From Baramulla to Hirpora, entrepreneur Zubair charts new paths in high-altitude exploration

Srinagar, Sep 7: Zubair Firdous, a dedicated trekker from Azad Gunj in Baramulla, has successfully completed his journey across more than 150 alpine lakes, emerging as one of Kashmir’s most accomplished adventure enthusiasts.

An MBA graduate from the University of Kashmir, Zubair is also the founder of Alpine Hikers, an adventure club that blends trekking with entrepreneurship, creating opportunities for organised expeditions and promoting sustainable adventure tourism in the region.

Zubair’s trekking journey began in 2014 while he was still in school, initially exploring meadows such as Gabiwar, Kongdori, and Danwas. In 2015, he undertook his first alpine lake trek to Tarsar Lake, igniting a lifelong passion for high-altitude exploration. By 2017, his Tarsar–Marsar expedition marked the true beginning of a dedicated pursuit of Kashmir’s alpine lakes. Over the next few years, he explored numerous lakes, including Alpather Lake in Gulmarg and the iconic lakes along the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, such as Gangbal, Nundkol, Satsar, Gadsar, Kishansar, and Vishansar.

Reaching each milestone became part of his journey. He visited his 50th alpine lake at Chuharnag 4 in Margan Top, the 100th at Lokut Sar (Badam Sar) during the Greater Lakes trek in Tosamaidan, and his 150th at Diya Sar in Hirpora in 2025. Since then, he has continued his expeditions, crossing 160 alpine lakes to date. In addition to lakes, Zubair has summited peaks such as Sunset Peak in the Pir Panjal range, Viji Peak in Baramulla, several peaks around Margan Top, and the Kolahoi base camp, while also visiting Barafsar, the highest alpine lake in the Kashmir Valley at over 4,600 meters.

Zubair’s journey is not just about adventure; it also reflects his entrepreneurial vision. Through Alpine Hikers, he has created a platform for organized trekking, promoting eco-tourism, local employment, and sustainable travel in the region. His expeditions, entirely self-funded, showcase a blend of passion, perseverance, and business acumen, demonstrating how adventure can be transformed into a structured enterprise that benefits both travelers and local communities.

Looking ahead, Zubair aims to explore all alpine lakes across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, before expanding his expeditions to Tibet and other international destinations. With a focus on responsible tourism and faith in Allah’s guidance, he hopes to elevate Kashmir’s adventure tourism sector to new heights, inspiring a generation of trekkers and entrepreneurs alike.

“Every lake and peak teaches patience and perseverance. My goal is to promote adventure tourism responsibly while creating opportunities for the local community,” Zubair Firdous said.