The Mountaineering & Trekking Club founded in 1971 was the forerunner of the Himalayan Explorers' Club (HEC). Between 1971 & 1974 the Institute Sports Association nurtured the Mountaineering & Trekking Club which fostered all mountaineering, trekking and outward bound activities amongst science, engineering and professional student community of the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. In July 1975 the first major high altitude expedition in the Himalayas was organized successfully in joint collaboration with the Nainital Mountaineering Club, Nainital. With effect from the academic session of1975-76, the Mountaineering and Trekking Club was rechristened as the Himalayan Explorers' Club (HEC). Between July 1976 and August 1977 , the HEC organized a series of three major expeditions in the Garhwal Himalayas (to Mt. Rudragaigra (19500 ft) in July 1976, to Mt. Thelu (20,000 ft) in October 1976 and to Mt. Kedar Dome (23,000 ft) in June 1977) in which as many as 35 students of the University of Roorkee participated. In the month of October 2017, HEC resumed its legacy of organizing Mountaineering Expedition by organizing Khal Pass Expedition (19500 ft) after a gap of 40 years. The club has taken a social initiative 'Mountain Cleaning Drive' effective from April 2017.