May 15, 2010
by Vidyut
0 comments
There are many locations to go climbing near Mumbai. Just jotted down a few for anyone interested. I’ll keep adding to this list as and when possible.
April 22, 2010
by Vidyut
7 Comments
We will be conducting a rock climbing training at Kanheri Caves on Sunday, 23th may 2010.
This is intended to be an introductory session and is open to the public for individual participation. Some images from a previous training session can be seen in our image gallery.
Meeting Point: National Park Main Gate (Borivali) at 9am sharp
We will then travel by vehicle to Kanheri Caves. We begin an introductory rock climbing training session with basic information on rock climbing, equipment, climbing protocol and safety measures. This will be followed by a demonstration.
The session will then continue with practice time on rocks of various difficulty levels where you can learn to climb through personal experience and improve your climbing technique under the direct guidance of Raka. Guided climbs are an excellent entry into the sport of rock climbing. We begin with easy routes and as your skill develops, we move on to the tougher ones. We will be winding up the session by 4:30 pm.
Age group: 15 years and above
Fees: Rs. 1000/- per head
Call Raka – 09869433342 to join
Cost includes:
Instructions for participants:
Looking forward to having you along.
April 21, 2010
by Vidyut
1 Comment
Do you allow parents to accompany children on your children’s adventure camps? My son is only 12 years old, and I have not sent him far away from home before.
This is a very common question by parents of participants on the children’s adventure programmes – and the answer is no. Children’s adventure programmes are designed for children as participants. While we understand your concern, we cannot allow non-staff grown-ups related with the children to be present. There are many reasons for this.
The most important is that your presence creates a distracting influence to the child who is used to turning to you for help. This also creates confusions in perceptions about the real authority person in camp and also hampers your child’s ability to be independent.
It is unfair to the rest of the participants who do not have parents/guardians present.
The camps are designed for particular ages, and your child will be among others of similar interests. There has to be a first camp alone at some time, and this is a good time for your child to learn to be responsible for himself/herself. Your absense will actually add to his self-worth.
Instructors on these programmes are experienced in dealing with children, and your child is in safe hands.
April 20, 2010
by Vidyut
3 Comments
Hi Folks,
We have another summer adventure camp coming up in May. This time, it is for children between 7 and 14 years of age and we have planned it for Matheran.
Dates: 16th to the 19th of May, 2010
Group will be staying at Hotel Girivihar in Matheran (FYI parents). Stay and food in this place is quite nice and clean, and as the age group for this camp is on the younger side, we have chosen the relative comfort, so that tired kids get a good chance to recharge their energies every day. However, this information is for your reference. Parents are not allowed to attend the actual camp, as it distracts participants.
Activities include Rappelling, Valley Crossing, Vertical Ladder, Acid River Crossing, Spider Web, Obstacle Games, Star Gazing, a small trek, Treasure Hunt, Camp Fun, etc.
Having a residential experience in Matheran on their own terms is an excitement in itself, with its rustic charm, lack of motorised transport and abundance of natural experiences set in a context that grabs a child’s sense of adventure.
The group will be assembling at Thane Station WEST main ticket window at 7:30am, and proceeding by train, well escorted by instructors.
Well qualified instructors, basic first aid and a doctor on call ensure that the excitement is not at the expense of safety.
Fees: Rs.3,800/- per child.
Please speak with Raka for more information or to confirm bookings – +91 9869433342.
So, Good Luck, and celebrate an opportunity to create adventure for your child!
April 13, 2010
by Vidyut
0 comments
We can do a rock climbing session at the Kanheri Caves or in the National Park in Mumbai. Many climbers in and around Mumbai have begun their climbing hobby in this hallowed ground. This is convenient, since there is virtually no travel time involved and expenses are quite low. A session usually begins around 9am and ends by 2pm, though we have done some that began at 7am and went on till 5pm. Usually, rock climbing is strenuous enough that the half day session suffices the most enthusiastic participant.
A rough plan of the day is as follows:
Please note that there are no restaurants in the Park, and the small canteen at the Kanheri Caves serves most unsatisfactory food for a bunch of hungry people. We recommend packing a heavy picnic snack and then having a late lunch on exiting the park, or lunch may be carried along. In either case, pack so that you are able to manage the fallout from lunch. Plan adequate garbage bags to pack the trash back out of the park.
Costs: The charges for a single session are Rs.6,700/- for a group of up to 12 participants. These include the equipment, instruction, entry fees into the National Park for instructors and the travel charges for the instructors. this does not include any travel for the participants, entry fees into the National Park and food.
April 13, 2010
by Vidyut
1 Comment
Mumbai – April 25, ’10 – Sasun Navgarh
Allied – Petzl will be conducting a One day Open Climbing Competition to promote and popularize the Sasun-Navgarh climbing site. The competition will be held in two categories vise – Men’s / Women’s. Each category will have 3 prizes and a consolation prize.
Allied has been promoting adventure sports in India along with PETZL since 2007. We have envisaged and undertaken a number of projects which are aimed at increasing general awareness about the products, safety standards and rescue. On the sports side, PETZL has been supporting climbing through competitions, bolting projects, club events etc.
Recently in Jan 2010, Petzl had sent its team of best climbers to do a Bolting workshop for two (2) days, which was headed by Erwan Le Lann (Petzl promotional manager), and supported by Julian Nadiras (Petzl camera man) and Michael Fuselier (Petzl Team members). Further to which a dedicated movie was also made.
In order to make this site popular and also to get-together the
climbing community to discuss further plans, Allied intends to call
the climbing fraternity for a One day climbing competition..
1st Prize – Adjama kit (Adjama + Verso + Attache 3D + Chalk Bag + Chalk powder)
2nd Prize – Bug + Tikka Plus
3rd prize – Altios Helmet
Consolation prize – Chalk Bag + Chalk Powder.
1st Prize – Selena Kit (Selena + Verso + Attache 3D + Chalk Bag + Chalk powder)
2nd Prize – Bug + Tikka Plus
3rd prize – Elia (Climbing helmet for women)
Consolation prize – Chalk Bag + Chalk Powder.
Interested participants should contact us for further details.
Last date for registration: 20th of April 2010 (Late entry will not be entertained)
Entry fees: Rs. 150/- only. (Including breakfast, lunch & snacks)
Reporting time: 7:30am at Sasun Navgarh Temple.
Venue: Sasun Navgarh (Off Mumbai – Ahmedabad highway)
Distance from Dahisar toll naka: Approx 5 kms.
Distance from Fountain hotel: Approx 2 kms
(Ghodbandar – Ahmedabad Highway Junction)
For more information contact:
Kaivalya – 9869331490
Kishor – 9930992328
Ram – 9930992329
Request you to forward it to all the climbing community and help us to make this an mega event.
February 4, 2010
by Vidyut
0 comments
We are announcing a trip to Kailash Manasarovar this year, like we have been saying for a while now. The batches are planned for 15th-30th June and 19th July to 3rd August this year.
This is one of the classic Himalayan hikes with timeless appeal for a diverse range of people ranging from adventurers to nomads and artists to worshipers. In short, this legendary journey has the ability to enhance our being till whatever we are shines.
I am attaching two files Kailash Manasarovar itinerary and information and Kailash Manasarovar slideshow
Get in touch with Raka +91-9892469127 if you want to come. We are planning to finalize batches by end of February.
February 4, 2010
by Vidyut
2 Comments
We are planning a weekend high adventure at Jivdhan, at the end of one of the most charming hikes near Mumbai – the Naneghat. This will be a two day programme. We are planning two batches – 19th-20th Feb and 20th and 21st Feb 2010. We will meet at Kalyan station and take local transport to the base of Naneghat and begin the hike up to Naneghat and Jivdhan fort. Naneghat is pass from the deccan to the konkan and on an ancient trade route from Junnar to Kalyan and Nalasopara. It is surrounded by the four forts – Hadsar, Chavand, Shivneri and Jivdhan, of which Jivdhan is the closest and our destination for the night. We stay in an ancient grain store. 
On the next morning post breakfast, we do a tyrolean traverse from Jivdhan fort across to Khada Parsi on Naneghat and then rappel down from there. This is very similar to what we did on the Kokankada, except that the exposure and stretches are lesser. Lunch will be served wherever you are. We aim to wind up the activities post noon, say around 3pm, earlier if possible. After a quick rest, we hike back down to the road head and take local transport back to Kalyan station. Please note that this is not a luxury experience, and we will be trekking, experiencing adventure activities, eating simple food, and traveling in local vehicles.
Day 1: 7am – Leave from Kalyan Station 10am – Reach the base of Naneghat after having had breakfast on the way. Start hiking to Naneghat 2pm – Reach Naneghat and have lunch (this will be carried by participants – not provided). Start the hike to Jivdhan. Participants from Pune will join us at Ghatghar. 5pm – Reach Jivdhan fort, settle in, tea and snacks followed by some free time to explore the fort if you choose. 8:30pm Dinner and sleep Day 2 6am – Bed tea and biscuits 7am – leave for the valley crossing location and initial activity briefing 8:30am – breakfast and begin activity. Lunch will be served at approximately 1pm to the participants at whatever location they have reached in the course of the activities. 2pm - conclude activity at the base of Khada Parsi. From here it is about a half hours walk to the Naneghat cave. 3pm – after a brief rest, participants from Mumbai start walking down to the road head and return to Kalyan station. Participants from Pune can leave for Ghatghar.
Participants from Pune can join us directly at Ghatghar on the Deccan side of Naneghat at 3pm. They will have to organize their own transportation, but we can help co-ordinate. Take the road from Pune to Junnar and take a right turn from “Junnar phata”. You will pass “Apatale” and “Sawant” villages. There is a fort near Sawant village and the road proceeds along it to Ghatghar. Vehicles can be parked at Ghatghar. It should take approximately 3 hours or so from Pune, so we recommend leaving around 11am to accommodate any food halts or asking for directions. Fees for this trip are Rs.1,950/- per head from Kalyan (Mumbai) and Rs.1,800/- from Ghatghar (Pune). Includes:
Does not include:
Payments can be made by the following methods:
Please contact us/SMS Raka (+91-9869433342) with transaction IDs or other deposit information, name of participants and age and contact information on completion of payment. Please call up Raka immediately if you wish to come, as there is considerable interest and bookings on the 20th and 21st (in particular) cannot be secured by any method other than first come, first serve. General process is that you find out if there is availability to participate on the batch of your choice and complete payment and confirm.
December 14, 2009
by Vidyut
0 comments
I talk by Anupam Mishra on Ted reflects much of my beliefs about sustaining existing wisdom and building on it, rather than rushing in with new ideas that negate the old and beginning fresh each time. He speaks of water harvesting systems of the desert of Rajasthan and the efficient engineering marvels that merge seamlessly with art and cultural beliefs that have consistently delivered precious life-giving water for centuries to one of the driest places in the world, and definitely the driest in India.
He makes a comparison with the government tunnels that drew water from the Himalaya to the desert and brings insight on how the latest technology often cannot achieve what we casually assume to be old-fashioned and out-dated. We need more people like this, sure.
What we really need is for each one of us to look deep inside ourselves and find that part of us that values what is, treasures it, and builds on it rather than leave everything behind and have serial fresh starts becoming an orphan each time.
He refers to a picture being worth a thousand words, and here I present the entire video. Really, you must take the time to watch this.
September 22, 2009
by Vidyut
0 comments
The annual Independence Day trash dash this year had to be postponed and will be taking place on the 2nd of October 2009. We urge everyone who can, to attend. Here is the email from Avishkar of NOET:
For the fourth consecutive year, this 2nd of October, the Natura Outdoor Education Trust (NOET), will host the I-Day Trash Dash for Mumbaikars to do their bit for the country’s forests and enjoy themselves while doing it. The Trash Dash is essentially a crazy-fun Clean-up Marathon in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park(SGNP), which sees people of all ages scramble through the forest, trying to collect the most amount of garbage; while at the same time having themselves a great time with the many games and activities along the way. This year, Trash Dash aims to involve 500 participants in clearing out almost 3 tonnes of garbage out of our city’s precious forests.
The Trash Dash History:
Trash Dash began with just 40 people coming together to clean up their beloved forest. They managed to collect about 175 kg of garbage. The next year the number grew to 75 and the collections swelled up to 320kgs. Last year the 3rd Trash Dash saw more than 200 participants collecting, in a span of just 5 hours, One Thousand and Ten Kilograms (1010 Kgs) of trash being hauled out of the National Park. This year, therefore we would like to take the figures up to 500 participants and 3000 kgs of garbage!
Why the National Park?
Simply because its time Mumbai-ites realised that the 104-sq km National Park is the only one of its kind in the midst of any megapolis in the world and that it provides us the clean air we breathe and the water we drink. Its about time Mumbai’s citizens helped in healing the lungs of our city.
Why the Independence Day?
For years now, our national holiday had been reduced to blaring patriotic songs, plastic flags at traffic signals and extensions to long weekends. The Trash Dash has been held on this day simply to remind people of the many ways do their bit for the country. Though, This Year we decided to postpone the IDTD to a further date from the usual 15th August . We did this out of respect for the city’s concern over a public congregation amidst the fears of a H1N1 pandemic in Mumbai. After days of deliberating on the next perfect date for the Trash Dash, we’re happy to announce the rescheduled date of the I-Day Trash Dash as the 2nd of October 2009.
The Plan This Year;
The Trash Dash this year will be, in effect, 2 simultaneous events at 2 ends of the SGNP. At Borivali, 350 participants will clean out the most impacted areas; while in Yeoor, Thane, 150 individuals will clear out the main public access area. At both the events, the clean-up marathon will be dotted with numerous activity stations letting the crowds indulge in some quick fun to keep the tempo high throughout. Loads of prizes will be given out to the people who collect the most garbage as well as loads of freebies to almost everyone taking their time out for Trash Dash.
Life after the Trash Dash:
Following up on this event, we’ll be involving a corps of ParaForest Volunteers to assist the Forest Department with the day-to-day running of the park, whether by participating in an anti-liquor patrol or by educating visitors to the park about the perils of littering. This way, instead of becoming a once-a-year event of little consequence, NOET’s Trash Dash promises to be a starting point in encouraging Mumbaikars to take responsibility for our magnificent National Park.
Email: info@noetindia.orgPhone: +91-22-65259195Facebook: Independence Day Trash DashLooking forward to seeing you at the 4th I-Day Trash Dash ’09!Thank You Sincerely Avishkar Tendle – 9869460871 Managing Trustee
So folks, come one, come all, and if possible with health and doctor approvals, Nisarg, our newborn son may make a brief appearance. Can’t think of a better first outing of his life.
