Wilderness First Aid -WFA Training

WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE - WFA was organized in Hyderabad on the 2-3-4 Dec by CELOL ( Centre for Experiential Learning and Outdoor Leadership) and GHAC in partnership with Hanifl Centre and AERIE Backcountry Medicine, USA. This course comprised of a 16-hour (WFA) module and a 4-hour Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) module and is accredited by Wilderness Medicine Society (WMS) and American Heart Association (AHA).



The Wilderness First Aid certification is a mandatory qualification for anyone leading, organizing and facilitating activities in the outdoors.

The 2& ½ Day Wilderness First Aid program was held at Oakridge International School, Gachibowli on the 2-3-4 December and was attended by 25 professionals and enthusiasts from the outdoors, adventure, travel and fitness communities .

The workshop included a 20 Hour Curriculum integrating classroom instruction with scenario based learning and included the following.

Patient Assessment & Extended Care
Injury/ Illness Identification & Management, including:
Shock, Spinal, Head, Chest, Wounds, Fractures, Cold, Heat, Lightning, Altitude, Drowning, Anaphylaxis, Bites, Stings, Medical
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Emergency Response Procedures and Evacuation

Participants were given certificates after passing an evaluation demonstrating their confidence and competence in doing patient assessment in different scenarios and providing appropriate first aid as per the scope of the WFA course.

The course also focused on making improvisations in remote environments including lifting and evacuation techniques in the wilderness areas to reach out to the nearest medical care facility.




Course Facilitators were Mr. Shantanu Pandit and Mr. Akshay Shah, Instructors with NOLS, Hanifl Outdoor Centre and Woodstock School Mussoorie

About:

CELOL (Centre for Experiential Learning and Outdoor Leadership) www.celol.org is a Hyderabad based initiative by Diyanat Ali, Founder Great Hyderabad Adventure Club to promote experiential learning and outdoor leadership to build a community of professionals. CELOL focuses on sharing best practices, mentor and coach aspiring trainers and leaders so that they will learn both theoretical and practical approaches for experiential and outdoor education.

The Hanifl Centre for Outdoor Education and Environmental Study was initially built to extend Woodstock Schools curriculum and to provide a facility and a programme through which students can learn about the Himalaya and develop their skills and knowledge in outdoor education.

AERIE BACKCOUNTRY MEDICINE: Based in Missoula, Montana, Aerie provides wilderness and rural medical training and first aid supplies to over 2,000 students a year throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, Africa and India. Aerie is operating for 20 years with over 10,000 graduates. Aerie is unique in the wilderness medicine training world - small enough to focus on individual students and large enough to be involved in all levels of the outdoor industry and its training needs.


Contact: 9603473470

Kayaking at Hyderabad Water Sports Regatta

It was a fine Saturday morning and getting up was quite a task but I did get up knowing full well that I was due for a day of adventure. I had attended the Kayakathon the previous year and it had been nothing short of riveting. Needing a 1^st finish in the last race to clinch the bronze overall, our team finished first and we stood 3^rd overall. I still remember that my hands gave up on the halfway mark but I pushed through somehow with every ounce of energy left in me. It was a thrilling finish and I still recall almost plunging into the water with excitement.

With similar ideas of finishing at the top, I started from home in the morning. I had a few friends from office joining me for the event. Majid, with whom I had worked in a professional capacity earlier, was organizing the event. We reached Sanjeevaiah Park and there were at least about 100 people there eagerly waiting for instructions. I saw some anxious faces, quite visibly apprehensive about the water. I was not sure what plagued them, the fear of water or the thought of falling into the muck.

(The participants for the race cheering on the teams)

The teams were divided and I was chosen in Gowtham’s team. Gowtham was our coach. Suboth, Sahibar(colleagues from office) and I were in one team. I was sure that with good teamwork, we stood a chance to win. Suheim Sheikh(the founder of Yatch Club of Hyderabad) gave us some nuggets of good advice before the start. Post that, Gowtham gave us instructions about the format of the race. We called ourselves the “Hussain Bolts”, the obvious Usain Bolt pun gave a nice ring to the name. We were to have about 6 races and the best team, overall, would win. This was similar to the last Kayakathon and I was glad to have some experience on my side. I expected a good finish. And I guess good is what we got.

(The team 4 – Hussain Bolts. Hitesh is extra)

We had a practice run right before the race began and my friend Suboth and I head out kayaking. Suboth was sitting infront, with me in the middle and Prasad(one of the children who sail at the Yatch club) steering the boat at the back. As we were really excited and pumped, we got a bit carried away and rowed too hard. We paddled in the opposite directions while Prasad steered hard to the left. The kayak lost control and we toppled into the water. The next thing that happened was that hilarity engulfed us and we couldn’t stop laughing while floating in the Hussain Sagar water. The rescue boat arrived and looking at us, they chucked as well while lifting us out of the water. We returned to the shores with everyone having a good laugh about the fall. We were initiated, I thought. Less did I know that more initiation was to follow.

Suboth and I started the first race. . We collided with 2 other kayaks in the beginning and that cost us a lot of time. It was a spectacular effort and we finished last. We were aghast but sure that we would recover. Anusha and Shiva started the next race and thanks to a collision initially, their kayak toppled very close to the shore. Though this was something that was not to be laughed at, we couldn’t help but laugh our hearts out. As they were in shallow water, Prasad came walking to the shore but Shiva tried to swim in the water and we were all in splits at the majestic swim. Something was not going right for us. As Prasad was tired, I decided to steer the kayak in the 3^rd round with Harsh and Sameer. Thankfully, this time we finished the race at the 4^th position.

(Harsh and Sameer turning in a decent performance)

The next race had Sahibar and Ritish and they finished 6^th. We were back to our consistent ways :D. We had Anusha and Shiva ready for the fifth race as they had not completed the race previously. We set out and finished the race 4^th, happy that we could clock in a decent time.

At this point, there was a slight tweak in rules by Suheim and 2 more races were added. We now had 8 races in all. The team was tired at the moment but we knew we had to pull off a blinder to stand a chance to finish anywhere close to 3^rd. Thoughts of last kayakathon flashed through my mind and I believed we could produce some brilliance. What happened next was nothing short of hilarious.

I was to steer in one race and participate in the other. That would make it 5 races in all for me. My hands were secretly amused at how I would pull it off. The first race had Sameer and Harsh with Prasad steering and they finished a comforting 3^rd. I was really pleased with Harsh as he was way too tired to pedal before the last stretch but we cheered him on and he finished the race. I was to steer the next race with Sahibar and Suboth. Suboth was in the front of the Kayak again and I sensed an impending doom. Right at the start, Hitesh, one of my colleagues from office fell in water as his team’s Kayak toppled. Seeing this, Sahibar and I couldn’t control our laughter. So much that we momentarily forgot about the race and just went on guffawing over the incident. Less did we know that we would meet a similar fate in the next minute. Suboth paddled hard left, Sahbiar paddled right and I tried steering them on course. Result: Another topple.

(Moments before the topple. I’m laughing or shouting, I have no idea)

(With the kayak into the water)

At this point, I could not control my laughter. Suboth and I had toppled again and it was evident that together, we were recipe for disaster. The rescue boat arrived and for a change even they were in splits. The life guard innocently asked “Aap log dusri baar gire na?” after which followed another round of laughter. We were out of the water and headed straight to shore where people were not surprised at all to see us fall. Again.

(Even the life guard has a good laugh over it)

We were done with 7 races and one last race remained. Suboth and I teamed up again and I still remember Majid’s words before we started. “Dude, just finish the race this time.” We started and collided with another boat at the beginning. Thankfully, we did not topple this time but finished last by a very narrow margin (glorifying defeat).

There was a tie breaker for the the 1^st position and Team number 1 finished first. Hitesh’s and Neha’s team clinched the silver medal. We clinched the Hussain Sagar water. There was a post-event ceremony where the winners were awarded while we applauded. They provided T-shirts and snacks later. Though we did not win a medal, I think this was the first time I had this much fun at a kayaking event. The topples may have contributed to it all. Overall, the event was a big success and everyone had their fair share of adventure.

(Participants from Deloitte. Photography by Ritish)

Hussain Sagar is a beautiful lake. Although, efforts are being made to clean it, we still have a long way to go for that and events like these would definitely draw attention of authorities to priorities the cleaning of the lake. To GHAC, Yatch Club and more such awesome events in the future.

Blog by Sahil Kaul

Climbing Bhairavgad and will be back again

Yes we are sure to find water at the top, it’s been long since I have pushed this body beyond it’s normal routine I need radical change to get over the routine that has attached its tentacle to my mind. With the bruises and ankle injury a gruesome trek of uphill ain’t easy but the old man kept saying about water that brought renewed vigor to my pace.

I was separated from my team, baba lured me into it and i followed him it was already 30 mins and I realized after finding I need to go back and get my team, no way they are going to make it here it’s too tangled up a route, the similar mistake that we did other night by not taking guide though he wanted 500 Rs that was beyond reason to me but anyhow it has little value. “It’s been long I have been here I can’t find the water source” shielding his eyes by his hand he was standing tall and looking for it everywhere, I had no bottles with me but then he was carrying one bottle, I would have ended up asking him but after scooping around we could locate it. Time to go back and get the rest of team I helped myself with the water (plenty of it since I was sweating the same amount) and berries that I could find in the jungle, they were pretty awesome but I kept eating them until my head starting nauseating from eating them.

That leopard was almost surveying our blockades, says the policeman. All while adjusting his pants. They never wanted us to go there but anyhow night plan was shattered with the darkness and no gps or compass to guide us and moonlight was sufficient only for romantic couples.

The first patch seemed interesting the first team climbed it all but as they proceed with the newbie team mate it was almost hot and the sun was raging in its fury and reminding us of his reign and limitless scorching power in the summer.

 I managed to follow through my partner but soon realized these grips are insane and I have much less practice in this kind of grips and as I panicked I gave in I could barely reach the climb to 2nd patch and realized how hard I was using the anchors and the futility of this punched me hard and I gave in, after all I felt no point in climbing using aids. Abruptly I rappelled down disappointing my partner who wanted to climb it just for the heights if not for the challenge his eyes were poking deep into my coward face but me of i was lost in my mortality to answer any of his calls. 

While going back we managed to get lost and the fact we were losing daylight and berries were unpalatable they were affecting certain sense in my mind, the Nauseating way. I did smelled rotten flesh two time that indicated the stories about leopard might be true, I kept the members close so that we might not bump into him, in the end we managed to reach the village to travel back to home but with lot of contentment that I not only learned to climb but gained much wisdom by leaving the climb to future.

- Devender Patiyal

A Beginners guide to layered clothing

So, You made up your mind for your first trek and immediate thing you get strikeup with is about what to buy and what not especially about layered clothing. Here is a quick guide on how to choose your layered clothing.

Layering solves the problem of being too hot wearing those bulky jackets and too cold taking them off. It is the best option which allows you to make quick changes based on changes in weather and exertion level.

Each layer has a distinctive function:

·         First layer (base layer right next to the skin which manages moisture)

·         Second layer (insulating layer which provides protection from cold)

·         Third layer (outer shell layer which acts as a shield from rain and wind)

First layer: (Moisture transfer)

Main feature of base layer is it moves sweat away from yo

your body and keeps you dry even when you are sweating.  Being dry helps you both in summer and winter seasons. It wicks away the moisture from your skin to the top of fabric from where it evaporates. 

For high activity level, base layer should be made of either Merino wool or polyester and for low activity level , Silk.

Note: Cotton is a big no no as a base layer as it absorbs sweat , takes longer to dry leaving you chilled.

Second Layer: (Insulation)

This works by trapping dead air space by maintaining warm air in and cold air out. It manages the moisture from base layer.

·         Wool: Wool is a good natural insulator, it keeps you warm even when if it gets wet but it’s a little heavy. rough and takes time to get dry. Merino wool  is soft, warm enough.

·         Fleece: This is a better option than wool as these are half as heavy as wool and is fast drying.

Few fleece garments comes with wind proof membrane.

·         Down: This gives you maximum warmth for its weight but the main drawback is that it loses its insulating power when it is wet. This is the best option for very cold and dry weather.

Third Layer: (Protection from weather)

The primary function of this layer is to protect you when conditions get worst(rain, snow and wind). These are offered in two types soft shell and hard shell.

·         Soft shell: These gives you more freedom of movement, more breathable, may be water resistant but not water proof. Few come with windproof membrane.

·         Hard shell: These are both waterproof and windproof but not as breathable as soft shells. The best jacket will offer adjustable openings (cuffs, collar and waist), vents( for breath-ability), hood(that can be rolled up under the collar when not in use) and waterproof zippers.

Note: As hard shells are less breathable look for something which got more vents, under the arms would be preferable as more the vents more the chance for a leak.

Pics Courtesy : decathlon

Writeup - Imroz

Hyderabad Bird Race 2015

The 6th Hyderabad Bird Race was held on Sunday, 08 Feb  2015 in Hyderabad. The race was conducted by Birdwatchers' Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP), and Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC), along with Yuhina Eco-media and HSBC. The Bird Race was a dawn to dusk event

where teams of bird-watchers spent the entire day birding in and around the green habitats in the city.  The Birders were flagged off early in the morning from the Hotel The Plaza, Begumpet. This was the sixth time such an event was held in Hyderabad in which around 88 participants took part in groups of 4 each. This year a lot of youngsters took part in the bird race and were assigned an experienced birder to help them identify the birds. About 150 species of birds were recorded around the city.

There were no pre-determined routes to the Bird Race. Participants observed the birds at multiple locations all over the city and the outskirts and came up with their own tally of species.  An evening
program was held at Hotel Plaza where the top three teams were recognized based on the tallies checked by the judges.



Mr. G.V Prasad, Co-Chairman & CEO Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, a long-time member of BSAP and an avid bird watcher was the chief guest and attended the evening function. The concept of India bird races takes place in 15 cities across India including Hyderabad and is supported by HSBC. Mr. Aasheesh Pittie, President, BSAP, welcomed the guests and spoke on the importance of birds in maintaining the ecosystem.  Mr. Diyanat Ali, Founder Director, Great Hyderabad
Adventure Club spoke on the management and leadership lessons that can be adopted from birds into our life and work.

Earlier bird races in Hyderabad have recorded more than 200 species of birds. The teams visited open habitats, agricultural tracts. Semi-arid landscapes, inland wetlands, secondary growth, and areas with human population.  Most frequented places were Manjeera sanctuary, Narsapur forest, Himayat Sagar, Ananthagiri Hills. Many birders reported the sightings of flamingos at the Gandipet backwaters. Other prominent birds that were sighted were Golden Oriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Tree
pie, Blue tailed bee eater, Blue faced malkoha.

While the bird race was meant to be primarily fun activity, it also gives an insight into various species of birds and their changing habitats.  Some birders reported the disappearing habitats, shrinking
lakes and felling of trees and digging of mud at many birding habitats around the city and the growing concern of many birders is that they will have to travel to far off distances for birding as the habitats in and around the city are lost to development an encroachment.

The event helped to create awareness and conservation ethos among the citizens for bird and environment conservation.



The winners of the Hyderabad Bird Race 2015 were

1) First Position- Team Name: Munias 
Sighting: 146 birds
Team Lead: Sudhir Moorty 

Members – Ms Anita Negi , Mr Satvik, Mr Gauthama

2) Second Position- Team Name: PittaSighting: 140 birds
Team Lead: Ms Gulshan
Members – Mr Mahipal, Mr Santosh, Ms Kalpana 

3) Third Position- Team Name: Falcons
Sighting: 131 birdsTeam Lead: Mr Asif Hussain,
Members – Mr Hemant Kumar, Mr Siddhart Shah

Pics courtesy - Hemant Kumar

Second GHAC Glimpses of Nature Exhibition

GHAC Nature is happy to announce the Second annual Photo Exhibition 

THIS IS A CALL FOR ENTRIES...to this exhibition

We are looking at pictures of Nature in and around the Deccan Plateau, Nilgiris and Western Ghats that showcase the diversity, colors, beauty, struggle and resilience of nature."Glimpses of Nature"

You can check the pictures exhibited last time here:   First Glimpses of Nature

What kind of pictures we are looking for ?

You can submit pictures of

·  Birds

·  Animals

·  Insects

·  Trees

·  Flowers

·  Rocks

·  Lakes

·  Sunrise/Sunset

Preference will be given to pictures taken around cities as we want to showcase nature around Hyderabad.

What kinds of pictures are not acceptable:

Pictures of captive animals like in cages, zoo, and pets will not be accepted.

Checklist before submitting pictures

·  The picture you are submitting is your own work 

·  The pictures is minimum 3500 px wide on the long edge with 250-300 dpi

·  There is no watermark/copyright mark on the picture.

·  The picture does not show any kind of nudity or other objectionable material. ( GHAC reserves the right to define the same)

Each nature lover can submit upto 5 pictures. You will need to pay a fee  for each of your picture selected for the exhibition. Please note that submitting a picture is no guarantee of picture to be selected as GHAC Nature reserves the right to select or reject any picture for the exhibition.

The date of Exhibition as of now is: December  27 -30, 2014.   However, the exact dates and venue of the exhibition will be announced later.

Please submit a short bio of yours along with your pictures. It should be between 100-250 words and you can give  links to your website or online work like flickr/facebook/blog etc.  Two lines about the picture submitted would be appreciated (this can cover where the picture was clicked and when)

How to submit Pictures

RSVP at this link to join the waiting list. Then submit your pictures by email attachment to nature@ghac.in. Once your pictures are selected you will receive an email confirming which pictures are accepted.

RSVP AT THE LINK by Clicking HERE

Accordingly you will be advised to make payment to GHAC account . Once your money is received in the account you will be confirmed for the same and your pictures will be sent for printing and framing.

The last date to Submit your entries are 1st December, 2014. 

IMPORTANT Points while submitting pictures

·  Pictures should only be in JPEG/JPG format.  However, while printing your selected picture you should be in a position to submit the RAW file also.

·  There should be no watermark on them

·  They should be your original work

·  The long side of picture should be a minimum 3500 px at 250-300 dpi.

·  All pictures should be named like:  Your First name Your Last name What is in picture. E.g  If your name is Amit Kumar and you are submitting a picture of bulbul this is how you will name the file:   Amit Kumar bulbul. jpg. Similarly you will name all your pictures.

·  All pictures will be offered for sale at exhibition and the money received will be divided 50:50 between you and GHAC Nature. GHAC Nature will use the funds to further promote nature related activities.

·  Copyright: You retain the copyright of pictures, however by submitting the picture you agree that  GHAC, GHAC Nature and its associate club/companies will be allowed to use the pictures for promoting the exhibition and other nature related activities without paying any royalty to you.

·  Once the exhibition is over please collect your unsold prints from GHAC office, within the next 7 days after which they will be donated to local government schools

Questions: Please post here on the comments section and we will be happy to answer them.

Questions:  Nature@ghac.in or in the comments below.

Hyderabad Rockathon - A Day among Rocks and Nature - Sun 14 Dec

The Third Hyderabad Rockathon IS happening on the Sunday 14 Dec 2014  from 7:30 am onward and is a annual event to celebrate and preserve the beautiful rocks of the Deccan plateau. Score of exciting adventure and conservation activities are planned for the day at Ghar - E Mubarak behind Taramati Baradari, Gandipet Road. This place is a heritage precinct and has historical significance as the Qutub Shahi kings use to pray at Ghar -e Mubarak before taking up any new construction. The Golconda and the Charminar were built after the mortar material was pasted in the Ghar - e - Mubarak rock cave before start of the construction. 

The planned activities include rock climbing activities like rappelling, zip lining, bouldering and other activities like treasure hunt, trail biking, rock shot putt, photography and rock walks.  Participation is limited . visit www.hyderabadrockathon.com to register.  Event for all ages.  Kids above 6 years can attend along with parent or guardian.

​

Schedule

Start Time                                 Activity
07:30 AM onward                        Registration* and Treasure Hunt Enrollment
08:00 AM onward                        Trail Biking
08:00 AM and 10:30 AM              Rockwalks
08:00 AM – 11:00 AM                  Photography Contest
08:00 AM  onward                       RocDoc Contest
09:00 AM – 03:30 AM                  Rappelling
                                                        Zip lining
                                                        Slack lining
                                                        Bouldering
                                                        Rock Balancing
                                                        Rock Installation 
                                                        Rock Shot Putt
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM                 Drawing Workshop 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM                 Treasure Hunt
12:00 PM - 02:00 PM                  Lunch Time on pay basis (Non included in package)
01:30 PM                                   Rock Quiz (Participants are requested to finish lunch before 1:30 PM)
02.30 PM                                   Snake Show

All outdoor Adventure Rocks activities are run by Hyderabad Climbers Division of GHAC

Cost:  Above 12 Years Rs 400

Above 6 and below 12 years Rs 300

register on www.hyderabadrockathon.com
040-68888197

India Clean Sweep - Clean up of Khajaguda lake

GHAC Volunteers Cleans Khajaguda Once again

With every sun that rises, we rise from sleep to a new day with a different spirit. Waking up for a different cause and challenge. Some of us have to run for office, some for their basic needs. This weekend on this Sunday (June 8th) on ‘World Environment Day’, we woke up for a better reason for cleaning up the Khajaguda lake that we have been the most frequent visitors for. I was representing GHAC (Great Hyderabad Adventure club) while the event was organised by the club in association with Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) and The Hindu.

Many volunteers from GHAC, NGOs-Bhumi and Dirty Feet, college-IIIT Hyd and school children joined the event at the lake surrounded by beautiful rocks, trees, fishes and with many birds at 6:30am. The clean up was inaugurated by Diyanat Ali, founder of GHAC and the volunteers were briefed about the impact they would make on the environment by regular clean up and awareness programmes. 

We gathered near the lake and planned the clean up with different bags for different waste (degradable, non-degradable). GHAC organisers briefed everyone about the safety precautions to be taken during the clean up programme. Armed with the reusable gloves and mask, we started to pick the waste.

With the curious onlookers who came to the lake for their morning activities, the serious vendors who were weighing their fish to get the best Sunday deal from the sale, the birds that perched onto the rocks in the middle of the lake, to sip and take a dip in the water, the pigs that were muddling in the mud, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the buffalos that were having a haughty swim in the water, the lorry that was taking bath in the lake water, the encroachment into the lake that haughtily dominated the lake area, the green trees that were welcoming us with the cool breeze, encouraging us for the activity it was quite a scene near the lake.

While cleaning the lake, we gave the locals some educational materials explaining the hazards of littering and benefits from the proper disposal of garbage.

We tried to motivate the onlookers, fishermen and others who gathered near the lake regarding keeping the lake clean and in reducing plastic usage. By 8:30am we held nearly 41 large bags of garbage treasure collected near the lake.

Some of the garbage was of the ganesh chaturthi celebrations of the previous year.

Apart from the satisfaction of having done something for the day, we had a surprise breakfast provided by Dirty feet organization which we ate haughtily.

We retired to our homes after disposing the garbage in the local bins. It was a day to remember, a day which must not be much different from our regular days. Finally, we hoped to carry the same spirit in keeping our homes and locality equally clean but not only for a day. 

Here is an earlier post on GHAC efforts to cleanup Khajaguda

About Author:Akhila Manne is an outdoor enthusiast and an Inquisitor, she is a researcher at IIIT Hyderabad and trainee organizer with GHAC. In her free time she likes to travel, in her words: 'I Pamper my inner senses. I savour the smell of the first rains, the sweetness of the wind chimes, brightness of the moonlit sky, touch of the soft waves- I travel'

Pictures credit: Saiteja

My GHAC trip for Paragliding in Kamshet

 Paragliding at Kamshet with GHAC

Did you ever want to fly like a bird? The idea of soaring in the sky always gave me the thrill and one of the dreams that I nurtured since my childhood. So, when GHAC gave me the opportunity to learn Paragliding, there was no way I could miss it. One evening, the GHAC group set off from Paradise Fire Station in Hyderabad to Pune by bus, along with our organizer Jamila Kapasi, who is an avid traveler. We reached Pune early next morning and set off on a local train to Kamshet (45 km from Pune). The vehicle of Indus Paragliding was waiting outside the station and took us to the training base – our home for the next 2 days. The ‘Base’ includes accommodation for staff, students and guests – secluded from the main town, thus avoiding the noise of the city and giving you peace and calm during the entire training duration. There was also a beautiful lake in front of the cottages and it was a beautiful sight.

View from the cottage top

After freshening up, we completed the registration process over breakfast with our instructors Yogi (nicknamed “The flying Yogi”, for his dedication to Paragliding for more than ten years) and Pankaj. After breakfast, we were shown an introductory video on paragliding and the equipment used in the sport. After that, we had a theory session along with a brief summary of the course contents and the plan for the next 2 days. After lunch, we headed to a secluded spot for our first practical training class. Pankaj Sir gave us an introduction to the paraglider’s wing or canopy, fitting of the harness and checking of safety gears.

GHAC team understanding the canopy and its intricacies

We were then asked to practice inflation and deflation of the glide, forward / Alpine launch method along with the packing and unpacking of the bag which contained the equipment. It was a daunting task that required a lot of effort but was able to manage it over a period of time. It was interesting to learn the positions “A”, “B”, “C” & “D” and their significance in the sport. After a few hours of practice, we returned to the base by dusk. We spend the evening discussing the learnings of the day.

Day 2 began early as we got ready and left the institute by 6:30 am for flight practice. We went to Shinde hill which we climbed partially for “hops” (low level flights). We had to gear up and then jump from the cliff, fly and land in the ground below. It was an amazing experience flying in the air even though it was for a few seconds. I remembered being totally scared during the first hop but Yogi Sir patiently guided us through the walkie-talkie and helped us navigate properly. I was almost about to land in a bush of thorns but narrowly managed to escape. The difficult task was to collect the canopy and to climb back the hill with the heavy load in hand – I struggled to manage that. All of us got the chance to fly at least three hops. We also learned how to turn in the air and the landing procedure. It was funny to watch most people landing on their back, though you are supposed to land on your feet. All our flights were recorded on video for viewing later in the day.

My first hop

After 3 to 4 hours of practice, we returned to the institute tired and excited. We all took quick showers and sat down hungrily for lunch. Here I would like to mention that the staff at the institute was amazing cooks and the home cooked meal was delicious every time. Post lunch, we sat near the lake and enjoyed ourselves. In the evening, Pankaj Sir showed us the videos of our individual flights and explained the errors that we made. It was thrilling to see us flying and as predicted, all of us could see how scared (and therefore stiff) we were during the first flight. Some of the videos were really funny to watch as sometimes we were all doing exactly opposite to what the instruction provided (confusing the positions “A”, “B”, “C” & “D” respectively). The excitement in the room was fun and contagious. Yogi Sir and Pankaj Sir made us practice the positions again at the institute in a simulated glider. I can never forget this day and waiting for some more equally thrilling experience tomorrow.

 Practicing different positions in the simulated glider

Day 3 also began early and like earlier days, we went to Shinde Hill for today’s flight session. We were faced with disappointment as there was a heavy mist and hence no wind. Pankaj Sir told us that we cannot fly unless there is wind, so we all started praying. Today is our last day in Kamshet, and we don’t want to miss the opportunity of flying today – Yesterday’s experience actually increased our appetite and we were all hungry for more flights.

Team GHAC on the way to Shinde Hill with the heavy bag carrying the canopy, harness etc. 

To while away the time, we did some time pass activities including all of us dancing to Gangnam style. The guys also did some mock action and fight scenes which we enjoyed. The group was extremely energetic and fun and it actually made the experience even more memorable. After an hour, the mist lifted and wind started to blow. We quickly geared up and this time climbed the top of the hill for a better flight position. We all flew one after another. What an amazing and unforgettable experience that was!! My first flight today was more than a minute as I covered a lot of height and distance. Everyone was scared below that I would lose the walkie-talkie coverage but Yogi Sir guided me beautifully. We all are totally grateful to him for giving us the most memorable moments of our lives. While I was trying to land during my second flight, there was a group of buffalos walking underneath and I was scared that I might land either on top of them or in their midst. Everyone kept teasing me about that later; however, again I had a narrow escape. Today, some local boys helped carry our bags in return for a few bucks. The energy and enthusiasm of those boys was amazing. They even helped fill up our bottles when we ran out of water. The boys were constantly running up and down the hill carrying bags for each of us.

All good things come to an end and soon our time to fly got over. It was time for us to return to our institute proudly carrying out the log books and the certification that we completed the elementary course in Paragliding J Thank you GHAC for giving me this opportunity to fulfil my dream – An unforgettable experience of my life!! Would like to come back for the next level courses as well J

My Flight 

Team GHAC celebrating successful completion of Elementary Paragliding course

Over all it was a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to more activities with GHAC, if you would like to participate in GHAC adventure activities then visit the GHAC site to find more details.

About Author:

 Ipsita Mukherjee: Like the name of my blog-(Wanderlust-My travel diary), I love travelling and capturing images of the places I travel through my trusted camera. Given a chance I would love to travel 365 days of the year, however, my job in the corporate industry does not give me that luxury. I work as a Training Manager in a BPO. I have decided to start writing about my travels and share my experiences with others. My intention is to inspire people to travel

disclaimer: The views expressed in the post are of the author and not necessarily represent GHAC. If you would like to write for GHAC blog please check the contribution guidelines.