National Motor Bike Expedition by YHAI

Pic source - http://himalayanbiketours.se

Dates:

Last date for Registration is 31th May 2009. The YHAI reserves the right to close the registration early or extend the date of registration.
Date of announcement for selected Participants:- 6th June 2009
Last date of submission of the Participation fee:- 15th June 2009
Expedition starts on: August 24th.

EVENT:
100 Motor Cyclists will undertake about 2500 km journey starting from New Delhi to Chandigarh, Kullu-Manali, Leh & Khardungla Pass covering the most challenging mountain route via Rohtang Pass (13,051 ft.) (3978mtr.), Bara Lacha Pass (16,040 ft.) (4890 mtr), Lachung La Pass ( 16,600 ft.) (5059 mtr.) and Tanglang La Pass ( 17,582 ft) (5359 mtr.) and finally to
world’s highest Motorable road reaching Khardungla Pass (5602 mtr, 18380 ft.). They will return via Kargil, Drass through Zozila Pass (3528 mt, 11575 ft ), Srinagar, Jammu & Ludhiana, Delhi.

ROUTE:
Delhi-Panipat-Ambala-Chandigarh-Kullu-Manali -Tandi- Sarchu – Upshi- Leh-Khardungla-Leh--Kargil-Drass –Zozila Pass- Srinagar-Jammu-Ludhiana-Karnal-Delhi.

The actual route may change depending upon geographical, social and environmental conditions.
Duration: 17 days. Participants will report at Base Camp, International Youth Hostel, New Delhi on 24th August 2009. After expedition, they will leave from New Delhi on 09th September 2009.

Criteria for Selection:
• Preferred Age Group: 20 Years – 50 years
• The participant (male/female) should be in excellent physical and medical fitness.
• They must have a taste for adventure and willing to live life in the rough and tough terrain.

Fees:
Rs. 9,500/- per participant (USD 225 for foreign national)

Registration & More inforamtion:
http://www.yhaindia.org/files/forms/yhai_motorbike.pdf

National Mountain Biking Expedition from YHAI, 19th August 2009

EVENT:
100 mountain bikers will undertake about 600 kms of cycling through world’s most hazardous and difficult terrain on Mountain Bikes starting from 19th August, 09. They will cover this distance in 17 days climbing Rohtang Pass (13,051 ft.) (3978mtr.), Bara Lacha Pass (16,040 ft.) (4890 mtr), Lachung La Pass ( 16,600 ft. ) (5059 mtr.) and Tanglang La Pass ( 17,582 ft.) (5359 mtr.) and finally to world’s highest Motorable Khardung La Pass (18,380 ft.)(5602 mtr).

ROUTE:
Kullu-Manali - Solang Nala-Marhi-Rohtang Pass-Sishu-Jispa-Zing Zing Bar-Sarchu-Whisky Nala-Pang- Debring-Rumtse-Choglamsar-Leh - South Pullu - Khardungla Pass-Leh
The actual route may change depending upon geographical, social and environmental conditions.

Duration: 17 days. Participants will reach at Base Camp, Seobagh, Kullu on 19th August 2009. After concluding the expedition, they will leave from Leh on 04th September 2009.

How to reach Base Camp at Seobagh,Kullu-Manali
Kullu-Manali is well connected from Delhi, Chandigarh & Pathankot by Bus, Train & Air. Nearest Railway station is Chandigarh & the nearest Airport is Bhuntar(Kullu). The base camp at Youth Hostel Seobagh is 3 km from Kullu bus stand on left bank, near Jairu Mineral Water Plant. Tel. no. +91-1902-230113.

Criteria for Selection:
Preferred Age Group: 20 Years – 50 years
The participant (male/female) should be in excellent physical and medical fitness.

Participation Fee:
Rs. 4,500/- per participant.

ROUTE FOR NATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKING EXPEDITION
KULLU (1230 mt.) – LEH (3500 mt.) – KHARDUNGLA PASS (5606 mt.) ‐LEH
Day 1: 19.08.2009 Reporting at Seobagh(Kullu) Base Camp & Orientation.
Day 2: 20.08.2009 Bike Acclimatization, Equipment distribution
Day 3: 21.08.2009 Kullu to Solang Nala (52 km)
Day 4: 22.08.2009 Solang Nala to Marhi (3320 mt.)( 23 km)
Day 5: 23.08.2009 Marhi – Sishu (3100 mt.) (43 km)
Day 6: 24.08.2009 Sishu – Jispa(3142 mt.) (58 km)
Day 7: 25.08.2009 Jispa ‐ Zing zing bar (4150 mt.) ( 31 km )
Day 8: 26.08.2009 Zing zing bar –Sarchu Plain (4253 mt.) (54 km)
Day 9: 27.08.2009 Sarchu Plain ‐ Whisky Nala(4700 mt.) (46 km)
Day 10: 28.08.2009 Whisky Nala – Pang (4240 mt.)( 29 km)
Day 11: 29.08.2009 Pang – Debring(4572 mt.) (43 km)
Day 12: 30.08.2009 Debring ‐ Rumtse (48 km)
Day 13: 31.08.2009 Rumtse ‐ Choglamsar ( 57 km)
Day 14: 01.09.2009 Choglamsar – Leh( 3500 mt.) (08 km)
Participating in Ladakh Festival, Leh.
Day 15: 02.09.2009 Leh to South Pulu(4636 mt.) ( 26km)
Day 16: 03.09.2009 South Pulu to Khardungla (5606 mt.) ( 12 km)
03.09.2009 Khardungla to Leh , (50 km) Valedictory Function.
Day 17: 04.09.2009 Group breaks after Lunch.
Note: There may be changes in the mountain biking route and final programm due to any
unforeseen event.

Registration & more information:
http://www.yhaindia.org/files/forms/yhai_mountainbike.pdf

Source - http://treksncamps.blogspot.com/2009/05/national-mountain-biking-expedition.html

Karwar Wild Life Endangered

The death of a leopard near Amdalli village in Karwar taluk, which was noticed on Saturday by the forest officials, clearly indicates that wildlife is threatened in Uttara Kannada district.

In fact, continued human interference in the forest has made life miserable for wild animals in their natural habitat.

Cases of wild animals sneaking into the human habitat in search of food are on the rise. These animals are either killed by people before being noticed by the forest officials or die of starvation or disease.

The forest region of Uttara Kannada district is no longer safe for wildlife. The rich vegetation of the district is under heavy pressure today than ever before. For instance the once beautiful wooded hills between Karwar and Honnavar have been mercilessly mutilated.

According to the Uttara Kannada Gazetteer, the rate of denudation of forest is four times the rate of replanting in the district.

Large forest areas had been destroyed in the past three decades in the district licitly and illicitly. The statistics provided by the forest department indicate that around 10.5 lakh hectares of forest area had been lost for various reasons.

This included nearly 20,000 hectares of area lost under the Kali hydel project, 50,000 hectares released for agriculture and 26,713 hectares for iron ore mining. These lost regions provided a safe shelter for elephants, bison, tigers, king cobras, leopards, black panthers and spotted deer to name a few. These statistics exclude the forest encroachment, which is about 26,000 hectares and also illicit felling by poachers. In fact at least once in a week the local papers carry reports on forest smuggling. Added to these, indiscriminate poaching of animals has proved disastrous for the survival of these animals.The forest officials complain there are not enough staff. One guard has to manage around 10 sq km of forest region. Moreover, the staff are not provided modern weapons to match those of smugglers.

People allege that many forest officials are hand in glove with the smugglers and funds provided for forestation are misused.

The forest development programme launched under the assistance of Overseas Development Agency of UK, which envisaged the joint management of the forest by the forest department and the villagers, proved a failure.

The village forest panchayats formed under the programme have become defunct today, thanks to the apathy of the forest officials, who did not want others to participate in the management of the forest.

Source