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Rafting in the Zanskar: Rapids On Roof Of The World
Journalist Krishna Prasad wrote a hilarious personal account of his experience rafting in the Zanskar river, Ladakh back in 1997. The expedition was outfitted by Ibex Expeditions. Here’s a read.
Read More Rafting in the Zanskar: Rapids On Roof Of The World
Vintage Monday: Adventure in the Himalaya
Mandip Singh Soin writes about an epic journey he undertook with his college friends in May 1975—a 500km trek across four major passes in Ladakh, through snow, rock, sand and water, varying in altitudes from 12000 to 17000ft.
Antarctica Matters
In 1959, world governments came together to sign the Antarctic Treaty, to ensure that Antarctica was used only for peaceful and scientific research purposes. In 1991, they proposed a 50-year agreement, declaring the great white continent as a natural reserve, banning mining and drilling activity for mineral resources. Although Antarctica remains unexploited, we can see the effects of climate change through retreating glaciers and rising temperatures in the region.
After a successful launch in the International Year of Sustainable Tourism in March 2017, Ibex Expeditions has pledged to promote Antarctica as a destination, where the journey has a purpose–to create a movement of building awareness around protecting such pristine spaces. Join us for our next voyage to the last true wilderness on Earth.
Details here: https://www.ibexexpeditions.com/place/antarctica/
Adventure is His Business
The excitement and thrill of exploring distant lands an mountains lured Mandip Soin to adventure sports. And he has taken it up as a business: he has been running an organization which conducts expeditions.
You only live once, they say. Whether you exist in staid shades of grey, or live it up in multicolours – that spell high adventure and thrills. For most of us life indeed follows the prosaic path where adventure stays a distant dream. Yet, a miniscule minority has the adventurous spirit flowing through its veins, that pushes it off the beaten track into unventured realms.
Mandip Singh Soin, mountaineering and trekking veteran who organizes adventure travel got living, definitely belongs to this latter breed. “It was a drastic change from the IAS where I might have ended up:, he grins. An M.A. in history from Delhi’s St. Stephen’s College, he was destined for other things. “My dad was into parajumping … he encouraged me during my first trek to the Kuari Pass at the age of 14, and my first climb …
“Again, my school principal, Hari Dang, had been to Everest …” It may have been his genes or his upbringing that did it, but he was hooked soon enough by the great outdoors.
As president of the Hiking Club in college, he rock-climbed and trekked extensively. “There was an unusual trip to the Andaman Isalnds,” he recalls, “where I did deep sea fishing, caught sharks, and studied the ways of the tribals. After college I went to Europe to improve my skills in climbing, trekking and skiing in the French and Swiss Alps, and the Italian Dolomites.” Soin also instructed at outdoor schools in Wales and Scotland.
Today there’s no knowing where he might be. Climbing a rugged Himalayan peak, river rafting in the U.S., or leasing a camel safari in Rajasthan! Or just skiing through he icebound Arctic!
“I was warned about having a ‘three month husband,” smiles attractive wife Anita, “But its not that bad! He’s usually away three or four months in a year, a month to six weeks at a stretch.” A freelance graphic designer and writer herself, she decided it made better sense to accompany him whenever she could, along with their three-year-old daughter, who is aptly named “Himali” (“daughter of the snow”). Anita assists in filming expeditions and making video programmes for distribution.
At first glance, their East of Kailash barsati apartment could belong to any young urbanite couple. Only the ropecoils and rucksacks lying around tell their own story, “We’re just back from an elephant expedition to Kerala,” Anita explains. During the ten-day trip which covered 101Km on elephant back in the Parambikulam Wildlife Reserve, the 11-member team studied the ways of elephants and the environment, as also tourism potential of the unknown terrain. All this as part of the exciting business of living.
Excitement can indeed be good business. “One thing led to another and what started as a hobby turned into a profession,” says Spoin,who runs two companies today – Ibex Expeditions (P) ltd. and Ibex Equipment. Ibex Expeditions specializes in tailor-made adventure holidays, ranging “from the very easy to the very tough …” It all depends on “whether you would like o climb a Himalayan peak, look for the Snow Leopard, or search for the Yeti …” In a decade of operation, Ibex, the first company of its kind in India, has handled over 100 expeditions. Mountaineering, trekking holidays, ski trips, safaris, river rafting, cycle tours, etc., are all on the cards managed by a team of professionals who share their outdoor knowledge.
On the Wild Side – Part II
ROUGHING IT OUT IN COMFORT
It’s one outdoor sport that’s fast catching on – especially among executives, who find it a stimulating way of taking a break. But while roughing it out on a trek is fine, misplaced bravado can literally take on over the edge.
To get the best out of any trekking expedition, you should be prepared to battle the elements. Thus, go in for the best equipment available. It may be expensive, but it will be worth the extra bucks as it lasts for years.
Start with a good wind- and water-proof jacket. The ones made from the expensive Goretex fabric are perhaps the best. Not only are they water-proof,but they are also ‘breathable’, helping you to avoid the wet and clammy feeling of normal water-proofs. But don’t worry, if these jackets don’t suit your pocket, a good water-proof jacket would adequately serve the purpose.
A rucksack is the most ubiquitous of all trekking equipment. Look for a good-sized, water-proof, nylon rucksack with a capacity of about 60-70 litres. But make sure you get one with an internal frame system. This prevents drag on the shoulders by taking the shape of the body. External frames are uncomfortable and tend to get caught on rocky outcrops and branches.
These frames are doubly dangerous as they fracture at the least impact – leading to grievous injury, in case of a fall. Make sure that all the buckles are of the ‘quick-release’ type. At the same time they should hold fast during the simple check of pulling them apart. But remember no rucksack is perfectly water-proof. So line it with a large polythene bad. You could even go for a rucksack in psychedelic colours. Colourful gear is in these days. So why not paint the mountains red?
A sleeping bag is another item to be chosen with care if you want to avoid a nightmarish experience. Since a high-altitude trek entails camping on snow, warm sleeping bags become absolutely essential for survival. Use bags with synthetic fibre filling of a material like Holofil, a DuPont product. Holofil bags retain the trapped an convecte body heat in the loft, even when wet.
Avoid zippered bags. Remember how Captain Haddock, Tin-tin’s friend, had his beard caught in a zipper. Well, tough everybody is not as clumsy, a stuck zipper can try anybody’s patience. Also they form the cold vein of the sleeping bag from where the heat escapes. It can be particularly distressing if you are given to tossing and turning. Instead, try a slide-bag – 1.5 to 1.75 kg. It would be warm enough even in temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees celssius.
Don’t forget to spread a proper mat under your bag.While a close-cell foam mat is ideal, you could try others, too. Check the quality of the mat by dipping a part of it in water. A good one will not soak in the water.
Now for the big one. The best of plans can be wrecked if the tent is not strong enough to protect you from the biting winds and the chilling snow. The one available nowadays come in two basic shapes – the ‘A’ shaped, with aluminium alloy poles, and the dome shaped with aluminium fibre glass rods. The ‘A’ shaped tent with an inner layer of ‘breathable cotton’ and an outer layer (fly sheet) of water-proof nylon fabric, is the best for low altitude treks. The geodesic dome shaped tents have poles that can bend and should be checked for both strength and resilience. Though easy to pitch, it’s more expensive. Take care never to pack wet or damp tents in their bags as they tend to mildew and rot.
Having organized the essentials, other items can be begged or borrowed. Starting from the top, here’s what you will need – a woollen balaclava (monkey cap), peak cap, sun goggles (preferably ones that block ultra-violet rays), anti sunburn cream, T-shirts and shorts for the day. If it’s cold, get baggy trousers and ‘plus fours’. Socks, stockings and gloves should be 20 percent acrylic and the rest wool. Hundred percent wool often shrinks, if wet. Also, wear a pair of cotton socks under woollen ones. This allows the perspiration to be soaked up by the first layer and thus avoid ‘matting up’ of the socks.
Many layers of clothing are good in any case. Because the more layers you have, the more air you trap. Air, as you know, is the bad conductor of heat and retains body warmth.
Other knick-knacks that make life easier up on the mountains are the useful Swiss Army knives, pen-lights, a whistle and cord. With all this equipment, you can then rough it out – in comfort.