ROCK CLIMBING
It is not quite easy to define rock climbing, but it is not difficult too. Anyone who claims to be a rock climber has his own version of the game. Rock climbing for some is to challenge their spirits and explore new heights, to give a fillip to their unbounded imaginations; for others, it is a way telling the world that he/she has finally arrived. For many of the professional rock climbers, it is not a sport. Can you call a mission to moon a sport or pastime? If not, then why should rock climbing be called a sports is the argument. For them, rock climbing is an adventure of the greatest magnitude; it is a fight against self, against the elements, and the ultimate goal is to reach the summit and return back alive.
Rock climbing is a test of strength, concentration and coordination as well as skill and technique. A climber learns from experience that the mountain must not be taken for granted.
It can be rough and antagonistic to those who venture to come to grips with it. Nevertheless, as a sport, climbing continues to offer a thrill and challenge that is compulsive.
In India, rock climbing, as most other adventure sports, is a relatively new sport. However, in a short span of time, it has become the most popular adventure sport. Because of the good distribution of great climbing rocks throughout India, coupled with the element of excitement involved, rock climbing has become the sport to participate in for the young and the old alike.
Courtesy Temple Pilots)
Today I went for a rock climbing and rappelling expedition. We were a group of 8 people led by the organisors, who were 5.
We left Dadar, Mumbai, about 7 am and reached Mumbra about 8am. From there it took us another hour to reach the foot of the rock. Mumbra, just after Thane has a temple well known to everyone in Maharashtra. The temple is situated atop a hill around
100 M high with a steep set of steps.
About half way through, one has to walk into a jungle on the right side which leads to a number of rock formations. This is where rock climbing is done. The rock we tried was about 25 M high.
The instructor explained how climbing and rappelling has to be done.After the harness and helmet are put on,the rope hanging from top of the rock is clamped to the harness near the waist. The person on top of the hill who controls the slack of the rope has to be warned that climbing is going to start.Out of the four limbs,three should always be holding on to the rock. One has to find a proper foot hold or grip for the hands. Then weight of the body should be shifted to that limb and with the help of the other three limbs the body has to be pulled upwards.While doing this further holds should be checked.After a little climbing the rope will slacken and the controller has to be told to tighten it. This is done to prevent deep fall in case one slips.The climb was rather difficult as not many holds were available for your limbs. Some how, some of us managed the climb.
RAPPELLING
Rappelling is a form of controlled descent from the top of the hill, using a rope anchored at the top. It relies on the friction between the rope and your body, or through a mechanical device (billet).Generally the rope is passed through a friction device in your harness. One hand is used to guide your descent while the other hand regulates the pace of your descent. Your body should be in an ‘L’ shape, with legs straight, feet apart planted firmly on the rock surface. Your body weight takes you down while the friction device controls the pace of the descent. You have to slowly walk backwards down the rock face, while releasing the rope with the rear grip.
After the difficult climb,rappelling was not very difficult, everyone did it with ease.
It was extremely hot and humid and every one was tired by 11am, by which time all participants had tried and some completed the climb.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
PARAGLIDING , 14TH MAY , 2009.
PARAGLIDING , 14TH MAY , 2009.
You want to fly? Why do you want to fly hundreds of meters above the ground, over looking hills, fields and rivers? It is a challenge, a dream, an intimacy with nature and the beauty of the open blue sky, the clouds, the birds and the wind blowing into your face, which is difficult to explain.
This is why some take to Para gliding.
My son Ravindra is a trained para glider. For quite some time, I have been asking him to take me for the gliding. At last we made it on Thursday the 14th May, 2009. We traveled to a place called Karla about 100 kms. from our place on the Mumbai- Pune road (just beyond Lonavala, a hill station). The para gliding club has an office cum residential accommodation there. We had lunch and waited for some time as the day was very windy for gliding. Around 3pm we left from there and traveled about 15 kms on a gravel road to reach the foothills. Since the road is bad, we traveled in a SUV. There is a plain ground at that point which is used for landing as well as for training recruits in ground handling of the glider. We climbed up from there to a hill top about 100 M high, which is reasonably plain for take off. We used local boys for carrying the equipment up and down the hill. First I wanted to try. A harness was put on me and I was clamped to the instructor who was behind me. The instructor first makes the glider float and suddenly turns and we start running for a small distance and then we take off. We went to about 350m height and flew for about half an hour. He did a few acrobatics after confirming that I am not scared or suffer from vertigo or other problems. It was a little scary, but was thrilling. We tried to land at the same point from where we took off, but because of high velocity winds and shortage of space there, we could not land. After some more flying we landed in the plain below. Over all it was a great experience. Then my grand daughter Rhea, all of 6 years age, wanted to try. The harness was put on her. Ravi checked with her whether she is comfortable. She seemed to be amused by the whole thing and said she is fine. Then they took off. We could see that she was really enjoying the flight. She was waving her hands to us from that height. We saw that the instructor was doing acrobatics. I was a little bit worried. After about half an hour flight they landed in the plain where we were waiting. We could see the thrill on her face. The instructor told us that she asked him to do the acrobatics. When he started coming down to land, it seems she told the instructor that she felt that the flight should never end. She also told him that she will come back and learn to fly solo soon. These flights normally last for 10 minutes, but because of Ravi's association with the school, both my self and Rhea flew for more than half an hour each. The training school is run by two instructors. One of the instructors competes at national level competitions.
You want to fly? Why do you want to fly hundreds of meters above the ground, over looking hills, fields and rivers? It is a challenge, a dream, an intimacy with nature and the beauty of the open blue sky, the clouds, the birds and the wind blowing into your face, which is difficult to explain.
This is why some take to Para gliding.
My son Ravindra is a trained para glider. For quite some time, I have been asking him to take me for the gliding. At last we made it on Thursday the 14th May, 2009. We traveled to a place called Karla about 100 kms. from our place on the Mumbai- Pune road (just beyond Lonavala, a hill station). The para gliding club has an office cum residential accommodation there. We had lunch and waited for some time as the day was very windy for gliding. Around 3pm we left from there and traveled about 15 kms on a gravel road to reach the foothills. Since the road is bad, we traveled in a SUV. There is a plain ground at that point which is used for landing as well as for training recruits in ground handling of the glider. We climbed up from there to a hill top about 100 M high, which is reasonably plain for take off. We used local boys for carrying the equipment up and down the hill. First I wanted to try. A harness was put on me and I was clamped to the instructor who was behind me. The instructor first makes the glider float and suddenly turns and we start running for a small distance and then we take off. We went to about 350m height and flew for about half an hour. He did a few acrobatics after confirming that I am not scared or suffer from vertigo or other problems. It was a little scary, but was thrilling. We tried to land at the same point from where we took off, but because of high velocity winds and shortage of space there, we could not land. After some more flying we landed in the plain below. Over all it was a great experience. Then my grand daughter Rhea, all of 6 years age, wanted to try. The harness was put on her. Ravi checked with her whether she is comfortable. She seemed to be amused by the whole thing and said she is fine. Then they took off. We could see that she was really enjoying the flight. She was waving her hands to us from that height. We saw that the instructor was doing acrobatics. I was a little bit worried. After about half an hour flight they landed in the plain where we were waiting. We could see the thrill on her face. The instructor told us that she asked him to do the acrobatics. When he started coming down to land, it seems she told the instructor that she felt that the flight should never end. She also told him that she will come back and learn to fly solo soon. These flights normally last for 10 minutes, but because of Ravi's association with the school, both my self and Rhea flew for more than half an hour each. The training school is run by two instructors. One of the instructors competes at national level competitions.
Friday, May 8, 2009
RIDEAU CANAL AND ICE SCULPTURES, OTTAWA, CANADA
RIDEAU CANAL AND ICE SCULPTURES IN OTTAWA, CANADA
RIDEAU CANAL, about 8 kms long flows through Ottawa, Canada. This completely freezes during winter and is used by locals as a skating rink. They claim it as the longest skating rink in the world.
When the canal is frozen, shops lending skating equipment and food courts are set up at both the ends of the canal. During week ends there is so much crowd, one feels as though the whole of Ottawa is present at the canal. For those who cannot skate a push cart similar to a child’s perambulator with skis is also lent. One can comfortably sit inside this and cover with blankets. The skater holds on to grips on this and pushes the cart while skating.
During the winter festival a sculpting competition is held. A large number of sculptors from all over the world assemble here to show off their artistry. Different themes are selected by the sculptors for the sculptures. It is very interesting to see them with drawings and cutting, chiseling and polishing huge blocks of ice. They make temporary supports for propping the sculpture till it is finished.
The work is so fine, it is only a few mm in diameter to depict strings of an instrument like lute or hair of a women. The balancing of the sculpture is very vital. When a horse is shown standing on two legs, the weight of the horse has to be perfectly balanced on the legs. Sometimes when the sculpture is complete, due to improper balancing it is heart wrenching to see the whole sculpture breaking into pieces.
We visited the canal and sculpture shows in Feb, 2004. It was still freezing out side and we had to wear a lot of protective clothing. We hired a push cart in which I sat with my grand daughter Rhea, while my son Ravi skated for some time while pushing the cart. My wife Radhika and daughter in law Pritti were spectators.
RIDEAU CANAL, about 8 kms long flows through Ottawa, Canada. This completely freezes during winter and is used by locals as a skating rink. They claim it as the longest skating rink in the world.
When the canal is frozen, shops lending skating equipment and food courts are set up at both the ends of the canal. During week ends there is so much crowd, one feels as though the whole of Ottawa is present at the canal. For those who cannot skate a push cart similar to a child’s perambulator with skis is also lent. One can comfortably sit inside this and cover with blankets. The skater holds on to grips on this and pushes the cart while skating.
During the winter festival a sculpting competition is held. A large number of sculptors from all over the world assemble here to show off their artistry. Different themes are selected by the sculptors for the sculptures. It is very interesting to see them with drawings and cutting, chiseling and polishing huge blocks of ice. They make temporary supports for propping the sculpture till it is finished.
The work is so fine, it is only a few mm in diameter to depict strings of an instrument like lute or hair of a women. The balancing of the sculpture is very vital. When a horse is shown standing on two legs, the weight of the horse has to be perfectly balanced on the legs. Sometimes when the sculpture is complete, due to improper balancing it is heart wrenching to see the whole sculpture breaking into pieces.
We visited the canal and sculpture shows in Feb, 2004. It was still freezing out side and we had to wear a lot of protective clothing. We hired a push cart in which I sat with my grand daughter Rhea, while my son Ravi skated for some time while pushing the cart. My wife Radhika and daughter in law Pritti were spectators.
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