Wednesday 12 November 2008

DATES

HEY HEY, dates below for trips and river days. they will also appear on http://www.purelandexpeditions.com/ along with all details of INDIA, NEPAL and ALASKA trips.

SCHEDULE DATES 2008-2009


2008

NOV
22 Guided River Day Wales
23 Guided River Day Wales

DEC
6 Guided River Day Wales
7 Guided River Day Wales
20 Guided River Day Wales
21 Guided River Day Wales
27 Guided River Day Wales
28 Guided River Day Wales

2009

JAN
1 New Year Creek Special Guided River Day Wales
2 New Year Creek Special Guided River Day Wales
3 New Year Creek Special Guided River Day Wales
4 Guided River Day Wales
10 Guided River Day Wales
11 Guided River Day Wales

FEB
14 Annapurna Trek -Moderate- Nepal

MAR
7 Annapurna Trek – Hard- Nepal
7 Everest Base Camp Nepal
13 Self Support KAYAK Nepal
28 Sun Kosi Nepal

APR
4 Self Support KAYAK Nepal
20 Sun Kosi Nepal

MAY
Bespoke Nepal Trips / UK Guided River Trips

JUN
Bespoke Alps Trips
Bespoke Thailand Trips

JUL
Bespoke Alps Trips
Bespoke Thailand Trips

AUG
Zanskar – Raft and Kayak – India dates tbc
Bespoke-Zanskar-India-tbc

SEP
Tatenshinshi Kayak – Alaska tbc
Alaska bespoke Tat trip.

OCT
3 Sun Kosi Nepal
24 Everest Trek Nepal
24 Self Support Nepal

NOV
14 Karnali Nepal

DEC
5 Annapurna Trek –Moderate- Nepal

Bespoke departures are possible
Email: bookings@purelandexpeditions.com for further details.

TRIP START DATES LISTED.
CONSULT TRIP SCHEDULE AT http://www.purelandexpeditions.com .

For those that are having issues with down loading the Booking form from www.purelandexpeditions.com Please find a document below to cut and paste then send in an email.


BOOKING FORM:


NAME:
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NEXT OF KIN:
TRIP START DATE:
TRIP NAME/TYPE:
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COUNTRY VISA NUMBER(as applicable):
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS:


SPECIAL DIET(IF ANY):
MEDICAL ISSUES(IF ANY):

STATE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR HIRE (FEE APPLIES)



PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:






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DATE:




PLEASE SEND FORM TO: bookings@ purelandexpeditions.com or send to address below.
PAYMENT DETAILS:



All payment should be made to Darren Clarkson-King
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Or Cheque
DARREN CLARKSON-KING
2 CAMFAR LLEINIAU
GELLILYDAN
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For bookings on expedition trips a deposit of £200 is required at the time of booking.
Final payment must be made 6(SIX) weeks prior to departure. This is not refundable unless the trip is cancelled prior to departure, by PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS/DARREN CLARKSON-KING.
For courses, presentations and events please contact us for payment details
Payment should be made via cheque or Bank Transfer.

PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS facilitates the trading of Darren Clarkson-King. All water-based trips are run by Darren Clarkson-King as both sole trader and guide.
BOOKING CONDITIONS:







Pure Land Expeditions is only able to advise on flight bookings and whilst we recommend air services we cannot be held responsible for any event that occurs between you and the service provider.
Whilst every effort is made for trips to adhere to the published schedule Pure Land Expeditions/DARREN CLARKSON-KING reserve the right to alter the trip format due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather, political instability and such like. In such an event you will be informed in writing.
Darren Clarkson-King/Pure Land Expeditions does not accept responsibility for any loss/damage of inconvenience which you suffer or for the modification, reduction or cancellation for the holiday/travel arising out of threat of war, political unrest, riot, epidemics etc.
Prices are held correct at time of booking inline with the publication of prices on the website.
Pure land Expeditions/DARREN CLARKSON-KING cannot be held responsible for loss or damage of luggage or property throughout the trip. All customers MUST supply details of personal insurance to cover such incidents prior to booking.
If you commit an illegal act or endanger yourself, local customs or the trip then you will be asked to leave the expedition. Should this take place then you will not be offered a refund. Darren Clarkson-King will inform you in writing should you be asked to leave the trip. In sending the complete booking form you accept this clause.
First Aid and medical advice issued is given in good faith and to the best knowledge following a recognised First Aid qualification framework. In sending the booking form you agree not to take any legal action against Darren Clarkson-King and the ability of DARREN CLARKSON-KING/Pure Land Expeditions who have acted in good faith for best practice.
Should you have a complaint about any aspect of the expedition/trip then please contact in writing immediately in order that appropriate action can be taken.
All persons on the booking form must have an understanding of the booking conditions prior to signing.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing these conditions and the construction, interpretation, validity and implementation of any contract which incorporates them shall be subject to, construed and governed by both English Law and sporting governing bodies, where applicable. The names Pure Land Expeditions and Darren Clarkson-King are used interchangeable and facilitates the running of trips by Darren Clarkson-King.

Tuesday 11 November 2008

How I experience the river.



Calm before the storm, cliched mind games for sure. Lifing the kayaks onto the shoulder; portage on the side of reason without looking, without turning back to look at the fall so often portaged.

A glance is all that is needed, a line, fine but definite. No definition of thought- the process is far from clinical. It cannot be broken into aspects, into reason without end.

The mind witnesses the window of opportunity the glimpse of a chance and the grasp of the elusive. It is a hit to the heart that is searched for, a hit willing to be taken. Pulling all that is pure into the single moment of time. A capsule of stillness, a perfect moment.

The rapid is run, no dreams lay to rest in that moment it is all open to the elements; the driven form of this illusion we all face. It is open to what we represent in our thoughts as adrenaline. A thought form, a feeling that we cling to. Within the clinging the damage is done. Bravado diverts us from our true goal from the 'pure' form we search.

Only seekers understand the processes. The seeker in search of the truth who abandons all thoughts, feelings, mental illusions and perceptions for the perfect 'pure' moment in time. A moment when time slips from the realms of the rational thought. Where the mind once filled with images of reason and doubt is cast still. This is the reason to run rapids to go inside the disillusion of the masses to witness a 'pure' understanding of the moment between reality and the truth of the real.

The heart now still resting after the rapid run. The exaggerated chatter has subsided, stories told over a pint of 'best' relive the tender excitement of the run.

It is a river I have run so, so many times - each time a new experience. Each time a fresh page. On this occasion I am guiding two friends who have dreamed of this river for an age. In their minds they have built the river into a mystical place. Having never seen it they expect the worse. They perhaps, without knowing, place the rapids on a golden plinth they look on in awe. Does this attach too much to the perceived experience? does it divert too greatly from the here and now.

At the end after the dust had settled, after the run out rapid away from the walls that have bordered the experience - it is only then that a conclusion can be drawn. My friends solid boaters and great companions were pushed in this landscape, the mind map perhaps not understood. Visions of a tossed and torn windswept plateau seemed to embrace them.

Questions are always asked; conversations for whatever reason always resonate with the 'what grade is this' mantra. These that seek recognition change the grades. they say I am a class 5 boater. they think the world owes them the next big hit, it is this bravado this boasting of pushing the limits that lead to destruction. It is for these that chase the grade - the praise of peers and internalization of 'one up man ship' that the 'truth' of the 'real' experience will forever be out of reach.

We can all have the same fix for thrills if we push our limits. Although this seems not to be the be all and end all. For me like many others the river, sea, still lakes of the earth offer more. Sure even now I run hard whitewater but it is not the heart pounding thrill and adrenaline that I chase. It is the battle within to find the 'pure' aspect of the event. This 'pure'- the magic of stillness- of a perfect moment in time. This is all that matters and it can happen any time/any place.

Personally, it is this must make canyon or the lip of a drop, perhaps the ocean swell or the gentle caress of the paddle against the smooth water that is only and forever a catalyst. Yes it is a required catalyst but it is not the 'pure' 'truth' as the end game.

No matter what you paddle, be it flat calm lazy days or the heart thumping and raging rapids the truth of the pure-real experience is forever available to you.

Monday 13 October 2008

SELF SUPPORT

OK gang just figured that you would love to see what adventures fuel our lives...just imagine what can we do for you...


























Now we are looking forward to out self support trips in Nepal. We alreadyhave a 'closed' expedition in April Arriving in Kathmandu on 4th for 16 days. Althjough we have availability before and after this date. contact info@purelandexpeditions.com for dates and schedules.













This trip is going to be a blast. Running rivers, buying from local communities and running wild Himalayan rivers. The trip cost is £600 with an additional 'kitty' allowance during the trip. A sample of the schedule is below;













1 Arrive in kathmandu - stay Hotel






2 Trip overview, expedition planning-stay Hotel






3 Leave Kathmandu, Kayak Trisuli-stay tea house






4 Arrive Seti river and start descent-Camp






5 Seti River-Camp






6 Seti river take out and then Pokhara-Hotel






7 Relaxed Breakfast then drive to Birthithanti-tea house






8 Lower Modi to Kumsa - tea house






9 Kali Gandaki-camp






10 Kali Gandaki-camp






11 Kali Gandaki-Hotel in Pokhara






12 Trek to Madi Khola-camp/tea house






13 Madi Khola-Camp






14 Madi Khola-Camp






15 Madi Khola reft to Kathmandu






16 Leave for host country













hope you enjoy.













be safe- PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS TEAM

Monday 6 October 2008

NEW EXPEDITIONS

Just as PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS was setting up for a new season of trips to India, Nepal, Alaska and Thailand I felt I should share previous trips with you all...but first NOW is the time to let you all know about the presentation on 18th Oct at the North West Paddle Fest about RIDING THE TEARS OF EVEREST. this is the 'live' version of the book about kayaking down Everest... contact our office, info@purelandexpeditions.com for further details

Later blogs will show a sample of our trips and the fun that can be had, from the local people to the kodak image, and dont forget time to relax.... Remember we are not office based desk surfers we are out in the world doing it.

Over this last weekend myself and Paul another of our guides chased the wate rand paddled a lesser classic in Wales but that it another story, as too is the fact that Andrea is running in aid of the Mahabodhi Centre in India..more of that later.


enjoy
DAZ