Amreen Qadir, a 23-year-old master's student in English at the University of Ladakh, regularly climbs mountains near her village of Pashkum, located 2,900 meters above sea level in Kargil.
For the past four years, she has been trekking with two close friends, planning routes, checking weather, and timing their climbs.
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Due to the high cost and scarcity of professional gear, they use basic trousers, warm jackets, sports shoes, and hijabs.
Local community members and relatives often criticize the group for traveling to remote outdoor spaces.
However, the hikers find that the challenges teach them patience, resilience, and a deep appreciation for natural landscapes.
One notable five-hour trek involved navigating rocky slopes from Kargil up to Lankerchey Broq.
Reaching the summit offered a complete view of the valley, replacing physical exhaustion with a strong sense of achievement.
The mountain journeys provide the group a rare space to discuss future aspirations freely.
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Their goals include exploring Kargil and Ladakh before expanding their travels across India and other parts of the world.
Future Leadership and Community Transformation
Local family attitudes are gradually shifting, resulting in increased parental support and a rising interest in outdoor activities among young girls.
Qadir's own parents initially expressed safety concerns but now fully back her mountain excursions.
The experience aims to disprove common assumptions that young women from Kargil cannot simultaneously maintain their faith, ambition, and independence.
Hiking in a hijab serves as a way to combine personal faith with outdoor adventure.
Qadir aims to become a professional mountain guide to help visitors experience the local terrain, noting she has never encountered a female guide in the area.
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She also plans to pursue public leadership to advocate for safety, freedom, and independent opportunities for young women.
