Gosainkunda green hiker/ leave no trace expedition
11 April – 20 April 2012
Gosainkunda Green hiker / Leave no trace Expedition was organize
by Initiative Outdoor, outdoor Leadership
School and sponsor by WWF Nepal.
Nepal is one of the very few places in the world where
people of different origin gather together in one particular pilgrimage center
for worship, pray and celebrate their practice and traditions. Gosainkunda is
one of such pilgrimage centers where Hindu, Buddhist, Bon and shamanistic
practitioners of other streams go for pilgrimage and perform their spiritual
duties according to their own traditions and beliefs. The expedition was
designed by Mr. Chandra Ale, Director of Initiative Outdoor outdoor Leadership
School.
The expedition started from April 11 – 20, 2012 from
Kathmandu and on the way at Dhunche we were welcome by LACCOS (Langtang area
community conservation society). We discussed about Gosainkunda green hiker
expedition and Leave No Trace principle with them. We stayed at Thulo Barkhu
for the night. We had an evening briefing about the day, tomorrows plan and
choose the leader for next day. On day second we started our journey from Thule
Barkhu to Thulo Syabru. Through out the day, on the trail, we collected the
trashes. We had our lunch at Brabal where we also had a meeting with local
community, youth as well as Ama samuha about Leave No Trace. They were positive
and encouraged for the proper management of waste. After good lunch and meeting
at Brabal, we headed towards our hotel at Thulo Syabru. Once we were at our
hotel,We again organized meeting with local youths and Ama samuha.
Next morning after breakfast we kicked on our heels to
our unreached destination again with all those positive thoughts and energy. We
bought some fresh vegetable on the way at Dursag. We made our lunch by our self.
After lunch we started walking again cracking jokes and singing songs which
made us forget all those difficulties that we were having on climbing up hills.
We reached at Danda teashop for tea break and we talked about Leave No Trace
principles with the hotel and shop owners. They were so impressed with the
principals that they started practicing it right then. They all collected the
rubbish that was thrown around everywhere. We reached our hotel at Chandanbari
and went for dinner at 7.30 pm. After dinner we did our same routine, briefing
and selecting leader for tomorrow.
As usual again after breakfast we started hiking on top
of Chandanbari. In between we also played our own version of TUG OF WAR and
learned some first aid skills. We had dinner and went to bed finishing our
regular schedule.
It was our fourth day, after having breakfast we had
meeting with locals about Leave No Trace principles. We also talked about the
renovation and preservation of local Gumba there which was in the verse of
collapsing. Despite of what Gumba’s condition was, while talking with them, we
felt that they were more conscious about the environment and its awareness. It
snowed that afternoon because of which hiking became abit more challenging but
that was not only the reason. We climbed 1000 meter that day and it was obvious
for the participating to have some hard time who had never climbed that high
before. We had an early dinner that evening and went straight to bed as soon as
we were done with our regular schedule.
Our Routine was the next morning as well. We had a
breakfast, talked about leave no trace with the local and local communities and
then we headed towards Kunda. The day was little bit exiting though because we
were crossing the laurebinayek pass, the highest pass of the expedition (4610
meters), that day and when we reached the pass we all felt so rejuvenated that
we started playing with snow like a small kids forgetting all those pains and
difficulties. We crossed the pass and had our lunch at Phedi. We also did a
short knot session during our lunch time. Our next station for the night was
Ghopte. We had the dinner, finished the regular schedule, and went to bed.
Next day we walked towards Tharepati. Most of our route
was up hills. Practical rescue training was taught at Tharepati. Then, we reached
to Mangengoth an elevation of 3220 meter. We all took knot classes and
Wilderness First Aid Courses, which was really interesting and meaningful for
our daily life. Half of the group acted as victims and half were the rescue
team members. We played different roll with different time.
Marketing and Communication Manager of WWF-Nepal, Akash
Shrestha was presented profile figure about WWF-Nepal and Gosainkunda green
hiker/leave no trace expedition. We got lots of knowledge about WWF – Nepal
after the session. LNT presentation was presented with local communities. Nest
day we continued our journey towards Kutumsang an elevation of 2470 meter. On
the way we passed Danda where we found a person who sell basket, pen stand and
many more…. by using cover of noodle, biscuit and other material. We were
really appreciated and encouraged him by buying some of his art and recycled
products. We discussed about his skills and how can we implement his skills in
the local communities along the way in the trails.
Now the journey was all the way downhill. About couple of
hours walking down the hill we reached Kutumsang where we talked about the
Leave No Trace principles and how can we solve the problems of wastage and
proper management of it with Ama Smuha, locals as well as hotel owners. We took
responsible role for the Wilderness First Aid practical. It was another useful
and memorable training for everybody in their daily life.
Next day we moved towards Chisapani which was our last night.
The route was very difficult thought we ought to meet it. We had tea break at
Gul Bhanjyang and Lunch was at Chipling Danda we called this place chicken
airport because most of chicken was ready position with their wings to fly. We reached
at Chasipani around evening. This was our last night of the expedition so we
celebrate well. With sun rise from Chasapani we moved to the end of our expedition.
The route all the way was down to the Sundarijal all the way through Shivapuri
National Park. Lunch was at Mulkharka with delicious Nepali taste. We end up
our expedition around 4.00 pm and drive back to Kathmandu.
The expedition was successful, educational and useful. The
leave no trace orientation and Wilderness First Aid course took an important
part in our expedition. We have had really amazing time making in such place
like Gosainkunda with full of snow in the Kunda as well as in the pass with
delicious vegetable from the vegetable garden and such expedition with Leave No
Trace principle in our life.
Hope to see you all in the next expedition soon.
Thank you
Krishna Khadka
Participant
Some Photos from the Expedition
