PAKISTAN, OUR NEW DAWN OF KAYAK TRIPS

From the mighty stretches of the Karakorams in the North to the vast delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure.

It seems a long time since we looked on in awe at the AK-47s stacked against the wall of the battered and worn general store just opposite the grim truck stop and curry shack. It seems longer still that we drove up towards the high peaks of the Hindu Kush and Karakorum. It seems along time because people have seen Pakistan as a dangerous place, a place no adventure tourist would want to go. Now things are changing and Pakistan is again a welcome place for those on an adventure quest. For us every day at home becomes a precursor to leaving in search of new horizons and Pakistan offers kayakers with a thirst for adventure a golden challenge.

Pure Land Expeditions is proud to invite paddlers to explore the region in Sept 2011 and Sept 2012. We are pleased to offer adventure river trips, designed just for river runner.

Flowing from K2 the powerful and unforgiving river Braldu carves its path every kayakers heart. Where the legacy of Mike Jones who gave his life on this river, 23 Aug 1978, is always and forever an inspiration.

Pakistan is an amazing country, it is the birth place of many civilisations and ancient cultures that still influence the world today. Our tours allow access into this Shangri La of rivers, for a 3 week adventure that will open your eyes to this magical world.

All our Pure Land Expeditions trips in Pakistan are bespoke for small groups. We will spend a day in Pindi getting settled before driving north to the Hindu Kush and Karakorum ranges. We will paddle the Ishkoman river as it cuts the Hindu Kush from the mighty Karakorum ranges, where the scenic river is always a pleasure. Where braided talons of water progressed between class 3 to 4+ until it finally slows at the confluence of the Ghizar river. Futher days will be spent on the Yasin and Ghizar before we explore the Hunza region and the Alpine style Naltar. Lets not forget the Hispar river, where the mouth of the glacier spits cool water in smooth and silky tails. where rapids are class 4 and play waves appear. The old forts of Baltit and Altit sit high on the hill spying our movements before we settle for the Hunza speciality of walnut cake in town of Karimabad. Lets not forget the Hunza river itself a fitting last farewell to the area before our return to Pindi.

If this style of trip seems of interest to you drop us an email -info@purelandexpeditions.com since they will not appear on our standard schedules.

See you all soon

DAZ

RIDING THE TEARS OF EVEREST

…And so it was that the rain came thundering down the valley, like the riders of the apocalypse. Destruction flooded in the wake. On the last horse was death venturing forth with wrath to conquer the immortal soul of the impersonal culture. A culture that had evolved, spawned by the late 20th century and early 21st century. The wonder of modern science had failed the masses the populace dreamed a ‘New Hope’. A new guru was needed to lead them forward to the Shangri La that had been promised with the birth of the solitary Christ years before. Selfish was the culture; selfish was the individual.

It had been a long time since the people had held the same dream, the same goal. The collective conscious held little passion for this ideal. Stumbling blindly was not productive. It did not draw the much-needed conclusions. Moving the years from the pagan Norse gods to the collapse of the dollar worship of capital ideals, many idols have come and gone; many born then die. All were able to fool those who blinked, willing to listen. Firstly popular spiritual idols were found to fault, then the dominant ideology keep those of the populace separated at a fair distance. The self worked within the group as independence was neglected. From hoaxes to magicians those who looked for escape could only dream a vain hope of finding a cure.

It seems an age since I kayaked the rivers that flow from Everest. Although just reading the inside cover of 'RIDING THE TEARS OF EVEREST' brings it all back. I suppose it should, since I wrote the book. The back cover tells it all - “I wanted to give my new mistress all my soul. She could have it all so long that I lived[…]we cannot avoid the siren call.”

So you see playing about in rivers brings stories to tell and lessons to learn. It is not just a way to waste a weekend it offers much more to me. These lessons allow us to grow and explore not just the natural world but our hearts and minds. As a child I grew up in the Britain that Thatcher inhabited. Playing and learning only a stone throw from the crumbling Yorkshire coalfields. How and why I ended up with Everest in my live is hard to understand. Perhaps one day I will understand it more. Although for now the passage of time and the words of the book seem plenty. This book is not just about kayaking rivers that flow in Nepal, or Everest. It is about more, much more. It is about motivation, love, sadness and the good friends and interesting faces that will keep the fire in the belly for years to come.

RIDING THE TEARS OF EVEREST is available from all good book dealers, although you can save time by ordering via http://purelandexpeditions.com, this will also avoid postage charges within the UK. A live action presentation of the book is available for clubs and groups please email bookings@purelandexpeditions.com for details.

Hook, Book and Secrets

For those of you who have visited the site, www.purelandexpeditions.com over the last week or so you will notice that some things change and some stay the same. Its been a busy time all around. We are busy adding the links to our trusted gear providers and a new page or two to make moving around the site a bit easier.




Since the last post Daz & Slime have been busy putting together the final touches to the Third Edition of WHITE WATER NEPAL to be published by Rivers Publishing. This should be out very soon as the first draft has made it to the publishers already. Just putting the words on a page is like planning another river trip. All the late nights will be worth it.

It will soon be time to pack the bag again and fly to Kathmandu and explore rivers once again. If you ache, like we do, for adventure simply drop us a line, info@purelandexpeditions.com to join any of our trips.




Between hours on the lap top and working via open office the Pyranha fusion has been helping to take some cool lines in Wales. Makes a change from all the Himalayan rivers.

Well thats all for now, just a quick blast- see you all soon.

Daz and the gang and Pure Land Expeditions.

FOCUS

Just some things that I believe to be true about kayaking.

Calm before the storm, clichéd mind games for sure. Lifting 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 and delicate. 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 and 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. It is open to what we represent in our thoughts as adrenalin. 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 chatter has subsided through the stories told.

It is a river 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 spend the night hours dreaming of this river. Dreaming for an age. In the mind they have built the river into a mystical place. Having never seen it, they expect the worse. Perhaps, without knowing, placing the rapids on a golden platform they look on in humble glory. 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 caged in the experience, 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. Here 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. Those that seek the discharged 'one up manship' charge 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 - the praise of peers means 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 sit with 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 white water but it is not the heart pounding thrill and adrenalin that I chase. It is the battle within to find the 'pure' aspect of the event. This 'pure' is the magic of stillness- of a perfect moment in time. This is all that matters and it can happen any time and 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 silk water that is only and forever a precursor. A required event in time. 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.

FREESTYLE & DOWN RIVER

Well well, the sun is out and the birds sing...Its the season for gaining new skills and playing on waves and holes. If you fancy a bash, check this event out.

This May the BCU launch their Freestyle league aiming to encourage more people back to the dark art of rodeo boating. The first event will be hosted by Pyranha at the mighty Tryweryn and results from the day will form the basis of one of the scored that will determine the GB freestyle team this year.

The best 2 out of 4 league event results will be combined to form a league ranking and the winners of the league ranking will be crowned British Champions 2010.
Categories will include Expert/Open in Ladies/Mens and Juniors/Seniors.

Pyranha will also be running fun sessions, coaching all weekend and an all in Boater x on the Sunday. Ranking, scoring and format of events are yet to be confirmed but rest assure this will be a FUN event, for people who just want to get on the water and have a go!

Where: Canolfan Tryweryn , Bala (BCU freestyle will take place on the top wave above the Chipper)
When: 22nd -23rd May
Cost: Entry to Freestyle event £5 Entry to Boater X and Freestyle £10 (Registration on the day)

For more info see http://www.ukfreestyle.com and http://www.pyranha.com

Hopefully see you there!

Also we have river running sessions....


Guided River Trips (Saturday and Sunday) - Great if your coming on your own, Daz Clarkson will guide you on the river at your level.

All trips are half day sessions and £20 per person, which is a great offer just for this event.

Book your place at registration on Saturday morning

See you on the water.

EXPEDITION WORKSHOP

It has been a very interesting weekend indeed. I arrived at the Plas y Brenin in Snowdonia for the Expeditions symposium (http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses/expedition-symposium.php) just to chat with some old friends and talk about boats and bits of kit for expeditions. I have been rocking the Pyranha Everest and its proven expedition history. I also suggest that the Fusion would be a suitable kayak for more placid runs, but this is another story.

On the sunday I assisted Spike Green with workshops about planning your own expedition. From Poland to Peru, Norway to Nepal we covered it all. Guided or DIY, river trip? lake? sea? options all around. DO you want to camp in the middle of the Himalaya or car camp all these options make the sport we do a different adventure every day.

It was a great weekend and the strangers in the morning were new friends in the afternoon. Those who missed the day or those who have any expedition related questions please just email info@purelandexpeditions.com and I will be happy to answer any question you have about expedition trips.

　

Areas covered, Team, Gear, Knowledge, Aim, Money and Location. We also talked about going down gorges and blind horizon lines.

See you on the water.

DAZ