Level Six

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!

Phew, it’s sweaty out here in Uttranchal Pradesh! I’ve been out here for about a week so far and been having an excellent time. Patrick tells the tale of the Yamuna river on his blog. All I’l add is that within 36 hours of landing in Dehli I was in the middle of some awesome rapids!

Yamuna locals

Following on from that we took half a day to catch our breath and stock up on grub before heading to the next valley over, the home of the Tons…

Taxi!!

We had heard vauge rumours that the Tons might be paddled or rafted, but had no real info, so we picked some points, booked taxis and away we went!

In the absence of a eggs benedict, how about some breakfast gnarl?

Arriving after dark, all we could hear was an enormous roar, and by torchlight we discovered an enormous hole! Fortunately daylight showed us that we had lucked out and camped at the bottom of a monstrous (2km?) long rapid.  Luck was with us, and other than a couple of portages it all went nicely, and we soon arrived at a lovely little spot to camp.

Patrick on the Tons

Read and Fun!

Overnight the rain brought the river up to a much more jazzy level, and combined with the early morning mist we made slow progress before being ejected from the river by a millitary type who insisted we were breaking the law. Keen to avoid a fine we skedadled!

 

Scouting the Gnar on day 2 on the Tons.

We are now resting/recovering in Missoori, and heading to Manali shortly for the next adventure……

Last weekend was Mitch’s birthday, and in true Bangor style we paddled down the straits to the pub.

Hiking in to the put on. A pleasant 5 minute walk.

A very blury me.

Woo, pretending I am James Bond, I peel off the drysuit to reveal shirt and cords.

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Birthday Boy Mitcharooo.

This morning the postman dropped off a big parcel of goodies from Level Six. Included amongst my trendy hats, shirts, caps and thermals was my awesome looking dry suit. Billed as athlete designed, it actually was, with emails flying back and forth about pee zips and socks last year. Hotly anticipated since OR last year it’s finally made it here. Unfortunately just in time for the summer, but it’s never to early to get hyped for next season. The boys in Canada have been shredding in the Barrier for a little while now, Zach had this to say “The new Barrier Drysuit is keeping me perfectly dry and does not constrict the movement needed for waves like Chambly at all.”

Zach looking for some air time in chilly Canada.

The new suit has all the features I’ve come to love from the Mack cag, combined the funky styling of the Georgian dry trousers. Big chest pocket with little jobby for the car key, sleeve pocket, plenty of room without being baggy, and the really good waist tightening system.  Add to this a couple of pockets in “normal” places, proper metal zips on the back and the crotch that you can do up on your own, decent zip covers, and reinforced soles to the feet and you’ve got a sweet suit. I’ve not got out in it yet as it’s lovely and warm here and I’m trying to revise for my finals, but I’m dead excited about living out of this suit on the rivers of India this summer.

The suit, so fresh it still has labels on it!

The back of the suit, showing the zip cover and the natty elasticated zip thing, making it possible to put it on all by yourself.

Re-enforced soles to the socks, and the trendy flares.  

The pee zip and cover, again full metal zip and decent tab to pull, probably even works with one hand.

Level Six are brought into Europe by Rokxat Adventure Traders, with luck there will be some kit in the shops of the UK soon! If you want some more info on the suit check out THE INFO! or drop me an email.