First move Dhauliganga, Image Sam HughesThis week we completed our journey across Uttranchal. The Kali river is what forms the dividing border between India and Nepal. Its a wild area and one that very few paddlers visit. We drove through the night a slept in a donkey shelter above a raging torrent, the upper Dhauliganga. In the dark we could hear big things below our camp but had to wait until daylight before we could get too excited. In the town on New Sobla we met the local people and gained their permission to head upriver to Tijamo.
Image Sam Hughes
Image Sam Hughes
Image Sam Hughes
The local turned our in full force lining the banks and running downriver as we progressed. In town we were congratulated by swarms of kids and the atmosphere of friendly rural people. Image below - Sam Hughes
Image Sam Hughes
On run number two we moved downstream at a better pace and added an extra kilometre of class 4-5 below town. At this point the river drops away violently with a series of portages and sieves.
Image Zak Shaw
Image Zak Shaw
Image Sam Hughes
Driving upriver locals asked us what time we would be passing by so they could stop work for a while to watch. The first move indicated how it would be downstream, intense. With a gradient of around 50m/km and 30 ish cumecs. The river pushed us around relentlesly for 8 full on kilometres back to New Sobla.
Image Sam Hughes
Its was by far the most full on whitewater we have found this trip. Steve had a lucky escape after being pushed into a cave on our first run. JJ was lightening quick in getting a rope into his hands during a brief instant where we his body surfaced.
I to suffered when I was surfed in two monster hydraulics in the main flow and then finished the rapid upside down whilst going over an 8ft ledge. I brought the team rum that night, swimmers buy the rum!
Image Sam Hughes
Image Sam Hughes
On run number two we moved downstream at a better pace and added an extra kilometre of class 4-5 below town. At this point the river drops away violently with a series of portages and sieves.
With time running short we quickly traveled to the Ghali ganga and paddled a classic 15km section the following day.
Image - Zak Shaw
Paddler JJ Shepherd, completes one of the bigger moves unscathed.
Before arriving in Kathmandu its important to look your best!
In Tanakeura; a town on the border we fixed the truck, helped Ben Jackson get on a bus to Delhi and although its a little late JJ felt obliged to start "movember07"
Image Zak Shaw " Time for Chai" Its been a regular thing in India to arrive on someones doorstep in the dark hours. Weve found teashops, sheds, quarries to make for adequate roadside camping. Once again at 7am 'Nikita" came to take Chai orders!
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