GHAC Founding day celebrated.

GHACians celebrated the 4th Founding day yesterday on 27th May. GHAC
has come a long way creating experiences, impacting lives and forging
bonds. When I look back at the journey of growth, the journey of ups
and downs, the exciting and happy times.  It makes me nostalgic and
invokes in me emotions and feelings, Its bring the memories of the
very day I believed in the concept of an adventure club, the journey
thereafter and all the initial support received from friends and
family.

Its just not enough to have an Idea but important to motivate and
influence significant others to join and support the idea and execute
it . Leadership is all about influencing people and making them
leaders, thereby leaders creating leaders. This is what we do at GHAC
on a constant basis.

I would like to remember and thank all those family and friends who
believed in the idea and stood by me in the initial days. I would also
like to thank all the following members of the first ever GHAC
Executive Committee formed in September 2009  consisting of Dr. A.V.S
Prasad , Ali Razvi, Rajan Patel, Padmaja, Javed, Shishir, Ranga,
Manisha, and Vibha.  I have also been supported by members of the
first organizing committee consisting of Arun Raj, Deepam Morporia,
Jayanta Mondal, Sreenath and significant others in the journey. All
their support and suggestion made the foundation for a strong growth
of GHAC.

I would also like to thank all the following persons for starting a
new initiatives and all the hard work involved to sustain it and also
train others in the activities.

Rappelling - Deepam Morporia
Bird Watching - Arun Vasavireddy
Bouldering - Ranga
Wilderness Survival - Rajeev Sharma
Caving, Slack Lining - Aleem Quadri
Australian Rappelling - Melville Irwin

My Sincere thanks to the Current Volunteers who are driving the club
with much enthusiasm and commitment. The list is too long to list
here. Check out all our leaders at
http://meetup.ghac.in/members/?op=leaders and there are many more in
training who will join the list soon.

My Thanks to all the GHAC members for the committed participation and
trust in GHAC. It's because of your participation that we grow day by
day. We are doing more to get you more adventure events and to make
sure the waiting lists come down.

GHAC is all about changing lives, Making a difference to many and
getting people out of their comfort zones. Furthermore let us look to
the future about what GHAC can be and how we all together drive it to
the next level. It's the strength of knowing our past that will help
us succeed in future as well.

Every Team member at GHAC is a Leader with a strong purpose, passion
and commitment towards the mission and vision of GHAC. Good Team Work
and a Team Leadership Model where everyone is equal is our strength.
Whenever required some leaders take charge and are wholeheartedly
supported by the rest and its this very leadership model that has
brought us here and will also take us to the next levels.

As the largest and most active adventure club we also have to make
sure we cater to all levels and not end up being a club of a select
few. Hence it's important to have activities at all levels and
motivate people to take up more challenges and grow along with the
rest.

As we grow together there will be need of more volunteers along with
full time resources in future and it's high time that some of you can
seriously look towards getting trained and certified and take up
adventure as a full time career with GHAC.

Our Vision remains to Reach out to a 1,00,000 participants in the next
few years.

Our Milestones are

Short Term
200 volunteers
5 full time employees
Better Office
Our Own Climbing Wall
Vehicle for Logistics
Jeeps - 1
Tempo Traveler -1
State of the art equipment for rock climbing, mountaineering etc.


Long Term
500 volunteers
50 Full time Employees
Buses - 4
Jeeps - 4
Tempo Traveler -4
Bigger Office
Land for adventure zone - 50 Acres at few select locations
State of the art equipment for all adventure activities.

Lets Work Together to achieve our vision and milestones.

regards

Diyanat
Founder and Chief Organiser

Founding Day Message

GHAC was founded on the 27th May 2008 with a primary cause of bringing
adventure, outdoor and nature activities to the citizens of the twin
cities. We are celebrating our founding day from 11 am onwards on
Sunday 27th May 2012, at Prasad's Preview Theatre and I invite you to
attend it with friends and family. Please RSVP for the event on at
http://meetup.ghac.in/events/65484722/

We will also unfold some exciting future plans and activities of GHAC
at the celebrations. We also have scheduled quite a number of
adventure events this weekend to mark the Founding Day occasion. GHAC
has come a long way till here and we still have a long way to go, many
milestones to achieve and goals to reach in order to make Hyderabad
the most active adventure city in India.

GHAC today stands tall with close to 8000 members, 1300 activities,
100 outdoor leaders and growing strong day by day. This was made
possible because of the immense enthusiasm and total commitment of all
our volunteers.

Behind the conduct of numerous adventure events, is a strong ideology
of sharing a passion and going that extra mile in doing it. A high
sense of dedication and perseverance by all the GHAC Leaders in
reaching out to as many members as possible is making it possible in
making Hyderabad an adventurous city.

GHAC through its numerous activities enables people to get out of
their comfort zones and become fit and stay healthy. It lets people
overcome their fears and grow confident in their abilities. It
inculcates a spirit of adventure and sense of discipline. It also
teaches us to care for our environment and increases ones social
circle by bringing like minded people together.

On behalf of the GHAC Organizing Committee, I thank all our members
for their participation in the club's activities and making GHAC the
most active and numero uno Adventure Club in the country. Please share
the passion and enthusiasm with your friends and family and bring them
along to our adventure meetups.

GHAC Members are welcome to volunteer, get trained and contribute to
the mission and vision of GHAC. Please get in touch with any of the
organizers to know more about volunteering for GHAC.

Let us together Change Lives

Regards

Diyanat Ali
Founder and Chief Organiser
GHAC
www.ghac.in
diyanat@ghac.in
09885039230

Everest Base Camp - Final Instructions

Its great to know that you are going on a life changing journey to the everest base camp. The following are tips and advice to make your journey safe and enjoyable.

Stop all workouts 2 days before the trip and let the body recover and rest fully. Take care of yourself and don't fall ill before the trip. This includes eating outside or doing any adventure activity that can use injury.

Get a medical check up by a family doctor and sign the Trek disclaimer and submit to organiser. Link to Medical Form - http://files.meetup.com/1166925/ghac-medical-certificate.pdf

For children below 18 years Helicopter evacuation insurance is compulsory. This costs about $15 per day. And for 15 days it will cost $225 non refundable for the entire trip. Please inform the trip leader well in advance to arrange this and make the payment in advance.

Finish your packing as per the list given on http://meetup.ghac.in/messages/boards/thread/6399579
Carry your personal Medicines along with the ones given in the list. carry band aids in various shapes, round square and strips for blisters - about 6 each

The underwear should be boxer/shorts type as the regular V shape ones creates irritation on the inner sides. bani-ans should be half sleeves and not sando types. Females may additionally invest into go-girl toilet kit by GO Girl This is available at wildcraft stores in india

Carry, savlon, antiseptic wet wipes and candid/dusting power for daily wiping and sprinkling in arm pit and groin areas to treat fungal and yeast buildup due to sweating. keep two pair of nylon socks the pantyhose type ( the ones the girls wear). This has to be worn over the regular socks as it helps keep away from getting blisters and adds free movement of the foot.

Shave your groin and arm pit areas a few days before the trek to reduce chances of fungus buildup and daily dust or wipe the area clean with antiseptic wipes. Its a good idea to take a bath on a bright sunny day.

Few days before the trip Please try 125 Mg of diamox in the night and morning to check if you have any allergy, diamox is a sulphur drug and some people can be allergic to it. consult your doctor as well. Make sure you drink enough water as diamox is a diuretic and drains water from the body.

Carry a big backpack for your regular stuff which the porter will carry and a small daypack to carry your daily stuff like water, refreshments, medicine, wind sheeter etc.

Your total luggage should not exceed 20 KG. that is 5 KG in small daypack and 15 KG in big backpack . Please get proper backpack or rucksack and not a suitcase. If you are planning to buy a backpack in Nepal then you can get any bag and deposit it at the hotel. Please also keep in mind that the sleeping bag and down jacket , trekking pole which you will rent will weigh another 3-4 KG together. You may choose to leave your extra clothes and things that you do not need in the hotel in Kathmandu. The secret to keep light weight is to carry just the basic essentials in small quantities sufficient for 2 weeks. You can also Buy your gear in Kathmandu – Track pants, Tshirts, backpacks, trekking poles, hats, gloves, socks everything is available in nepal at cheaper costs. Shops in nepal close by 10 pm . we have a morning next day flight then plan accordingly to go to the stores to get the stuff.

Take Travel Insurance online for the days you are traveling to nepal and back to India. Rest of the days travel insurance is not valid as we will be in the mountains.

The balance due payment has to be made on the day of arrival in Kathmandu itself including payment for rental gear. The extra amount for rental gear would be about Rs 100 - 150 nepali per day. For payments in the mountains Bring Cash in Indian rupees of 100, 50, 10 or dollars in small denominations. You can also carry nepali currency. Indian Rs 500 and 1000 are not accepted in the hills. Carry extra cash of about Rs 10,000 with you while on the trek. You can carry upto USD 2000 or Rs 1 lacs without needing to declare it.

Get stomach fillers - something that you need to keep eating in between meals. Chocolates, sugar candy, groundnut chiki, dates, dry fruits etc. Bring Tang, Rasna and ORS to add to water. flavored water is drinkable and also gives energy. for the budgeted Salt and sugar is commonly available everywhere on the trek. Get a book to read in the evenings otherwise it may get a little boring.

While trekking on hills give way to yaks, people and sherpas to passy by on the trails. Keep yourself close to the mountain when walking over edges that means stay on the inside edge of the trail so you dont fall off the cliff

The best views are in the morning and evenings so make sure you get up early to catch some great views.

Stick to Veg food above Namche Bazar or buy a chicken locally and ask it to be cooked. Drink only boiled water or use iodine or purification tablets always. Boiled and hot water costs additionally about Rs 100 per bottle and Rs 20 per glass. This amount is to be directly paid at the tea houses. Budget about Rs 200 per day for boiled water. and Rs 300 extra if you want to take a bath. Phone calls cost Rs 100 per minute to india. about 200 near gorakshep. You can take a SIM in Nepal and it should work most of the times.

Always protect yourself from cold by wearing proper clothing, this includes wearing thermals or multi layers in the night and wind sheeter in the day and using cotton in your ears if needed. Always carry a wind sheeter in your backpack. You never know when the weather will change. Thermals are only for the night time and should not be worn while trekking. Never go outside without proper clothing even if you are going to toilets in the nights.

Take your time while you trek on the route, especially be slow on steep routes. It is not a race and nobody is timing you to get up the hill faster. Acclimatize properly, drink plenty of water and take proper rests when out of breath. People who get sick are people who usually rush ahead. Never do this mistake. We have lot of time and slow and steady with proper food, water and rest is the secret to making it safely to the base camp and back

Carry Sun glasses with U.V Protection and extra pair of specs if you have sight. specs do break some of the time. No Contact lenses as eyes will get damaged due to low oxygen.

Bring any symptoms you feel to notice of your trek leader or guide and follow the advice. Be rest assured that you are doing this trip with the best people who have been there and done that many times.

Finally Get Ready for a life changing journey.

Diyanat Ali
www.ghac.in