Monday, October 15, 2012

Backpack and a river - August of Initiative Outdoor

August was not that busy month for Initiative Outdoor. We did a beautiful "Kakani - Patesaura" trip for 2 nights and 3 days and an awesome day Rafting trip in Bhote Koshi. We spent rest of our month on staff training, planing and brainstorming about what next?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Gosainkunda green hiker/ leave no trace expedition

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

Video: Youtube/ Gosainkunda green hiker/ leave no trace expedition

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Whitewater Rescue Tecnician (WRT) in India, 2012

Whitewater Rescue Technician
Dates: 1st - 3rd May, 2012
8th - 10th May, 2012
Alaknanda/ Mandakini River, Uttarkhanda, India

Whitewater Rescue Technician course is designed specifically for professional guides, private boaters, park service personnel, and others who work or play around moving water. You will learn to use techniques and simple equipment to assess and perform river rescues. Presented in a three-day format, this course focuses on realistic problems that you may face. The emphasis is on fast, low-tech and improvised rescue techniques that are effective and require minimal equipment. You will be taught to understand whitewater dynamics, handle swift water hazards and obstacles, effectively use throw bags, control in-water contact rescues, set up simple rope systems, successfully extricate pinned/wrapped boats, utilize basic rescue equipment and much more. The course builds the necessary skill and confidence for you to perform safe and effective rescues.

Mr. Chandra Ale, Rescue 3 international certified instructor finished two whitewater rescue courses (WRT) in India. There were two groups. The first group was just a bunch of interested raft guides from different Indian rafting companies and another second group was from snow leopard adventures pvt ltd. The location for the both courses was Alaknanda / Mandakini river at Uttarkhanda and the dates were 1st - 3rd May,2012 and 8th - 10th May, 2012 respectively.

According to Mr. Ale it was very nice to go back again and teach the participants after long time. He said he taught his first WRT course in India in 2007 and also has given the same course in Srilanka as well. He is very excited to go back and teach the course anytime the participants wants.

Some Photos of the course:

Please feel free to leave us with your valuable comments.

Yours in adventure,

Rajesh Lama
General Manager

Saturday, May 5, 2012

I.O. Orientation and Ice breaking Course

INITIATIVE OUTDOOR (I.O.) IN SHORT

We are Nepal's first outdoor school established in 2003 with a vision of empowering people with outdoor activities. Our motto is learning by experience. We operate outdoor leadership and adventure course for participants of all ages and all walks of life. Our courses are as much journeys of challenge into the world of outdoor adventure as they are voyages of discovery - of one's surroundings both natural and cultural, of the ins and outs of teamwork, and of ones own potential.

OVERVIEW ON COURSE (I.O. Orientation and ice breaking course)

Orientation (day, week or month) is a period of time at the beginning of the academic year at college or any other educational institution. During this period a variety of events are held to orient and welcome fresh students. These activities actually help students to become acquainted with each other quickly.

Initiative Outdoor also has its own fun and exciting way of orienting fresh students that not only helps them to get to know each other, but also to organize their classes and become accustomed to student life.

I.O. ORIENTATION AND ICE BREAKING COURSES

I.O. Orientation and ice breaking courses are all about bringing students close and breaking the ice between male and female which we can clearly see in Nepali society. Our courses are full of activities where students have to come, think, and work together as a team, and then come up with a master plan to complete the task. They are also given lots of fun-filled strategical problems, and to solve these problems they will definitely need a team, team work and team spirit. In this way students are motivated to grow close from the very beginning of the course.

Some examples of orientation and ice-breaking courses are:

Hiking
Camping
Canyoning
Rock climbing
Rafting

Note : All the courses incorporates I.O. Team and trust building games, LEAVE NO TRACE principles and are 100% customizable both in terms of activities and desired outcomes.

HOW ARE WE AND OUR COURSE DIFFERENT?

All I.O. Courses are self-supported. In other words: we're on our own; not a porter in sight! Participants carry their own gear which includes tent, food, stove, technical equipment and personal belongings. All members of the team, students and instructors alike, partake in every step of the course.

This is outdoor survival and leadership at it's best.

OUR WORK WITH MALPI INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE IN 2011.

Some photos and video.

LET US KNOW WHAT INTERESTS YOU AND LEAVE THE REST ON US, WE CAN TAILOR YOUR ADVENTURE TO THE BEST ...

10% Out of profit of this course will be invested for needy Nepali Children.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Rafting For All

Rafting Trip

Program:      Rafting Trip at Trishuli River
Duration:      1 nights and 2 days
Dates:          06-07 April 2012
Participants: OCCED Nepal
Location:      Trishuli River,

We are Initiative Outdoor, Nepal's first outdoor leadership school, organized rafting trip for OCCED(Organization for community child and environment) Nepal with 19kids went successfully. The overnight rafting trip started on 6th - 7th of April at Trishuli River. The rafting was organized for orphan kids of OCCED NEPAL. OCCED Nepal is an organization for community, orphan kids and environment est. on 1999. So, we thought this would be a great opportunity for kids of OCCED Nepal. We just want all those orphans to have fun.

So we started the Rafting from Maleku around 1:00 pm and raft about 13km to west. Though the scale of the river was around 2 and -3 there was some best rapids such as Suprise, landslide, monsoon etc. For about 4 to 5 hours rafting we end up our first camp at royal beach camp around eventing. We camped on the beach and the special activites of the camping was with Barbeque. All the Kids prepared the barbeque which was amazing. Every kids has their sleeping bag and mattress to wear over the night. The second day, we started early.Around 10:00 Am we started our rafting from Royal beach camp to Kurengghut which took us around 2.5 hours. We also practised LNT - leave no trace, outdoor ethics during the course.The course went successfully and all the kids love it.

Some photos