She is a 53-year-old senior bank manager. She is also married and has two children.
But none of these factors prove to be an obstacle for Mini Augustine to pursue her passion - climb the Himalayas.
Adventure has always beckoned Mini and trekking is one of her greatest passions. Whether it is climbing snow-clad mountains or skiing down the hills, Mini is the not the one to be left behind.
Born in Kottayam and brought up in Coimbatore, Mini has undertaken several adventurous trips. But a trip to the Himalayas on a bullet in 2017 tops the list.
“A trip to the Himalayas? Ain’t it easy?” she quipped.
Mini has already trekked to the Chanderkhani Pass in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. She had gone for the 10-day trekking with a group of 65 people. The oldest in the lot, Mini not only climbed the difficult paths with ease but also wooed the youngsters by the sheer passion she exuberated.
She went through Kasol, Graham, Padri and Mingthach and Nagaro camps to reach the Sur Pass, and said the journey was beyond her expectations. However, on the fourth day of her trip to Graham, she slipped and fell down. If not for some tree branches in between, she would have fallen into the river. That was the only scary part of the journey, Mini recounted. However, Mini was soon back on her feet and continued the journey with zest, proving to be an inspiration to the others in her team.
Climbing the Sur Pass, which is 13,800 feet above the sea level, was nothing short of a dream-come-true experience for her.
As the altitude increases, breathing problems and other illnesses begin to kick in along with the biting cold. However, for Mini these are just minor irritants that add more beauty to the adventure.
In 2017, at the age of 51, Mini had travelled through Manali to Sarchu and Khardung La Pass to reach Leh on her bullet. Her adventures made her a talking point back home.
The woman in her 50s still has the physical strength and the zest to climb the Himalayas again. She keeps herself fit through regular jogging and also does Suryanamaskar daily.
Mini works at the Chalappuram Canara Bank regional office near Kozhikode town.
Mini's husband Biju Paul is the assistant commissioner at central excise and customs department. Her son Kevin is a musician, while daughter Anne Elizabeth is pursuing MA in applied economics at Christ College in Bengaluru.
