KAYAKING DOWN EVEREST

KAYAKING DOWN EVEREST
Along with doing presentations to clubs and groups we also offer, from time to time, informal 'showings'.
On 2nd Feb 2010 we will be showing a short film about Kayaking Down Everest - THE DUDH KOSI.
We will be showing the film at around 7.30 pm at the Friscan pub in the shadow of Snowdon.
email: info@purelandexpeditions.com for more details.
This is a taster of the presentation that will be held on;
26th January at The Anchor Pub, Tideswell, Peak District, SK17 8MP(nearest postcode we know).
Again drop an email to info@purelandexpeditions.com for more details.

DATES

For 2010 we are offering some special trips along with our standard schedule trips. We are offering a junior trip to India, a student special event in Nepal and some amazing bespoke days.
email us for more details.

We are updating the website please check our dates below.

DATES FOR 2010

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
9 Guided River Day - Wales
10 Guided River Day -Wales
16 Guided River Day -Wales
24 Guided River Day - Wales
30Guided River Day -Wales

FEB
13 Annapurna Trek leaves –Moderate- (contact office for details)-Nepal
Bespoke river days in Scotland/Wales

MAR
6 Everest Base Camp (Island Peak bolt on) -Nepal
13 (16days) Self Support - Nepal
27 Mar- Student Special Sun Kosi (No Maximum) - Nepal contact office for details

APR
3 (16 day) Self Support - Nepal
17 Sun Kosi - Nepal

MAY
Bespoke Nepal Trips / UK Guided River Trips

JUN
Bespoke Alps Trips - France, Austria, Slovinia.
Bespoke Thailand Trips

JUL
Bespoke Alps Trips - France, Austria, Slovinia.

AUG
7 Zanskar – Raft and Kayak – India.
14 Zanskar - Kayak (Burners only) India
21 Zanskar– Raft and Kayak – India
Bespoke-Zanskar-India

SEP ( Bespoke only)
Lower Stikine-touring section- Canada.
Tatenshinshi Kayak – Alaska

OCT
2 Sun Kosi-Nepal
16 Everest Base Camp-Nepal
23 (16 day) Self Support-Nepal
23 Tamur (Bespoke)-Nepal

NOV
13 Tamur -Nepal
27 Bramhaputra-India

DEC
Creek trips in UK (Bespoke)

Discount Books

Until 1st Jan 2010 all 'Riding The Tears of Everest' books now signed and posted for £6 each.

This is the only account of Kayaking down both the rivers that from from Everest. Set in Nepal this is a story not just about kayaking but also about love, family and commitment.

checkout www.purelandexpeditions.com or email info@purelandexpeditions.com to get your book.

Salto Evo.

So hear it is the honest value of a review of the Salto Evolution.

But before, a bit of back history.

On Expeditions around the globe when the kayak splits or the outfitting breaks, you are in a dangerous situation. Eskimo produce strong kayaks, with solid and simple internal outfitting so the problems caused by broken boats and damaged outfitting become less important. Eskimo boats are SAFE, without centre pillar foam and ratchets easy of exit and entry is guaranteed.

Any kayaker that has used an Eskimo boat will tell you they are bomb proof, and many of the boats made 20 years ago are still getting used!

I have been looking at Eskimo boats for some time, as an expedition kayaker I need a kayak that is able to carry gear, light to fly with and works well on the water. I have used Diablos, Kendos, Quadros, Topos and classic Saltos in the past. I am not assisted by ESKIMO but use the kayaks out of choice.

At first I wasnt impressed with the boat, it felt far too short and back end light for serious creeking on the steeps. I also commented that I doubted it would work well in big water as it seemed to look slow.

I wasnt 'into' the boat upon first paddling it, but this all changed when I took the boat onto my local run and got a true feel for the boat.

The boat appears to be very stable on edge and the hull performs well, it has all the positive grab of a play boat when on the water although its release edges offer none of the 'trip' you find on freestyle kayak.

The small nature of the boat was a major concern for me and I thought it would become 'catchy' on the backend but this was not further from the truth. Whilst the boat drives well in a neutral paddling position it also works well when paddled on the back quarters, slalom style, without the ability to 'dip turn'.

When paddled using the back edges of the boat it became a speed cruiser and made tight turns without pause. It accelerated well up eddy lines and offered a nice smooth transition when on a charging arc.

It boofed in a positive manner and required no speed to lift the nose and let it fly. When dropping into holes the bow lifts well and is easy to control. These situations favour a smaller kayak, and at 248 cm the Salto Evo is no long river cruiser.

This boat will serve many peoples needs well, although due to the size its performance may be stilted when loaded with bad positioned gear for overnight camps. If you needed just one boat for a trip this may just be it. All boats are a a balance between balance, safety, performance, big water style, creek bashing and comfort. This Salto may just fit your ideas.

Memories.

This time 12 months ago a strange thing happened...

It had been just another day in Wales, some of my boating buddies had gone to Nepal then Laos on a mission. Those that we left in Wales were either working or suffering from major injuries. It had rained over the night and the last few days had been wet but with no one to paddle with I figured a scounting mission would be in order.

Taking our dog (Cai) I set off to walk down the side of the secret slabs. These slabs had been scouted and for all of living memory hypothetically run. I had no desire to kayak today. It was simply a day of ‘looking’.

As Cai and I walked along the bank I could just see a line on the river right. Cai had a quick walk that day as after changing into full armour I placed Cai in my van and dragged my boat to the lip. Alone in this wind swept gully a choice on the side of caution saw me setting a seal launch after the first rock dump.

It was fast from the off, slide to the right-bounce off the wall-boof left then cut right-wall slide middle gutter, final boof, eddy right. A long climb back to the road a boat stashed in the trees and a walk to the van.

No this was neither sensible or withou caution but I made the line, happy and content. I few days later I ventured up the Cwm Llan, it was a week of putting stress markes in the hull of my boat! Well Cai doesnt have the ability to take images, so the text here will have to do.

Well the rain is upon us one again and I am looking into further shallow landings

FLYING FISH

The blue sky littered with white clouds reflect in the calm of fewa lake, Nepal. Above high on a hill away from the carpet of paddy fields and the scattering of houses is where we find ourselves. David and Babu dress in high altitude clothing and beckon us toward their harnesses. A tandem paraglide flight onto the ‘Horizon of Annapurna’ and the descent to the Marsyandi river is our aim.

We were set to push the limits of the guidebook. Kayaks were sent to Khude and we were going to paraglide to the Maryland river then trek up into the hills of Annapurna and the journey from Synge. A tribute to the adventures of AJ.

“Run run run” Babau called as he pushed me forward, within an instant we were adrift on a thermal cushion high above the ground. “Body left, left, left, left” we arced, we swirled. Higher and higher we circled. The paraglide grasping at thermals and forcing spins both fore and aft.
Calm and still we sat searching the sky for the thermal uplift that would take us up and over the ridge and deep into the heart of the Annapurna. As we search the web of thin thermal lines we were crowded by inversions and began a descent to earth. The thermals had not been kind and we would have to make another attempt after landing. Twice more we set off on our flight and twice more mother nature denied us the challenge. Time was pushing against us as our boats and gear sat in Khude. It was time to change plan. To head into the hills in a micro van and jeep. Late at night we were still walking up the trail and the place we hoped our kayaks would be.

As the shadows disappeared and night fell. As candles and oil lamps guided us we walked forever onward.

The night spent in a lodge and our kayaks collected we set off again. Crowded into a jeep we made it all the way to Syange before breakfast. Soon into the cool waters we were off into tow backs and boofs, Sticky holes littered the river but we paddled fast and clean. Each one of us taking it in turns to charge ahead to read and run. Within a matter of hours we were back in Khude and the lodge a time for food and sleep.

Following the night of rest we were once again river living and head down paddling through the guidebook.. In just under an hour we had paddled the section from Khude to the dam and after paddling across the lake waited. The road of dirt was our only way out and we just sat….a bus WOULD be our retreat back to Pokhara.

www.purelandexpeditions.com
For info on trips in Nepal including bespoke paraglide and kayak options email bookings@purelandexpeditions.com

Om Shanti

Well guys and girls, it has been a long time since the blog was updated and I have no one to blame but myself. What has been going on I hear you cry.

Over the last few months we have been busy trying to secure assistance for a great project set up to support girls kayaking in Nepal. The project was established a few years ago by my good friend Inka from Sweden and is developing well. From Flat Water to Swift Water the girls are doing well.

It has been great that kayaking companies have been jumping to help out the Himalayan River Girls, this is a great club set up to help females or Nepal escape the rural family life, the caste system and all the oppression that surrounds the patriarchal ideology. Nookie Kayaking gear, www.nookie.co.uk have been brilliant and have supplied pfds, cags, decks, rash vest etc both for the club and as prizes and Square Rock, www.squarerock.co.uk have supplied a Jackson kayak as the prize for the Himalayan rodeo all is looking brilliant.


The girls have been doing well and are now working in the river. The Nepal season has been a blast and the learning curve is amazing.

This is a short update as we have just got off the Sun Kosi river, a great wilderness kayaking trip in the heart of Nepal. I will be adding a report about this later along with some images.