhi now.

(10:56):
And there was a stack of rocks,which are in a park.
And I decided to go there and,uh, start climbing on our own
with, uh, with, with aclothesline, which was brought,
uh, like a thick 10mm floorline, which, and some carabiners
and some, uh, there were noharnesses then.
So you made your own slingharnesses.
and some rudimentary carabinersand that's and just started a

(11:20):
journey of self discoverybasically and then so on and so
forth and one then met acommunity and then and then
carried on to you know higherrocks or bigger ranges so that
was early beginning and it wasthe late 70s early 80s so my
first climbing trip on my own Iwould say was probably self
support was in 1982.
Where I actually went on on myown without any guides and I

(11:43):
don't know how and when I lookback I just don't understand how
we even survived.
I don't know what all we weredoing there I guess we did
whatever we could but we didsurvive those days And a bit of
a miracle, but yeah lookingback.
I mean, it was just amazingAmazing time of discovery of
ourselves and of the rocks andwhat we could do making
decisions, you know, without anyadult supervision, uh, because

(12:05):
it was just two friends, we werein the same, same class and we
had just done a course and wedecided to go on our own with
our own gear.

Kush (12:12):
Coming of age is always a profound, uh, stage in, growing
up for all of us, but when youhave something as, interesting
and as outlying as, uh, climbingthrown in, it makes for, a
rather rich childhood indeed.
And, you survived.
That era of wearing, harnessesmade up of, home developed,

(12:36):
climbing rope types of, uh,apparatuses to the point where
you are today.
But again, going back to thetime you found this club and you
You ended up in this band ofbrothers, if I may, and you
started going off venturing intothe mountains and also crags
that you were developing closerto home.
I'm wondering what was thesetting like?

(12:59):
Within your family and yourcommunity, were there other
people doing these kinds ofadventuring things around you?
Was your family aware that youwere, out there scaling, cliffs?
yeah, describe to us, yourcommunity and your, uh, your
family and your friends,perceived of, these things that

(13:19):
you were doing.

Mohit (13:19):
uh, see, my mother was an educator, she was running a
school and she obviously knewthe values of children involved
in some kind of a sport, whetherit was conventional sports like
football or basketball or tennisor whatever, or doing outdoor
sports.
In fact, the school used to, herown school, which she started.

(13:41):
would go on on outdoor trips.
She was encouraged that.
She always felt that childrenhad to indulge in some kind of
sporting activity outside theclassrooms and do things.
So event came naturally.
When I start took up the sport,it came very, I don't know what
she felt in, within herself, butshe was very, very, um,
forthcoming and she was not.

(14:02):
In fact, support us, uh, and mysisters and us also to go and
indulge in these kind of sports.
I, I also wonder sometimes whatwould they think what was
happening?
I don't know.
I don't think they were wellaware that we was trying to run
out 20, 30 feet climbs and, youknow, we could have ground falls
and everything else.
But I think one thing they wereclear is that we were obviously

(14:24):
doing something, which was, uh,which is something essential,
uh, which a child should bedoing for their upbringing.
I mean, of course they don'tunderstand the extreme parts,
which, I mean, obviously theydidn't expect that I would be,
trying to lead some five nineswith the ground fault potential
and all that.
I mean, that gets complicatedthings, right?
But I didn't even mention thatto them because that was

(14:45):
something you didn't talk aboutat home.
You did have a great day out andyou were happy and you had a
smile on your face and that wasenough.
They were very accepting onthat, even going on expeditions.
And you know, we were living ata time where there was no
internet and there was no evenphone connections in Delhi then.
In India, where there was just.
once you left the home and thatwas it.
You came back after you, yousaid you will be back on certain

(15:05):
date after 25 days and youshowed up and there was no,
there was no connect.
or you didn't connect with them.
Maybe a letter from, sent from abase camp through a porter
saying, Just tell them you'refine or just mention it, which
used to generally arrive afterwe had reached back.
So it was, there was, it wasvery forthcoming.
The family part was very, verysupportive, I must say.

(15:26):
And of course, my parents then,and now my wife, of course, very
supportive of whateveradventures we're doing.
And I think that's veryimportant.
Second part is about thecommunity and the people I met,
uh, initially, I think I'mextremely lucky and I keep
saying that I'm extremely luckythat I met people, uh, who were
of the same mindset.
some of them were much older tome.

(15:46):
Most of them are older to me.
They were like eight or 10 yearssenior to me, and I'm still
connected with them.
And they were very, veryprotective of me.
And they were very, very, youknow, they encouraged me to do
sometimes I feel they encouragedme to do all the hard leads.
which, uh, they didn't want todo.
This is only later on, Ithought, but that helped me to,
uh, actually hone my skills as aclimber get my skills up as a

(16:10):
climber.
So I think I was extremelylucky.
I will say that I started veryearly and I started with the
right people and the rightsupport from the family also,
where there was no questionasked.
If I wanted to go for a month ofhiking of school days.
That was no problem.
I would, you know, it wasaccepted.
It was good.

Kush (16:28):
So many things come together to help us pursue our
passions.
Obviously, talent and drive is abig part of that, but so is
support from one's family andcommunity.
Your parents, kind of like myparents, have been very
supportive of some of these, uh,different things that we do.

(16:49):
parents, uh, saw me climbingoutside, I think for the first
time a few years ago, It wasquite a revelatory moment for
them because it's one thing toimagine conceptualize some of
these trips that I'm doing, butto actually see me at the end of
a rope up in the mountains inTurkey, where we were, and see

(17:12):
me having a good time and doingthings which Sometimes seem a
little crazy, but when you seethat happen in front of you and
you see the whole process of,of, uh, tying into a rope,
climbing up, and then you seeother people around at the crag
as well, and people who seem,you know, just normal human
beings with, offer normal livesand aspirations.

(17:34):
I think it serves to normalizethe sport in the eyes.
So I'm very grateful that myfamily was able to see me climb.
I think it's also surprising howmany people I speak with whose
families have actually neverseen them climb.
I mean, it's great that your,your family, they supported you,
but I'm wondering if they everjoined you, your sisters or your

(17:55):
parents, if they ever joined youfor any of these, uh, climbing
or mountain trips, either as, asspectators or even as co
participants.

Mohit (18:07):
yeah, my mother did, we did one or two hikes together,
uh, day hikes when she wasleading a school group as a
principal of her own school.
She had own school childrengoing up and she actually hiked
with them.
And I was part of that.
So that was amazing.
when I think back, I look backit was a few times when she came

(18:27):
she actually offered to let,when I had no transport and no
partners in Delhi, once a coupleof times, actually not once many
times, she would actually offerto drive us in the, in the
school van.
Uh, and she would not drive, butthe driver would drive and she
would say, hi, take the schoolvan.
And I do remember her comingonce or twice and I trained the
driver of the van, who was an exarmy guy to actually belay me.

(18:50):
So he would go from the side andactually throw the rope down and
he would belay me on top.
So when I look back, I thoughtit sounds completely, completely
bizarre.
When I think about it now, shewould be there reading a book.
Or something, and she would justbe there, but he would actually
belay me, and I would actuallyspend a few weekends, uh, with,
with my ex-army driver of theschool who would help me.

(19:10):
So, it was so encouraging.
And I think now that, whichparent would do that would say,
okay, we go on a Sunday to OldRocks, which is the climbing
area, and she would just hangout while the school bus driver
would actually belay me up someclimbs.
And he, he, he was obviously didnot.
I mean, I taught him rudimentarystuff, right?
But he, I guess it worked.
it did happen a couple of timeslike that, but not, not after

(19:33):
that much, I mean, that was theinitial time.
And then I, I'm, I'm trying tothink back what she would have
been thinking.
Like, did I know what I wasdoing as a 15 year old or not?
I don't think I was even 15 thenmaybe at like 12, 13 year old
that actually trained the busdriver to belay me.
And is that safe?
Is that, is that not?

(19:54):
I have zero idea when I thinkback now, man.
I don't know what she was, shedidn't, she didn't even, she
didn't say anything.
I remember now that she wouldjust not say anything at all.
She'd be there.
And this happened not a coupleof weekends, not too many times,
but that's still, still a bit.
That's the only time probably.
And I also remember, yes, onecrazy incident when I went with

(20:14):
this, independent group ofpeople to the Hodge, which is
the nearest climbing area inDelhi.
And I was supposed to train themto climb and I was helping them
out again as a 14 year old.
I don't know how I, how was Iqualified to teach people how to
climb?
I have zero idea, but, uh,obviously I was asked to teach
some people, some school kidsand the school, their school
kids, past guys had to leave.

(20:35):
And I remember seeing this newline I had seen, which I wanted
to do, which is like a reallygnarly off with, which no one
had done before.
And I was stayed back with mypartner and say, let's climb
this.
But he says, the bus is leaving.
So I was like, it doesn'tmatter.
Let them go.
And they were saying, should wego?
And he said like, yeah, pleaseleave.
And I don't know how thishappened.
And then my parents showed upthere.

(20:56):
I think they knew that I wasthere on the weekend and my dad
and mom land up there.
and it's quite a crazycoincidence.
The bus is leaving and they landup there and they say, where is
Mohit?
And I'm like, and the, and thething is I'm stuck right above
this last crux in an off-widthfor the last half an hour.
I look down and I see my dadwearing his, uh, I mean, he was

(21:17):
just.
Standing and looking up like 70feet up and looking at me and
just finding what I'm doing.
And I looked at him and I waslike, and I think, uh, within
the next two minutes, I think Iwas on top.
So I think, uh, and they gave usa lift back home and nothing was
said, nothing was sort ofshared, but it was like, I don't
know what they were thinking,but it was a very bizarre

(21:39):
incident.
I was trying to recall the otherday.
Uh, so things like thathappened, I guess, when there's
no communication, there's nophones or WhatsApp.
I mean, things just worked,right?
They showed up.
I was not supposed to know.
I mean, we didn't know that theywant to show up and I don't know
how they show up.
climbing area, which they'dnever been there before.
And, uh, yeah, we managed to dothe first ascent.
That was a climb called ChariotSophia, which is a 5.

(22:01):
7, still rated pretty gnarly,shitty off width, which no one
climbs now anymore.
But yeah, things like thathappened, I guess.

Kush (22:09):
Wow.
Your, uh, parents from being,let's say passive supporters
often became somewhat activeco-participants, And again, if
you're lucky, our parents willplace this faith in us and allow
us and support us to do thingswhich they themselves may not

(22:31):
understand completely, but theywill stand behind us and let us
do sometimes outrageous thingsthat, that when you look back
at, makes one shake off.
Once, uh, had a bit ofincredulity, coming back the
early climbing days.
When you were, doing firstascents around Delhi, and you

(22:52):
ended up writing this guidebookfor the premier climbing area
outside Delhi called Hajj.
And we'll put a link in the shownotes if anybody wants to ever
visit Delhi and, and check outthe climbing area, they can
refer to your book.
Mohit, you took that early entryinto climbing to ultimately

(23:13):
becoming really good.
and training and joining theIndian climbing team and
representing the Indian climbingteam.
So describe to us how didclimbing and adventuring become
an athletic sport for you.
How were you training to getgood at it?

(23:35):
And how did you end up beingpart of the, uh, Indian team?
And how did that, performancego?

Mohit (23:42):
To, answer your first part of the question, Kush so
climbing became a passion,became a, completely obsessive
kind of, emotion, through myteens, because that is something
which is, I leaned on forwhatever, it was something for
me to go to.
So I really worked hard I was sointerested in it.
I would do it on a couple oftimes a week.
And then you got, obviously gotinspired by these three, three

(24:04):
month old magazines, which comeabroad from abroad, what was
happening.
And you would get inspired.
And of course I had this, olderpeople who were older means
older friends who were alreadyclimbing.
and they were trying to pushboundaries.
There was strong ethical debateson, you know, ground up, trad
climbing is what we were doing.
Then there was no boulderingbecause I mean, there was little
bouldering.

(24:25):
There was bouldering, butremember we didn't have any
pads, so there were nobouldering pads.
You had to boulder, you didn'twant to fall, or you would have,
if it was a high ball, you wouldtop rope or finally top rope and
then lead it, or sorry, solo itor try and lead it.
So there was a strong ethical,uh, rules where we, when we
reform for ourselves, which isthe basis of our climbing.
so I seriously started gettinginto in 1984 when I was 15 years

(24:48):
old, we made a trip down toSouth India, which was in 1986,
where we climbed, uh, my longestroute, which was, 800 feet high,
I'll say about.
Three oh meters, in South India,first ascent was done by a
couple of friends from Delhi.
We went down.
So other thing was to nowventure out to other cliffs, not
just being around in Delhi, butto actually go and start.
remember there were no climbingwalls, but I do remember, I

(25:11):
mean, I, uh, I think I've notspoken about, but I found this
old, in a climbing magazineabout how.
This person had made a climbingwall stuck with araldite rocks
on its boundary wall.
And I actually made a smalltraverse for myself, sticking
some rocks, flattening them onone side and then sticking them
with araldite, you know, like asuper glue along the walls of my

(25:34):
house and started, so I startedgetting and saw pictures of John
backer and, uh, I think it waslife magazine.
Way back in 85, 86, where it's,you know, he was training in
Yosemite and soloing and stuff.
so that just inspired us to pushharder grades, to actually think
that we need to train to get,you know, start training,
physical training.
That'd be important.

(25:55):
photos of Tony and Nero and, RonFawcett was a British climber,
Jerry Moffett, people like that.
And because there were not manyrole models like that in India.
So we were looking at peoplefrom magazines abroad and, and
books like climb, which is, aColorado blaze climbing book and
to start training, starting myjourney to do harder and harder
track climbs.
I got an opportunity.

(26:17):
To travel to the uk, which waswhen I was 18.
There was a British climber whowas visiting India, and I took
him out Boulder and he wassaying, why don't you come for
the youth meet?
And I think he was that timeworking with the British Market,
Purdue Council as one of theofficers.
And he said, I, so I said, Idon't know man.
I mean, I don't know how it'sgonna happen.
And he said, no, there's a youthmeet in UK and we can send you

(26:37):
an invite and, and you come.
Okay, and it's too far fetched aplan, you know, for a, for an 17
year old to think that thatcould ever happen.
Uh, but I remember coming backfrom an expedition to the
mountains in Bhagirathi, wherewe spent 30 days up in the
hills, in the mountains.
We almost reached 6, 000 meters.
It's another story.
with my friend of mine, I cameback and I found this invite

(27:00):
letter from the British MountainCouncil.
And I was like, they're invitingme to this British meet where
the youth from various 35countries were supposed to
congregate and they were goingto host them for 10 days of
lining in, uh, Wales.
But then the whole thing abouthow do I get there?
I don't have a ticket.
I don't have money to go there.
And it was, it's, it's all.

(27:21):
things colliding in theuniverse.
You know, I spoke to a friend ofmine and he was, he was a
journalist.
Uh, and I was like, man, I don'tknow how that's going to happen.
He was like, Oh, we can figureout something.
And he was an older guy, youknow, it was maybe in his early
thirties.
he was doing a story aboutsomeone, and then he actually to
this industrialist.
He was doing a story about him.
And then he, as he must'vementioned that this shot, this
young person is a great climberor, you know, he's a budding

(27:43):
climber, not a great climber.
And he would, he's been invitedand you think you can sponsor
him.
I don't know how it happened.
Kush that I got a ticket.
He said, yeah, we'd spend, buyhis ticket to go to the UK.
And, uh, actually I got a planeticket sponsored to go and
attend the youth meet in wayback in 1988 and I landed up I
was in UK.
I got a ticket and I got a visaand then I reached there and

(28:06):
that was a complete eye openerbecause were talking to these
really young people who wereclimbing cutting edge stuff.
from the UK, from the US, fromCzech Republic, Swiss, French,
German.
That was the most crazy thingfor 10 days.
And then I spent another threeweeks there because I got
invited to various other placesby other British climbers, young
people.
Again, they all come to myhouse.

(28:27):
We go climb in the Peak Districtor we go climb in the Lake
District.
And I ended up spending anotherfour four weeks, touring the
other places, tri climbing theUK.
It was an eye opener for mecompletely.
The world of really hard tradclimbing.
so I wanted to go backdefinitely in 1989.
I was finishing college and Iwas like, I need to, I'm
desperate to get back.
And, uh, and I did whatever Icould.

(28:49):
And as a 17, 18 year old, I wentknocking on all doors to get
sponsors to fly on thisunconventional sport, which
people say, is there going to bea competition?
Is there going to do this?
And you know, I don't know howthis happened.
Someone told me, man, give themthe story of an Olympic dream.
That's where people talk to youabout sponsorship.

(29:10):
And I, and I don't know whetherI was trying to calm them then
or what it was a real, but Ikept saying.
Climbing is going to be anOlympic sport and I am trying to
train for the Olympics and thatmantra I don't know what else.
So I am happy that is notsomething I was just trying to
con people into giving me money.
I kept saying there's gonna bean Olympic sport They're gonna
be climbing competitions andblah blah blah and that caught

(29:32):
people's attention Even thoughit was not then but they were
saying it's going to become Idid manage to even get a ticket
from Air India to go back intothe UK in 1989.
and I got some cash sponsorshipfrom Hindustan Lever, which is,
uh, part of the FNB industry.
and they were like, okay.
I mean, I don't know how, maybethere's just thought like an 18
year old knocking on someone'sdoors, is brave enough.

(29:54):
So I think, uh, to even try andget this money, you should
probably, we should give himthis money.
it is, uh, when I think back, Iwas like, what was I thinking?
Just walking in various offices,spend a month in Bombay.
I went back to Bombay because Iwas told that Bombay is where
the head office is.
And that's where you should goand try and get money.
So I just called, I didn't knowanyone.

(30:14):
I would just walk in and starttalking about it, give them a
proposal and say, look, I'vebeen invited by the BMC.
I want to climb the last year.
And this is going to be a bigthing.
Big sport and I want to be partof this big sport.
Of course.
I had my lines practiced andsomewhere it worked I don't know
how someone came to me right nowI don't know how and I got
actually a ticket and some moneyTo go climb in 88 89 and I went

(30:37):
to the uk and I climbed againfor three four weeks I'd already
had friends from last yearprevious year so I could spend
more time climbing big districtin various places and from there
My sister was in the US.
So she was like, man, youreached here all the way.
she was working then.
She had just got a job.
So she must have saved somemoney and she's like, why don't
I get you a ticket across to theUS?

(30:58):
And I actually went across tothe East Coast to the
Shawangunks and I flew down.
I missed college all those threemonths.
I was not in college.
I was in Delhi.
I was supposed to be in college,but I just went to the
Shawangunks.
I lived, uh, in three weeks nearthe Uber Falls where there were
hardly any people there on theweekdays.
I made some friends there andand then I had this plan of,

(31:18):
okay, now the next trip isColorado and yo, and it was way
back and, and just become a lifeof, uh, climbing bump and, uh,
and especially when you didn'thave cell phones and Instagram,
no one know to contact you,right?
Unless you are to call themback.
So your family and friends andall could not reach to you.
So I fixed this, actually, thishappened and I fixed this ride

(31:39):
to, uh, with someone who wasgonna Colorado from the Gunks,
and we were supposed to sharethe petrol money and all that.
And I went partying the nightbefore, got completely drunk,
did not reach back to thecampsite, and the person left,
of course, and I did not get theride to Colorado into the big
dream in the west I had.
So I always say that, that ridechanged my life.

(31:59):
Because I, if I had taken theride, maybe I would not have
come back.
And then there was, of course,like, you know, there was no,
there was no connection.
So you could actually disappearwithout, you know, for a few
months or a year before someoneinfluenced you, means your
family or whoever else.
But that ride did not happen.
I reached back late to thecampsite.
I was completely hung over, justslept the whole day.
And of course the person hadleft.

(32:21):
that ride got missed and I said,change my life.
Maybe, I don't know for thebetter or worse or whatever.
and then, of course, trainingback in India, competition,
sport climbing, I went to Francefor a while, on the next trip,
sport climbing, was just gettingintroduced in the early 90s
then.
I'm talking about, 90, 89, 90.

(32:41):
And then, you know, there wascompetition climbing, Badunikia
happened.
the world cup circuit had juststarted in 91 some of the people
in the big leagues in the Indianmountaineering foundation were
handling the sport then.
got invited to send a team toJapan.
And then, uh, the person who wasthe head of affairs knew that I
was very active and I'd goneabroad and I had much more
exposure than anyone else.
And they said, look, man, let's,there's no time for sponsor for,

(33:03):
for qualifications or anything,and there's no walls to climb
on.
Why don't we get this bunch ofthree, four people to go and at
least taste what the sport is.
And when they come back withcertain knowledge is when we can
actually start the sportclimbing movement in India.
And that's how I got on the teamin 1991 to Japan.
for a World Cup competition,which he, Yuji Hirayama, won his
first, World Cup competition atthe age of 19.

(33:25):
It was an amazing, epic, epic

Kush (33:27):
it is certainly so interesting how little things
can shape one's life journey.
You were there at a campsite inthe U.
S.
and you did not get to Come overto the West and check out
climbing in Colorado andCalifornia because of one night

(33:48):
of, fun partying and, uh, circleback a few decades later, life
pulled you back towards, thegranite walls of the valley you
took that early inspiration andthe exposure, you brought it
back to India and, uh, Youstarted training in right
earnest.
You found other climbers.

(34:08):
I'm wondering what was the restof your life like?
Because the script growing up inIndia is typically, you know,
one is expected to follow acertain path find a career of
sorts and, you know, join themainstream, but you buck the
trend somehow and you put allyour passion and energy into

(34:31):
becoming the best climber youcould be.
But at some point you managed totake climbing and craft some
kind of career out of that We'dlove for you to talk about how
did you fare with bucking thetrend?
Was your family supportive ofyou going out and competing?
Were you also working on aregular career on the side?

(34:55):
And then ultimately, how did Youend up taking climbing into
something that became a,profession for you.

Mohit (35:03):
there was always that, pressure from what am I going to
do now?
I mean, I should be having acareer.
I should be, so I, one thing wasvery clear.
The other parts to this kind ofa journey as a climber would
have been to start taking outpeople climbing, right?
Or start climbing courses orstart, you know, But, you know,
starting working in the trekkingindustry or mountaineering
guiding or something, but thisis something I took a very early

(35:25):
decision to say, I did startsomething on the outdoor school,
which was basically, I said, Iwould start taking children out
for climbing and dodge and teachthem how to climb.
And we run climbing courses.
And I did take that journey.
I started that in collegeitself.
I did that a few times.
And to be honest, I took a veryinformed decision when I did a
few of these that this is notwhat I want to do because it

(35:48):
became more like a job and Istarted hating that.
And I was like, this is mylife's passion.
And if I'm not going to enjoythis, I am not going to start
taking people out.
So this was even though.
it would mean that I would notbe getting my money or, you
know, this is not my careerpath.
Taking out people, courses outclimbing, bunch hoods of like 30

(36:08):
40 children out climbing wasjust wearing me out.
And, uh, I was not enjoying myown climbing.
I was, so maybe at an early ageof 20 or 21, you think this is
something which I've still notdone.
I would do it with family andfriends and just take them out
otherwise, but I would not wantto take climbing courses out or
even be in the trekkingindustries where I'm, you know,

(36:29):
guiding them.
there was pressure to do a job,to work.
And I took up, I got an offerfrom a school to teach geography
and physical education and pitchclimbing, even though I was not
a trained teacher.
And I got this opportunity and Iactually became a teacher for
like a year and a half.
And, uh, we had a blast,actually.
I took so many of these peopleclimbing.
And some of these kids I taughtway back then, even, you know,

(36:51):
just that two years of teaching,I still climb with them.
They became my climbingpartners.
Now, of course, some of them areprofessors and they're doing
other stuff and runningcompanies and whatever.
But then my mind started turningto when I did the competition in
Japan about climbing, on aclimbing wall, I was like, you
know, we need to have walls inIndia, right?
Otherwise, how are we going todo competitions?
Because we can't train on rockand then go and compete on

(37:15):
walls.
I mean, that's not, that's nothow it's going to work.
So I decided, well, let's builda wall for ourselves.
And my journey to build a wallwas in, again, my mother's
school.
And she was like, why are youthinking of building walls?
I started trying to market thisconcept to people and say,
there's a climbing wall and alsoat selfless regions to train,
uh, so I could train on thesewalls.

(37:35):
And, uh, what happened is thatshe said, Why are you talking
about building elsewhere?
Why don't you build in ourschool?
The children will climb, you canclimb.
And, uh, you know, it'll be, youknow, exposure to the whole
country.
so I built my first climbingwall in actually, in the school,
which is run by my mother.
we took it from there.
I built this wall, which is notvery rudimentary now by any

(37:56):
standards.
And, uh, we even held a climbingcompetition, which was, uh,
which is a national sportclimbing competition.
We invited people from all overthe country to come and climb
on, on a wall and actually holda competition.
And you won't believe this.
The first competition, we evenhad the great Steve McCure.
who's a UK climber so well knownnow, and he was visiting Delhi.

(38:18):
He saw this poster in his, inhis small hippie hangout, uh,
hostel where he was stayingabout a climbing competition.
He actually came and won the,what is the international
category?
And he actually mentions that inthe book and he has a photo of
the old climbing wall in his, inhis, in his book.
so this is very interesting.
then once I built the wall, Istarted getting some inquiries

(38:40):
from the military to buildwalls.
So the army got interested aboutbuilding walls.
And then I started building, Istarted my journey in the
climbing wall builder.
And even though I was not intoengineering or any other
construction work, but then Igot, this is my passion, right?
To construct, get that activitygoing, get the walls going.
So I learned how to build wallsand learn what the materials

(39:02):
were required and theengineering part and And started
my journey to become, uh, sooutdoor school actually became
wall builders So we wouldactually conceptualize the idea,
build the walls, train peoplehow to use them I never operated
the walls because that wassomething which I didn't want to
do ever, right?
I didn't want to teach people onregular basis as work.
So we would build, operate andtransfer.

(39:25):
they would then operate thewall.
And that's how my journey forclimbing wall building started
as a, in India.
And also similarly,simultaneously climbing
competition started in Indiawith that first competition we
held in 1993 in December.
So the journey of sport climbingstarted with that.

Kush (39:40):
You took, your personal pursuit into climbing and you
took that into pioneering thegrowth of, uh, climbing as an
industry in India.
And I can't think of, uh, betterstories where, um, passion meets
purpose and you put all yourenergies into this one basket

(40:02):
and it's, paid off for you in,in so many ways.
And also it's paid off for thecommunity of climbing in India,
where we have people who havelearned.
to climb in the walls that youdeveloped in the facilities that
you helped create throughcompetitions and whatnot.
And in, in so many interestingways, one in particular, it's

(40:24):
come back full circle where nowyou know, not to be facetious,
but you might be, you areIndia's first climbing family.
Your wife climbs, your kidsclimb, and both your kids are,
uh, talented and, and strongclimbers.
Love for you to tell us how youmet your wife.

(40:47):
I believe there was a climbingconnection.
please take us, uh, through thatpiece.

Mohit (40:52):
Thanks for your kind words.
I met Annie, in way back in 89.
there were hardly any womenclimbers then, actually, our
first meeting was also at Dodge,which is a climbing area, which
I used to, uh, frequent a lot.
And I think she came through herown university climbing club.
one of our friends introduced usthere.
And then of course, uh, therewas no love at first sight kind

(41:16):
of business here.
We, uh, it was more about, shehad the same passion for the
outdoors because she was born inBhutan in the wild, in a forest,
and she lived a life in Sikkim,her parents were teachers in
Sikkim, headmaster, her dad wasa headmaster in Sikkim, so she
enjoyed the outdoors, which Ithink our connect was more from
the outdoors, being outside, andI think we started frequented,

(41:38):
uh, frequenting, going togethera lot more then.
that's how this journey startedwith her.
from 89, we started climbingtogether and making trips out
and, uh, also her parents beingeducation.
We were part of the family withmore educators.
it was a common connector.
It's not just about teaching,it's about climbing.
and of course our kids, uh,Abhimanyu and Iqbal, uh, because

(42:00):
there was so much talk on familydinners.
Every day was about climbing oroutdoors mainly.
So we introduced them.
There was no pressure for them.
I think we didn't put anypressure for them to climb.
I think it was more about,enjoying the outdoors.
I think that's very important,for the kids to actually be
comfortable being outside.
means whether it's camping orhiking and we would do our

(42:21):
annual family hiking trip.
Even when they were eight, nineyears old, climbing small hills
or going for a multi day four orfive day hike in the Himalayas.
I think they've caught the bugof climbing later on just after
the teens they've now just,almost as passionate as, uh, as
we were when we were that age.
So we're very fortunate thatthey've, uh, taken this path.

(42:44):
uh, I hope, they enjoy thisjourney and that they don't want
to drop this.
That's fine with us also.
We are not, we're not sohellbent that they should be
climbers.
I think we were never both likethat with them.
We wouldn't push them on that atall, but we did show them the
path to the outdoors.
I mean, we, In the sense thatthis is where real joys of life
are.
This is something you shouldcherish.

(43:06):
And, uh, I think climbing was,uh, was a natural progression
for them to take up.
we are very happy that we'restill fit to enjoy being outside
with them.
We can still go out health wise.
We are still, we're still ableto go out and move with them if
not climb at their level, but atleast, at least be around and be
able to climb, uh, do a fewthings around with them.

(43:28):
That's very fortunate.
I hope we can keep doing thatfor a while.

Kush (43:31):
You showed, your kids the path, you open the doors for
them.
And, without you activelypushing them into it, somehow at
some point, that early exposureand the trips to the mountains
rubbed off on them they nowclimb in full earnest and in
some ways might be this goldenperiod maybe in your lives as a

(43:52):
family where you and your wifeboth are still active,
passionate.
adventurers and climbers and youcan do trips together with you,
your wife and your kids and goclimb in different parts of
India and overseas.
Absolutely fantastic that, youhave managed to create climbing

(44:13):
as career and as a lifestyle.
Moving on a little bit in termsof community and culture, at
some point Mo you becameinvolved in other sports.
as I said earlier, I think ofyou as the consummate multi
sport adventurer.

(44:34):
You took your roots in climbingand you went on to create a
small legacy in other sports.
You swam across the EnglishChannel.
You one of the first Ironmantriathletes.
Coming out of India.
And these days you are doingthese epic fast packing and

(44:58):
ultra runs all over theHimalayas.
How didd you take climbing andhow did you diversify into these
other sports?

Mohit (45:08):
Somewhere around the mid, around 2004 or five, I think
somewhere I had felt a loss inmy own community in the sense.
A lot of my friends had movedon.
They had either gone abroad orthey stopped climbing.
They had families or they hadchildren and they were not
really actively climbing.

(45:29):
And my connect with the youngergenerations who were coming up
then was not very, I was notreally connected with them for
whatever reason.
I don't think that I found anyof them who were really
connected with me in terms ofthe adventure part of it.
Um, Because competition climbinghad emerged, I think they were
more focused on plastic,climbing walls, not going to the

(45:50):
rocks so much, not getting intobig adventures.
Somehow I got lost in that questto find, uh, suitable partners.
Of course, my kids were tooyoung then and he was busy with
her schoolwork.
I just kind of, Lost that buzzaround climbing because, you
know, climbing is also aboutcommunity about companionship,
about friends, journey You alsoneed people around you, but it's

(46:14):
not like climbing where youspend a lot of time with, with
mates, right?
Or people you tie into a ropewith.
It's, it's a lot about trust.
It's all about building arelationship.
It's about having fun at therocks.
Some of that got lost.
And I actually lost my way inclimbing.
So I moved on, I met a few otherpeople, but I was still active.
I wanted to be active.
And it was not a deliberateattempt, you know, life, you

(46:36):
close one door and then anotherdoor opens.
And I met some friends who were.
Uh, a friend who was intorunning and swimming and I
connected with these a couple ofpeoples in Delhi around who went
to triathlon.
I never heard of triathlon.
One of our friends, uh, he wasan expat who came down, two of
them came down to Delhi.
They were living, uh, theirwives were working in the

(46:56):
embassy.
they had done the Ironmantriathlon and way back in 2005,
hardly any people in India hadheard, even heard of it.
I think one odd person hadprobably completed it as a
student while being in theuniversity abroad.
it was new for me.
It was new adventures.
So one of the things I reallyenjoy being is being a beginner.

(47:17):
I don't mind standing at a startline and say, Hey, I don't know
the sport and tell me about it.
This is something which I thinkis, is, is something which is,
uh, is, uh, my strength.
I don't care if someone says,because it's not like, I don't
know this.
Let me learn how to do this.
So I started my journey to swim.
I was a very poor swimmer.

(47:38):
I'm still, I'm not that good,but then I started my journey to
learn how to swim, uh, andstarted my journey in the
triathlon.
Let's see where it takes me.
It was thrilling.
It was new, not like climbingbecause climbing has its own
adventures, but then I had thisnew found friends who were real
fun.
They were very encouraging.
Uh, we had a blast togetherwhere we would go cycling, we go

(47:59):
up in mountain biking in theHimalayas.
I did some long mountain bikingtrips with them to, from Manali
to Leo, the highest passes inthe world.
We did some mountain bikingraces together.
this Ironman triathlon questcame up and it seemed a little
insane in the beginning, butthen, you know, when you have a
community around you, when youhave friends who are.

(48:21):
who are on the same passion, onthe same high energy.
shift and things move.
And I managed to do my firstIronman in a first 70.
3 in 2009, and then Ironman 211.
basically I was not missingclimbing to be honest, because
that was, I was having so muchfun within this community.

(48:42):
I started ultra trail running.
Uh, running was a new thing forme.
Again, I'd done some runningbefore half marathons, but Long
endurance sports is somethingwhich I enjoy doing, because I
like, I figured that I likebeing outside.
I wanted to spend the day out.
So, as it was longer the day,the better for me.
if you would spend 12 hoursrunning around in the bush, I
would have you to do that ormoving around the mountains.

(49:04):
So all that kind of startedmanifesting into one into the
other because I had spent enoughtime climbing in my early days,
I still had a base of climbing,right?
of course I was not as good asearlier, but it doesn't matter
because it comes back to youpretty soon.
Uh, so I, I started dabblingback into climbing later on.
I mean, recently, a few yearsago.

(49:27):
So, uh, so I was, I was veryhappy to learn other things
nuances about open waterswimming, about ultra trail
running, about triathlons.
did a few mountaineeringexpeditions, which I had done
earlier.
So all that sort of, it was agreat thrill to keep moving back
and forth.
I really enjoyed this, this,combination that I could do what
I wanted.

(49:47):
If I was not feeling so greatabout one sport, I would just
move to the other.
And obviously I'm not, to behonest, Kush, I'm average or
below average at these sports.
I'm not highly competitive atsome great level or anything,
but then at least I enjoyedwhatever base level I can
practice it and it's, it's beensuper for that.
I'm grateful that I couldactually move, do other things

(50:08):
and do a combination of thingswhenever, however opportunity I
would get and, I have a muchwider community now, where I
can, when I feel like trailrunning, I have a trail running
friends to go with, if I have toswim, I have a swimming friends
to go with.
That's been great.
You know, it's been, uh, it'sbeen fun.
do that.

Kush (50:27):
I love what you said about, finding joy in being a
beginner.
I found that true in my life aswell, where, uh, sometimes
climbing has become lessimportant and I've picked up
other things and it's oftenbecause I also find joy in In
growth and progress andsometimes that excitement in one

(50:50):
thing fades and something elsecomes up and I'm able to find
reward in learning and findingsomething new about myself
through that sport.
You didn't just discover thesenew things and dabble in them.
You took them to some newfrontiers.
For example, so many differentthings you've done, but for

(51:12):
example, So you went and swamacross the English channel,
which I think is something socool and different.How was s the
experience of projecting thatventure?
Were there other people outthere with similar aspirations
as you?

(51:33):
And also, do you think yourtraining and lessons in becoming
one of India's best climbers atthat time help you prepare for
swimming across the, uh, thechannel?

Mohit (51:49):
Kush, my journey for swimming actually started with
triathlons.
Like I said, I wanted to do theIronman triathlon.
India is not, is not completelyswimming friendly country that
way.
There are not many peopleswimming as much, maybe in the U
S or abroad where you havecoaches and systems and squads
and swim squads.
And in Delhi the pools close Sixmonths a year they shut because

(52:13):
we don't have heated pools.
We don't, there's a bigchallenge to be stuck in India,
uh, as you would know, to pursuethese things.
So one has to be an extra,either on an extra passionate
drive, find ways to do, youknow, like, like for channel for
open water swimming, we found alake close to Delhi.
Fortunately, I mean, this isjust God sent is, is, is a huge
open water lake.

(52:34):
So I used to say my pool isnever closed.
you know, I can swim throughoutthe year because otherwise you
can only swim six months a yearin Delhi if you go to a pool.
Uh, so that started my journeyfor open water swimming because
I really liked not being in thebox, literally, pun unintended,
you know, of swimming pool, butbeing out in the wild water.

(52:54):
And my inspiration for a lot ofthese journeys And adventures
come from earlier used to comeby from books.
Now it comes from podcasts andother things.
I will read a lot of books.
I read this book about uh,swimming to Antarctica of Lynn
Cox, who was a legend and openwater swimming in California
based.
And I read about her journeysand how they, she would swim in

(53:17):
the, to cross the Catalinachannel and train as a 13 year
old, 12 year old.
So inspired me.
I was like, And I want to dothis.
This is, this is so cool.
And, uh, I don't think I was, tobe honest, I was not the right
candidate to be crossing in theEnglish channel, but then, uh, I
did it as a, so I want to do asa solo, which is how it's, you

(53:40):
know, the real way of doing it.
But then I was like, a friend ofmine suggested, why don't you do
it as a relay swim initially,and then do a solo and, and like
things conspire, right.
In the universe to make thingshappen I found this, uh,
international relay team, whichhas been led by this legendary
Chloe McAddle.
She's the queen of the channel,done 41 crossings of the English

(54:01):
channel.
She's from Australia and she wasleading a national team which I
joined and I trained for a year.
And to be honest, I was quite,as the day approached closer,
there were a lot of challenges.
One is the cold water challengeof the English channel, which we
don't find in India because inDelhi, the water is cold only in
the winter.

(54:21):
for like two months.
Cold means 15 degrees and less,which is what, 60 Fahrenheit.
But then, uh, as the summerprogresses and the channel only
warms up in June and July.
And again, like I said, onething is swimming and the other
thing is you have a wholesubsport called the channel
swimming because there's so manynuances around channel swimming.
You don't have the neat tide oryou have a spring tide.

(54:43):
What is the best time to go?
Who's your channel pilot?
How are you going to swim?
What time you have to go?
What is the cold water training?
So.
Fortunately, I found my bodyphysiology adapted very well
with, with cold water, which Idiscovered, or maybe it was just
my head.
I don't know.
I think, through the winter Icould swim without a swimsuit
because you don't have a, youdon't, the channel rule says

(55:05):
that you don't swim without a,you have to do it like a normal
at a spring day, kind of with asmall swimsuit and with a single
cap.
with no other protective gear.
So that was a whole learningexperience again about channel
swimming, you know, which iscalled the Everest of open water
swimming.
this time I was very nervousbecause I felt my preparation
was not up to there because Iwas never really a swimmer

(55:27):
swimmer, right?
This is some sport I've taken upnow and I've decided to go to
the pinnacle of, of that sport.
the so called pinnacle.
Uh, so I was quite nervous.
and, uh, for the first time Ihad a few sleepless nights.
Normally I don't get thatanxiety, but because I felt this
is completely out of my comfortzone.
but you absolutely bang on.

(55:48):
my lessons from climbing, I findthat because you can climb, you
can do track climbing and be,you know, do some, uh, multi
pitch or single pitch trackclimbing.
It works.
There's no spot which comparesto that.
If you can manage your headdoing first ascent, ground up,
trad climbing, you can manage alot of these other sports, uh,

(56:09):
just mentally.
So for me, that lessons comingout of climbing has been very
valuable.
because, uh, that has helped meto prepare for, you know, in
triathlon, if I do the Ironmantriathlon, it's not life
threatening anyway, right?
I you can stop, you can justbail out if you want to, and
you're not, you're not, you'renot going to die.

(56:29):
When you try climbing ground up,60 feet, your gear rips, or you
took a bad decision, you couldactually hit the ground.
So keeping that, my early daysof climbing has probably helped
me find that some of these othersports are not, are manageable.
I'm not saying easy, but I'msaying they're manageable.
So, uh, I, I always compare itto, Climbing, uh, triad on, on,

(56:54):
uh, you know, could be bad rockor could be, could be
unprotected gear.
And the decisions you make thereare very, uh, basically life
lessons, right?
and that's how I think I canmanage to do some of the other
sports, even ultra running, youknow, the maximum what happens,
you get tired, you just stop,right?
I mean, there's nothing.
crazy going on, unless you areon some bridge which you get

(57:14):
stormed on or, but then again,those decisions you take there.
So certainly climbing, hashelped to push boundaries in
some of these spots.

Kush (57:24):
I read, uh, Lynn Cox's book on swimming across
Antarctica as well, maybe over,uh, 15 years ago or so, but I
did not aspire to do anythinglike that.
Mo where do you find the driveand the dedication to realize

(57:44):
these?
audacious goals.
Is it something about yourpersonality?
Maybe if I was to go back andask your parents about Mo being
a young kid, was there somethingabout you that sets you apart a
little bit where you could gofrom, let's say, not even

(58:08):
knowing how to swim in a countryquite far away from the English
channel to actually learning,preparing, and completing that
kind of goal.
What is it do you think aboutyou that, helps you realize
these things?

Mohit (58:26):
I just get very excited when I get some of these goals.
They just kind of have this.
I just get very into, I don'tknow what happens.
I, I, I, firstly, I'm a verygoal oriented person.
in my mind, I create this goal.
I don't know, maybe I keepthinking of over and over again,
or maybe over the years, I thinkover it.
It's not like it happens over aperiod, like over a few weeks or

(58:47):
months, maybe it does.
And I, once I think about it, itkeeps rotating in my head I just
get this.
excitement within myself, thenwhy this experience would be so
exciting and the journey or the,or the experience or the
learning, which I will have willbe very rewarding.
maybe it's that because I'malways have some goal in mind,

(59:08):
whatever happens, even now Ihave got like multiple goals for
the whole year already.
One is not even started and I'mtalking about the third or the
fourth goal, what I'm going todo after this, and.
I take them pretty seriously.
When I plan these, I'm very keenthat I'm, and I find a sense of,
I don't know, once I do thisgoal, I don't, I sometimes don't

(59:28):
even feel like talking about it.
I rarely talk about it to peopleor write about it too much, or
even, you know, because I thinkit's, it's, it's not like it's a
tick mark.
It's, it's basically, I've, I'veexperienced it.
It's over.
How do I, There's always thenext going on in my head.
I don't know how that, whatdrives it.

(59:48):
I think it's just excitement,new experiences, new learnings,
something like that.
Because I, as a child, I mean, Iwouldn't get excited about
things.
I was not an overachiever oranything.
It's a very ordinary, in termsof academics and everything
else.
But in terms of outdoors, I getsuper excited because I think I
just like being outdoors.
And then just the excitement ofworking towards this goal is

(01:00:11):
another, towards the journeytowards these goals is more
important, of course, becauseyou learn so much, you do so
much, you plan, And I get this,and frighteningly, I get
sometimes, like my wife wouldsay, I'll get this crazy tunnel
vision that I would not even, Imean, sometimes I feel it's
crazy that I just think over andover and over and over about

(01:00:33):
this, only this massive, it'snot even, you know, just this
thing, which is probably goingto happen six months from now.
So.
Uh, which can be quiteirritating, I'm sure for other
people around, uh, but, uh, butyeah, I mean, I don't know how
to explain it.
I think it's just the fun ofdoing stuff, maybe.

Kush (01:00:54):
It's so badass.
You were preparing andaccomplishing these outstanding
projects.
I am guessing that you did nothave many contemporaries.
Like you, who were pursuingthese different kinds of.
large projects in the outdoors.

(01:01:16):
do you think you were findingother people to train with for
doing things like these iron mantrips or swimming across the
English channel back in the day?
And then I will tack on.
A second question, which isperhaps there were people out
there who may have started onsome of these, uh, projects with

(01:01:39):
you, but didn't see them throughto the end of the day.
What are a couple of things thatyou did or do differently that
have allowed you to succeed?
And continue at a high levelwhere perhaps your
contemporaries have not donebecause like I said, they're not

(01:02:02):
many people like you who arepursuing these large audacious
goals with your level ofperformance and intensity.

Mohit (01:02:11):
Kush, once I conceive some kind of goal in my head,
some kind of a project, I getobsessive about it.
I think that is something whichhappens to be, I think about it
all the time, I plan, I'mplotting, I'm, that's part of my
personality, probably, it's justthat I'm working towards it,
whether people are with me, notwith me, and I also find that

(01:02:32):
people join up, the universecollides, right?
If you want something reallybad, colludes to get things
together, I mean, I believethat, that happens, you meet
people who help you on thatjourney.
I think if you believe insomething really, a lot, then
you will end up with people whoare going to be helping you
towards going there.
And a lot of positive peoplecome across.

(01:02:53):
And I find if you surroundyourself with positive, you
connect with positive energy.
And I think that helps, thatreally helps connecting with
positive people.
You know, people don't startyour journey by saying, oh, you
can't do this, or, this isbullshit.
You don't even how to swim.
You don't even know how to dothis.
How are you gonna do that?
I think I, I automaticallyconnect with very positive
people, uh, or they come acrossin my goals, or I see them as

(01:03:16):
positive energy.
I think that energy helps tosort of propel yourself.
If you, if I, like, I calledyou, I'm gonna go and climb L
Cap.
I'm like, oh, I'm gonna driveyou there.
Or what else can I do help youout?
I'm just giving an example.
this is positive energy, right?
You know, people are saying, oh,how you can't climb this?
What are you gonna do?
What's the point of coming is awaste of money.

(01:03:37):
I'm just giving you an examplehere.
So what, like even the English,I mean, I.
No man, you can do it eventhough there's poor training
ground in Delhi where we can'tbicycle more than a couple of
hours without getting bashedaround in the traffic or we
don't have a pool to swim in.
We found a lake, right?
We found ways to do things.

(01:03:57):
So I think meeting positivepeople also propels you in the
journey.
and even if I wanted to do mywalk across the Himalayas, I
always had these friends and whocame together or I had met
people who got driven in thewake of this excitement.
They actually started helpingout.
So this is not something you doalone.

(01:04:18):
This is something you drive yourenergy and then you hit
positive.
Positive vibes.
And then, take them forward toconclude whatever you're doing.
At least give it a good shotbecause I don't put crazy
pressure on myself to dosomething.
I'm not, you know, this is do ordie.
This is it.
No, it's, it's, we give it agood shot.

(01:04:39):
We give it a good attempt.
so I think planning well andthen meeting positive people
around a positive communityaround whatever, I think it's a
very big factor, Kush, to, tomake things happen.
I think that's, that's somethingI think opens, In each and every
case, whatever project I pickup, I am, always along the path

(01:05:00):
where I meet positive people andthey kind of help put this
energy, you know, it multipliesyour energy into getting these
projects done.
So I think that could be a bigfactor playing in, actually
making some things happen.

Kush (01:05:13):
one puts positive energy out in the world and through,
you know, these karmic forces,those energies.
Come back if one's intentionsare authentic and they come from
the heart, that question I hadabout some things you're doing.
which might be different, whichhave allowed you to succeed.

(01:05:34):
Is it also Mohit the way youhave organized your life and
your career?
Because yes, you have a careerand you support your family.
How has designing your lifeappropriately allowed you and
continues to allow you to pursuethese Honestly, very resource

(01:05:58):
and time intensive goals.

Mohit (01:06:01):
one very big factor is, Annie, my wife is a very big
support on this.
she understands when I, youknow, I don't, I'm not trying to
hide any goals with her.
I tell her this is what's goingto happen.
This is what I want to do.
I mean, she's a positive energythat she's saying, yeah, I mean,
she's not even saying yes or no.
She's know, she already knowsit's going to happen.
know, she'll make it happen.

(01:06:21):
So that becomes like I said, apositive force to make it
happen.
And then, there is no resistanceyou know, I don't have to fight
that part at all.
And there is an adjustment to,okay, I'm going to be out for 40
days.
And.
How are we going to work aroundthat?
there's already a plan being setaround that.
When is a good time to go whento not harm other interests, you

(01:06:42):
know, looking after the familyor any other thing could happen.
So that, that I think helps, uh,so a good life partner, helping
you on the quest to achieve whatyou want to do is very
important, uh, Kush, becausewithout that, I think half the
battle is lost or half thebattle is won.
That's, that's super support.
And, uh, I appreciate that alot.

(01:07:04):
once that happens, then you canalways work the work part around
and depends what your prioritiesare and see how, what is the
best time to, it's not a rashthing that you just take off and
let everything drop on the way.
And then of course that'llbecome a mess then.
So you obviously have to timeyour goals or your time, your
time, time it well.
So it doesn't has a minimumimpact on other things.

(01:07:27):
which is happening in your life.
So when you pick those goals,you should see what is, what is
the right time.
Is it going to six months fromnow, two months from now, 11
months from now, or whenever, sothat you are in preparation.
Plus you are able to minimizethe impact of your disappearing
for this time on other factors,which are going to happen.
So I think that, throughdiscussion, through thinking and

(01:07:49):
being a little, having a littlevery clear understanding,
anticipating of what the nextmonth or six months or one year
is going to be like, of course,I mean, anything is not perfect,
but then you need to, of course,have a trade off and see what is
the minimum impact it's going tocause for your disappearing.
so that's how that's why I tryand work that out.

Kush (01:08:10):
Setting upp the right structures, indeed is that,
sometimes unseen and, invisiblelayer that helps us continue to,
uh, progress towards our, uh,goals.
And I think that is obviouslytrue with you, with your outdoor
goals, but I think it is, yes,it is certainly true.

(01:08:33):
in life as well.
Changing tracks a little bit,wanted to get a deeper look into
how you train and prepare forsome of these goals.
it might help us if we take anupcoming goal of yours.
So I know that you have spokenof doing this attempting this t
known time FKT Ultra along withSuri, where you are planning on,

(01:08:59):
uh, tagging the seven summitsand the Himalayas covering a
long distance.
So if you can quickly tell uswhat that goal is and then how
are you preparing yourself forit?

Mohit (01:09:13):
This was conceived last year when my friends, two other
friends who live in, uh, thelocal area where I'm going to
run and walk with them.
we've been talking about it andwe timed it for this year.
basically, when it's going to beultra trail running, then I
shift my focus on that goal.
Like a few months, then only Ihave goals, which are generally

(01:09:36):
for, you know, I preparedepending how big the goal is
between four or six months.
I don't keep it for very long.
not a year generally, but sixmonths, I would then shift my
sport.
If I'm inclining, if I have arunning goal.
I will change it six months orfour months before just running
more working towards that anddrop the other sports, not

(01:09:57):
completely, but put them on theback burner.
So maybe climb once a week oronce, twice a week and run four
times a week and weight liftfour times a week or five times
a week or three times a week toprepare for that goal.
So I would put those othersports in back burner, work on
the sport, which I'm planning mygoal for, if it's going to be a
swim, then I will change it toswimming.

(01:10:18):
depending how long the swim isgoing to be.
you do six weeks or four weeksbecause I already have a base
for most of these sports.
So for me to shift, I don't haveto keep doing it all through the
year.
I can actually drop a sport,keep it off, back burner for six
months.
Uh, running is something I'mmaintaining now just for health
and fitness, uh, as a basesport, uh, drop my mileage due

(01:10:41):
when I'm doing other stuff.
to a few 30 kilometers or 40kilometers a week.
So that just to base maintainbase fitness, but if I'm going
to practice for the ultra runnow I've already started working
last three almost two months orthree months 12 weeks Uh, I
think I find is sufficient forme to pull through this kind of
an effort So that's what I woulddo.

(01:11:03):
So it's like a periodic cycling,right?
I would prioritize it, right?
Prioritizing the sport my goalis going to be for and work on
it.
Say six months or four months,depending on how much or how big
the goal is.
after this, I'm going off tocycling in Sri Lanka for But
that's more of a leisure thingfor about, oh, 500 kilometers
across the country, but that'snot, again, I haven't cycled

(01:11:25):
much for very long, but it's notgoing to be a big, like we're
not going to cycle aggressivedistances.
So I know my base fitness forcycling because I've done it
over the years so much, quite alot.
I I'm confident that it'll notbe a problem.
No, maybe the first day in thesaddle is going to be a bit
sore, but after that it'll be,uh, I'll be fine.
So now I've developed thatlittle confidence.

(01:11:46):
I hope it's not over confidence,but it's confidence enough to
say if I've put in certain timein the certain sport, I'll be
able to get to this level, toachieve and conclude that goal.
so, uh, the seven summitstacking is an FKT, which we
very interesting.
We have to do a lot of rootfindings, a lot of new terrain,
uh, could be some urban areas.
We go through some roads, butit's, it's super exciting.

(01:12:09):
There's a big question mark onhow we gonna link up.
and the exciting part is soclose to Delhi.
I'm going to be doing over theweekend.
It's not that I have to taketime off.
I'm going to the Easter weekendand we run it over Easter
weekend.
And I like these small, shortgoals, which short periods of
time I can disappear.
but get a bang for the buck by,by doing these smaller, uh,

(01:12:31):
smaller days out, but long,long, but smaller days out of
home.

Kush (01:12:35):
Absolutely.
The foundation of preparationand of multiple seasons engaged
in, let's say climbing orrunning or.
maybe bicycling coming up foryou.
those add up and maybe that'smaybe one benefit of getting
older is one doesn't have tobuild that base.

(01:12:58):
fitness over and over.
It stays with, with us, gettingthe brass tacks a little bit,
love to hear how youspecifically prepare for this
project in terms of how muchmileage you're putting in a
week.
What does, let's say a typicalday in your life look like?

(01:13:19):
What are you eating to make sureyou're fueled for both the
training as well as the, uh,time when you're actually going
to be running.
One of my memories from my tripin Delhi last year and, uh,
spending time with you was wewent to the climbing gym in
Delhi and, uh, we put in amorning climbing session.

(01:13:44):
It was a fun, robust session.
We put in a few hours boulderingand then you dropped me back.
But then right after that, youwere heading off.
So I was quite, impressedbecause I was already sore from

(01:14:04):
that morning's climbing and Iwas happy to go home and, uh,
maybe, uh, eat something, maybestretch, maybe take a nap, but
then you were just moving on.
Do the next thing.
And it was only, yeah, it wasonly early afternoon.
So I'm guessing you are able tocombine multiple activities, not

(01:14:25):
just in one week, but within aday.
So yeah, please give us a senseof your day to day preparation
and your diet and some of yourmaintenance to be fit and
ready.,

Mohit (01:14:40):
Kush, I do put in some long days sometimes On Sunday,
which is two days ago, I wouldspend the whole day out.
I ran in the morning with mywife, Annie, five miles.
Then I drove to the lake wherewe ran another, uh, four miles,
swam for about two kilometers.
Then ran back four miles andthen, I thought I would put in

(01:15:02):
some climbing, which I did notdo.
was a whole day spent outbasically.
because that's something you'rereplicating what I would do when
I would be on this, uh, FKTattempt.
I'd be out for 10, 12 hours,right?
during the day I would carrysome bars or maybe prepare the
breakfast or carry, some kind ofnutrition during the day.
So it's kind of.
not the same intensity, eventhough I'm doing different

(01:15:25):
sports, but what I would do ismimic a whole day out, where I'm
just having fun.
You know, we swam, we ran, weran twice a day, almost, uh,
and, uh, twice in that day,double, double, uh, workouts,
through trail running.
And then, so this is something Ienjoy doing, actually mixing up
the sports.
Some days I would run, 10 milesand then go climb in the

(01:15:46):
afternoon and then follow itwith the swim.
This is not every day, but on aweekend like a Sunday, I would
just enjoy doing that kind ofstuff on a normal week, weekday,
I would put in my runningmileage, maybe 40 miles a week.
And then, but I did make thevery conscious effort this time
last six weeks to actually liftweights.

(01:16:07):
So I think weight training atthis age, and I, I know earlier,
podcast, which you've talkedsome serious proper athletes
have talked about, I think thatis something which is, important
as we aging is to actually buildmuscle, strengthen the muscle.
So strength training issomething I'm going to
prioritize, along with anythingelse I do.

(01:16:27):
And everyone talks about it andI believe in it too, because I
see the difference when I don't.
and I do some of the trail runs.
This time I experimentedactually on myself, which is
experimental just to experiment.
I did, uh, 60 kilometers.
train run in January.
And before that, I'd spend eightweeks with, you know, 40, 50

(01:16:48):
mile weeks, uh, straight foreight weeks, but I didn't lift
any weights just to experimenthow that would work.
And I felt I did not feel asstrong after that run as I would
have.
I did win an earlier runs, butI'd actually put in less miles
of running, but also included myweight training sessions, just,
just, I just wanted to see howthat works.

(01:17:09):
And I could see that by.
finish at the end of the 60kilometer run was not as strong
or I did not feel as good as Idid when I put in the weight
training.
So that, that's another case oranother person telling you that
strength training is importantprioritize as we age.
I think that's very important.
I don't think it's only aboutage.
I think even for youngerathletes, I think drop, dropping

(01:17:32):
the mileage, putting thestrength actually made, I felt
much stronger.
This is what I prioritize for myrun, even this week.
So this weekend I was like, Imust put in the weight training
and the mileage can actually bea little less.
It's, it's not, it's still goingto pull me through.

Kush (01:17:48):
Mo, that is certainly insightful and sounds like you
have used both externallearnings and also your own
experiences to inform yourtraining.
You are able to calibrate whatyou do, how you do it in order
to be prepared.

(01:18:08):
I am wondering if you've everhad Any big setbacks or injuries
that were difficult to come backfrom?
That is one question.
The second question I thought Iwould add on is between that
spectrum of talent and hardwork, where do you think you

(01:18:32):
lie?
Are you able to continueperforming at this high level
because you believe you'regifted?
Or do you think it's by thesheer dint of, hard work?

Mohit (01:18:47):
Kush, the, to answer your first part of the question is
that, basically, yes, that'strue.
That one is working a littlemore or differently now as one
would, I was doing it maybe 10,15 years ago.
I feel I'm getting actuallystronger.
then I was off fitter and I wasmaybe 15 years ago.

(01:19:07):
if I train something well,because I think I'm training
more wisely now.
I'm recovering better as a youngperson.
Even I see my sons, they wouldjust climb like mad and not
recover at all.
Now, I think I'm more patientwith my recovery part.
If I need recovery days, I takethat extra recovery days because
that's why when you getstronger, right?
So I am Feeling much better thanwhat I was doing a few years ago

(01:19:30):
Maybe 10 years ago because oftraining a little more wisely
i'm using my head a little moreMuch more I would think which
also includes that I'm includeda few things like I'm working
with a physio who I regularlyvisit once in four to five
weeks, even if I don't have anissue I would go back because
this is something I did not do Ihad a debilitating Elbow

(01:19:52):
tendonitis what is calledgolfer's elbow when I was
climbing about 20 years ago Andthat completely stopped me from
even climbing because it was sopainful that in that time, there
was very low information as youwould know about elbow and
climbing injuries, climbingrelated injuries.
Now you have a host ofinformation and podcasts and

(01:20:13):
doctors and research.
20 years ago, 25 years ago,there was, Just some articles
written here and there and onehad to manage.
I, even ended up takingcortisone injections, which was
wrong.
It brought back the injury rightaway.
So that stopped me for a few,for a bit, uh, which was elbow
tendonitis.
But now I've had some issueslike Achilles tendonitis.

(01:20:37):
two years ago when I wasrunning, but I've been working
with a very good physio.
Uh, I go to him four or fivetimes once in four or five weeks
and we work through theinjuries.
I'm managing to solve thatproblem before it becomes too
much.
Right now I'm battling a bit ofa irritated rotator cuff because
of, because I was climbing andswimming a lot.
last winter, a couple of monthsago, I was close to the sea.

(01:20:58):
So I was putting in a few milesof swimming a day and that is
not.
Sunni and climbing don't go verywell together in terms of
shoulder stability.
This is what I think, at leastlong distance swimming.
that is irritating me nowworking with that on it.
So moment I'm constantly workingon putting the niggles, away,
not stopping me from completelydoing something.

(01:21:20):
if I have a problem with myshoulder or something, I would
just switch to cycling.
or I would switch to runningmore let the physio happen with
my shoulder so that doesn't gettaxed rather than beating up my
shoulder by climbing again andagain or go stand up paddle
boarding or kayaking orsomething which is going to hurt
the shoulder more.
So that switch I'm willing tomake.

(01:21:40):
I'm willing to compromise andsay, okay, my shoulder's
hurting, don't climb so much, dothe physio, do something else.
And I'm happy with that becauseI'm happy doing any activity.
So it doesn't really, the switchis not such a compromise.
I don't, I don't find it acompromise.
Of course you find that, Oh, Iwas supposed to do this project
this winter and it's nothappened, blah, blah, blah,

(01:22:01):
whatever is sad.
I mean, I should be climbingthat.
But I don't mind that anymore.
The fact I'm grateful that I canactually make the switch and
happy that I can at least dothat, uh, keeps me grounded.
I don't, I don't, I think theseare, these are minor problems.
So, uh, making the switchacceptance that yes, this

(01:22:23):
activity will have to be myproject.
Red point project for thiswinter is not going to happen
this winter because of myshoulder or maybe make it worse
if I'm trying to do it, uh, isnot such an upsetting thing
anymore.
Earlier, I would probably broodover it and be not care about it
or keep throwing myself at it.
But now I don't, I make theswitch pretty, pretty fast, uh,

(01:22:45):
and, and, and enjoy the processactually of doing other stuff.
So I think that, that is helpingout in terms of, uh, uh, that,
you know, keeping the regularityof your physio going.
keeping a check on the body isprobably what's because I'm
aiming here is what islongevity, right?
What is my goal right now islongevity is how I can keep an

(01:23:08):
active lifestyle for as much asI can do.
Uh, so that's the game.
That's the, that's the end game.
Actually, really,

Kush (01:23:22):
I would have to agree.
Yes, the end game absolutely isstaying healthy.
Yeah, it's not just livinglonger, but also living
healthfully where We are able tocontinue doing things that we
love and I can see that you'reaccomplishing that in two
significant ways.

(01:23:42):
One is being aware of what'sgoing on with your body and your
mind and seeing specialists.
As you need to look after thingsbefore they become, you know,
nightmares.
And the second is you haveconsciously, over the years,
added diversity to yourdisciplines.

(01:24:05):
Where if, let's say somebodyjust rock climbs and gets a hurt
finger or an elbow, or ashoulder issue, one is, uh,
relegated to, uh, to the benchand has to stop what they're
doing.

(01:24:25):
You on the other hand haveother, uh, activities that you
can jump into activities thatyou are equally inspired by and
you have goals with, and I thinkmaybe having that diversity not
only allows you to switchbetween different sports to
allow your body to heal, butmaybe also refreshes your

(01:24:47):
mindset in a way where you takesome time off running or, or
maybe climbing.
And when you get back to it.
I think the excitement certainlyhelps.
I think, I know it helps me whenI am on a long break from
climbing these days.
I think the break actually helpsme refresh my body, of course,

(01:25:09):
but also my mind as well, whereI think.
I'm starting to get excited byeven simple trips to climb
easier grades, but just get backon the outside and enjoy moving
on the rock again.
And some of those basic things,those gifts of climbing that I
forget, because sometimes Likeall of us, I started obsessing

(01:25:32):
about performance and gradesand, uh, taking a break has me
get back to, uh, thosegrassroots moving on more.
What is maybe one thing you arenot good at and, uh, wish you
were.

Mohit (01:25:49):
I think I'm not, uh, very good at prioritizing things I
want to do.
And I keep, uh, I need toprioritize, uh, certain things,
which, which.
is what I want to get better atis to prioritize, uh, not just
work, but just my, whatever mygoals are.
Sometimes I keep, uh, I don'tprioritize it well, and that's,

(01:26:13):
that's something that you'd wantto do.
And, uh, of course, there'ssome, another thing, which in
terms of sport, purely in sport,if you're asking, I want to be a
better swimmer.
I think my technique is sohorrible, and I've been working
on years and years, trying tobetter my technique on swimming,
I just feel I should get betterat that.
That's something I, I thinkwould help me to achieve my, uh,

(01:26:33):
some long, uh, longstandinggoals.
And that's, that's something Iwould want to do.
So,

Kush (01:26:39):
We procrastinate things that we don't enjoy doing.
I certainly have a list ofthings that I need to get around
to, but I can't.
easily seem to.
And then, yeah, I think it goeson to your humility that you
have these swimming related,records to your credit, but the

(01:27:00):
journey to get better, uh, thatjourney, uh, is limitless.
More in the last five or soyears, what New belief,
behavior, or habit has mostimproved your life.

Mohit (01:27:17):
Kush, one of the things I've last five years, especially
has been, is to prioritize, ahealthy and active life.
I think more than, uh, my,career path or trying to earn
more money or trying to get morematerial gains or anything if I,
would want to get is nowactually to spend time with

(01:27:39):
friends, value thoserelationships with family, value
those bonds we've done, maintainthose bonds, much more than what
I would want it, which I woulddo earlier.
And of course, uh, keep a questfor an active life while
prioritizing those relationshipsalso.
So it's not that we're dropping,just trying to tick off these

(01:28:00):
goals.
if you might want to call it atick, at the cost of
relationships.
Relationships matter as much ormuch more than achieving any of
these goals I've set out to do.

Kush (01:28:14):
You are in your 50s now, and I want to know exactly how
old are you, but do you thinkyou are aging well?

Mohit (01:28:26):
So born in 1968, Kush, when anyone asks me how old am
I, I'm saying born in 68.
So they need to do thecalculation and the maths.
whatever that is.
I think so.

Kush (01:28:36):
And, uh, are you aging well?
Are you prepared for the nextcouple of decades?

Mohit (01:28:45):
to be honest, I don't even know I'm going to survive
next couple of decades.
I don't plan that long.
I plan for the next goal and notfor the years.
I feel I have an active life.
I'm able to, uh, do whatever Iwant to do at least whatever my
desire in doing outdoor sports,uh, in terms of activities is

(01:29:07):
good.
It's progressing well.
In terms of decades, I don'tknow.
I, I live pretty much by my nextgoal.
I don't, I don't look so much inthe future.
So my goals in the next,whatever my outdoor goals in the
next four months or six monthsis what I, I'm happy to just go
by that and not worry about theyears after or forget decades.

(01:29:30):
I mean, that's, that's too longfor me to plan.
So take it step by step.
and just keep moving.
Yeah.
That's, that's, that's themantra for now.

Kush (01:29:39):
Any, uh, regrets or I should say, biggest sacrifices
to achieve this life?

Mohit (01:29:47):
Not really, not really in terms of regrets, no regrets.
I mean, one did whatever wasbest in those circumstances, I
think.
So in terms of, you know, Icould have done that or I could
have done this or X, Y, Z ismeaningless because I'm sure at
that time, whatever decision wastaken, it was taken keeping in
mind, uh, what are the best,what are the circumstances?

(01:30:07):
I have zero regrets in the, inthat terms.
And I don't, I don't know what,what one means by sacrifice to
be, to be honest.
I mean, uh, everything is a costto the other, right?
But then you feel that if it's abalanced, way you've dealt with,
then it's fine.
Of course, I feel that sometimesI could have done my, my part of

(01:30:27):
my business better, or I couldhave grown it to a large extent,
but then this is a decision I'vetaken right to prioritize my.
Outdoor projects more than, andfamily more than my business
pursuits.
So that's, again, I wouldn'tcall it a sacrifice.
I would say we took the bestdecision possible at that point
of time.

(01:30:47):
And that's what, that's all itmatters really, rather than
looking back and saying, I couldhave done this or that, but that
cannot change anyway.

Kush (01:30:56):
When we recently hung out at Suruf Fest in Ladakh, and I
know that when you generally goclimbing or doing these sports,
you're surrounded by a lot ofyoungsters who are also doing
these sports.
And when some of these, Youngathletes come to you and they
ask you on some things theyshould be doing so they can

(01:31:21):
achieve some of the successesthat you have.
What is one piece of advice thatyou pass on to them?

Mohit (01:31:29):
piece of advice I always say is maybe that's something
which they, maybe need toreflect.
They probably reflect on data orthey don't understand at that
point.
I'm not sure is whatever you'redoing is do it with the right
intention.
You know, your intention is toenjoy climbing, is to push your
limits while you're being in theoutdoors and enjoying these

(01:31:51):
great outdoors and keep that asyour larger goal than just
pushing grades or just trying toclimb this problem or that
problem or that project.
So if one has that largerpicture in mind, you can end up
not only doing your projects,but actually doing a lot more
with yourself.
when I say this to someone, thismight not seem very, uh, not

(01:32:14):
seem like a very, concrete orsome magic pill I'm trying to
give them, which is probablywhat they expect.
it is something I'm sure somepeople reflect on data and like
one, I hope they reflect on itand see what I meant by that.
So this is my advice to them ishave the best time, do whatever
is possible, and while keepingyour intentions very clear, why

(01:32:35):
are you doing that?
So this is, this is what I tellthem.

Kush (01:32:40):
Super, super.
When you look back at some ofthese things you have done,
obviously you inspire a lot ofpeople, myself included more in
so many ways.
What or who inspires you to keeppushing yourself?

Mohit (01:32:59):
I get inspired a whole lot of people.
I get actually inspired by allkinds of my contemporaries.
I got inspired by people in thepast, people I wouldn't have
known.
Books I've read, podcasts Ihear.
So my inspirations come from allkinds of people who are doing
badass stuff.
I mean, uh, uh, it's not someone person or one, Figure, you

(01:33:20):
know, if I, if I read an ErnestShackleton book, which I read
probably 13, 25 years ago, itprobably inspires me.
If I read a Lynne Cox book, justswim in the Antarctic and it
inspired me.
So I keep picking upinspirations by what other
people do.
It could be random people, couldbe random books.
Not random people, but peoplewho achieve big things.
Uh, so my inspiration, Iconstantly keep getting inspired

(01:33:42):
by even young athletes now whoare doing boulders or anything
else.
So my inspirations are all thesepeople.
It's not just one particularperson or one particular climber
or swimmer or runner or, youknow, like Koti Dovalta is doing
a lot of stuff in ultra runningnow.
I get inspired by her, but Ialso get inspired by the
Tarahumara runners who are Youknow, we're running years ago.

(01:34:05):
And I think connecting with thispositive energies is what, uh,
where I get my inspiration from.

Kush (01:34:10):
Thank you Mo.
When are we seeing you next inCalifornia for your, uh, next
attempt on, uh, climbing thenose in, uh, Yosemite?

Mohit (01:34:23):
Kush, I hope, I hope to be there next May, May of 2025.
Uh, it's probably going to bethe year which, uh, I want to
get Annie over also.
So that's why I'm waiting forher visa to be done.
She can also come and, uh, maybewe can drink a celebratory beer
on the Acap Meadows, yeah, afterit's all done or not done.
It doesn't matter.

(01:34:44):
It's the same thing.
At least we tried.

Kush (01:34:47):
I cannot wait to see you back here again and, uh,
absolutely, uh, being able toenjoy our bodies and our lives
and get to climb and recreate inthese wild and beautiful places.
I think that is the, uh,

Mohit (01:35:02):
Absolutely.
Absolutely true.

Kush (01:35:04):
Well, thank you for, uh, the time today, Mo.
I know it's late your time, soI'll let you get, get to, uh,
your time resting.

Mohit (01:35:13):
Great.
Thank you, Kush.
And, uh, I've heard some of yourearlier podcasts I said, who
inspires me, some of your peoplewho are on your podcast inspire
me.
Great stuff.
I think keep up the good work.
I think you're doing an amazingjob.
Okay.
Cheers.
Good night.

Kush (01:35:31):
much appreciated.
Yeah, you have it folks.
Most incredible journey ofexploration and pushing
boundaries.
From his early days as a youngclimber in India.
To running iron man triathlonsto swimming across the English
channel and to.

(01:35:53):
His current, uh, exploits withfast backing and ultra running
across the Himalayas.
Most story is.
Powerful example of what'spossible when we embrace
challenges and dedicateourselves to learning
continuously.
One thing that really resonatedwith me.

(01:36:14):
Was Mohit account of trainingfor the English channel, swim in
the lakes near Delhi.
He did not let the lack of idealconditions or facilities holding
back.
He adapted improvised and madeit happen.
That's the kind ofresourcefulness and
determination.
We can all learn from.
What resonated with you?

(01:36:35):
I would love to hear that.
Please DM me or comment.
Let's not also forget mostopenness about his struggles and
setbacks, his vividness to sharethose experiences.
It reminds us that it does okay.
To be vulnerable, to makemistakes.
But to keep learning andgrowing.
Throughout life.
So as you wrap up this episode,I hope you are feeling inspired.

(01:36:59):
To embrace you.
On challenges.
Try new things.
And push the boundaries.
Remember, it's not too late.
To start something two.
rediscover a forgotten passion.
Thank you for joining us againon April athlete.
Please be sure to subscribe.

(01:37:20):
And share this episode withanyone who might need a little
inspiration.
If you haven't already, pleasealso check out our new YouTube
channel, where you can see allof these.
Create podcast interviews.
Live.
Until next time.
Keep exploring.
Keep pushing your limits and.

(01:37:43):
Staginess.

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#20 Mohit Oberoi - From Himalayan Summits to English Channel Swims, Defining Adventure Sports in a Country of One Billion

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}#20 Mohit Oberoi - From Himalayan Summits to English Channel Swims, Defining Adventure Sports in a Country of One Billion