India

I’m currently back in Manali fending off the beggars and avoiding the dog crap. We had a superb mission over the Rohtang Pass and into the Spiti Valley. We based ourselves in a superb guest house (Nimaling) in the lovely little town of Kaza. We were dubious having heard it’s nickname as “Kazai”, but it turned out to be nice and have just about everything we could need including a tailors. (We all have new shirts!)

Adam, cool in the face of gnar!

We spent 3 days kayaking sections of the Spiti which had nearly everything you could want from a river. Deep gorges, blind corners, BIG holes, jazzy lines and amazing scenery. We also managed first descents(?) on the Gyundi, Lingti, and the North fork of the Pin, which ranged from grade VI terror-fest to grade II/III cruising.

More info in due course, but for now, enjoy the photos….

Patrick hiking into the Gyundi, a montage that I will improve when I’m home and have Photoshop!

Ki Gompa, Spiti Valley

Pin Valley

Scouting (and running away from) the unrunnable “Shotgun-Not!” Canyon of the Lingti (Pic P.W.Clissold)

Patrick running one of the many gorges of the Spiti.

Some of the group are now heading to the Chandra/Chenab and the Dras. Good times…. I’m off to get a suit tailored, get home and have some beef!

Well, we made it Manali. The bus journey was rubbish, other than a couple of hours of sleeping strapped to the boats on the roof. Turns out this is pretty illegal, so it’s a good thing we weren’t noticed!

Beas

We’ve been based out of a lovely hotel, hot showers, cider, comfy beds. It’s been lovely. I’m currently stuffed from a  curry and Baskin Robins icecream. Oh and a bloke gave a beggar a good kicking. What a super place! But I digress….

When Tim arrived, several of us jumped on a few km of the Manalsu behind Old Manali. Shrinkavision kicking in nicely it proved to be pretty blind, super continous and really good fun. A few chunky pourovers to get beaten in, and plenty of tasty lines. Just the job before some cider and momos! (yes Liz, they are ace!)

Today we ran a few sections of the Beas. Patrick and Tom H were feeling a little worse for wear and so decided to get on lower. It seems they had the best time… (click)

The rest of us put on a swollen grey river that was thundering along at a fair old rate. After a km of so we reached a (more) blind rapid and pulled in for a scout. It looked like a nice chunky rapid, a few bigger holes to dodge but nothing major, before (appearing to) flatten off and provide a big eddy. We all dropped in and made it through to the corner, but it didn’t flatten off. Out in front I could see the eddy I was after, but guarding the main line to it were 3 of the most horrendously jazzy pourovers of doom and destruction I have ever seen. Somehow I got through, don’t ask me how, I don’t know!

Tim and Ralph found a sneak line waaaay out in right field and Dave and Adam managed to stop above. All good fun. While we were faffing about Tim’s boat headed off for a solo mission, and me and him legged it to the boats to give chase. After a couple of hundred metres I was forced to conceed, but Tim manned up and got his boat out (using Ralph’s boat). Just was we were all getting it together Adam took a  raping and parted company with his boat. We got him out but the chasing and illness combined to leave me and Dave resting by the bridge while the others carried on. We played cricket with the locals and did a lot of sleeping…. More boating tomorrow, and then on to more multi day adventures…

Me, Dave and Adam on the Beas.