great hyderabad adventure club ghac newsletter aug 10

GGGREATREATREAT HHHYDERABADYDERABADYDERABAD

AAADVENTUREDVENTUREDVENTURE CCCLUBLUBLUB TREKKING, HIKING, ROCK CLIMBING AND ADVENTURE SPORTS

Carnival Edition Aug ‘10 ISSUE 10

Howdy GHACians!

The monsoon did not dampen the adventure spirit of GHACians by one bit . Perhaps, there were more

treks and trips in Jul-Aug than before. Be it exploring new frontiers like the Narsapur Forest, be it treading tough

terrains like Ladakh-Leh-Kargil, or be it climbing rocks at the Ghattuppal Hills, we’ve done it all. Way to go!

It is also wonderful to see organizers taking adventure trips to another level arranging for trek-and-camp events

like A night with the Chenchus, Dhoodsagar waterfalls and more. Innovation at its best.

What’s more? GHAC organized the Hyderabad Bouldering Cup in association with the Indian Moun-

taineering Federation, and the First Aid Certificate Course for a third time, to make sure we knew how to deal with

risks during our adventures.

Hats off to the enthusiastic and ever growing bunch of organizers and adventurers!

It’s a pleasure to present to you this GHAC Carnival 2010 edition of the news letter.

The Editor.

Bharath Reddy T

From the Editor’s Desk

Great Hyderabad Adventure C lub Carn iva l Ed i t ion Aug ‘10

Message from the Chief Organizer Dear Members and Guests!

The "GHAC Carnival 2010" is our second annual meet aimed at creating awareness on the importance

of incorporating adventure and environmental concern in our lives. The event is also a celebration of the

achievements by our members who fared well in the various adventure activities despite numerous challenges.

For the first time in India, the club is introducing the concept of adventure wear fashion show and we hope it

will be received well by everyone.

It’s been a successful journey for 2 years since the GHAC’s inception. What was started with a small group of

friends is now a strong group of 2300+. Though we had little response from Hyderabad City initially, after the

Everest Base camp Trek in June 2009 we had adventurers pouring in. It’s a matter of pride for me to announce

that we have recently completed 217 adventure activities, ranging from trekking, hiking, camping, bouldering,

to rock climbing, paragliding, scuba diving and more.

The Club's safety record has been phenomenal, thanks to the outmost importance to safety norms the

club has established. The organizers are well trained and we’ve Medical doctors available 24/7 for advice. The

club has conducted three First Aid workshops and St. Johns Ambulance has certified 85 GHACians as trained

in First Aid.

We plan to make a Hyderabad city and the state of Andhra Pradesh an Adventure tourist destination. I wish

you an adventurous and a healthy lifestyle with GHAC.

Regards,

Diyanat Ali

Chief Organizer.


Inside this issue:

Events

4 Ananthagiri Hills & Nagasamudra Lake Trek 4 Bidar Fort Visit 5 Hyderabad Bouldering Cup 5 Golkonda Fort Trek 7 Laknavaram, Ramappa Lake Trek 8 Jog Falls & Gokarna Beach Trek 8 Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek 9 Trekking in Ghattuppal Hills 12 Mallelathertham & Bheemunikonallu Trek 12 Talakona Waterfall & Forest Trek

14 First Aid Certificate Course 3 14 Night with the Chenchus

Features:

6 I can still hear it… - Priyank Shah

9 Bitter Litter. - Srinivas Bitla

10 A 1000Km along the Himalayas - Prathima Vee

13 Buying a Sleeping Bag - Diyanat Ali

15 About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club 18 GHAC Management 18 Upcoming Events

Want to join GHAC? Sign up at www.ghac.in Do you read blogs? Read ours at blog.ghac.in Want to join the gang on Facebook? Search for Great Hyderabad Adventure Club Twitter follower eh? Our tweets are on twitter.com/hydadventure

2 From the Editors Desk 2 Message from the Chief Organizer

16 adventurers gathered in the early hours of July 18, and headed towards a

beautiful hill station with stunning viewpoints….The Ananthagiri hills. About 70

kms from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri hills is the origin to the famous Musi River.

The temple of lord Padmanabham built by a Muslim king is yet another place that

bears testimony to the glorious history of the land.

What’s in store: Trekking, boating, fishing, walk along the Nagasamudra lake.

Trek to Ananthagiri hills is not new to GHACians, but every time the

group follow different routes and this time our members trekked a good 12 kms

exploring the forest which was its at its best in the monsoon season. Apart from

trekking the members had a great time sighting beautiful butterflies, flowers, and

even tasted some fruits!!

The GHAC Trekometer rates Ananthagiri hills as moderate.

Photo Album:

http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=992702

Anantagiri hills & Nagasamudra lake Trek


Bidar Fort Visit

Bidar fort located in Bidar, Karnataka, about 140Km south of Hyderabad, is

considered one of the most formidable forts of the country. Built in the 15th cen-

tury, the fort houses Royal Palaces, Mahals and Mosques.

GHACians on this trip had an opportunity to explore a place of historic impor-

tance, be inspired by the massive built and the architecture of the aged fort. Add to

it loads of fun climbing the fort walls.

You can’t miss their photo album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?

photoAlbumId=990875

One of them said – “Probably the best time to visit the Fort ... Awesome

greenery around. Should have mixed some stories to the buildings in the fort, it

would have been awesome!”

Indian Mountaineering Federation planned to conduct bouldering champi-

onship on the 3rd of July at Durgam Cheruvu in Hitech city and we GHACians

took pride to welcome climbers from all around India and also volunteer in con-

ducting the competition.

After an initial round of introductions the volunteers were given training for choos-

ing boulder locations, numbering, spotting, about handling injuries and technical

terminologies after which began the much awaited bouldering cup .

Competition was held on the strict guidelines as defined by the IMF and the

GHAC rules were applicable as well .The bouldering championship was conducted

in two categories namely the Bouldering cup on real rocks for seniors and Speed

climbing for juniors.

With about 110 climbers doing competitive climbing right in Hyderabad and at an

accessible place - Durgam Cheruvu it was an experience of its kind.

We are proud to be part of the GHAC family, cheers!

Photo Album:


Hyderabad Bouldering cup


Golkonda Fort Trek

Golkonda fort is 11km south-west of Hyderabad. The hill was once known

as Golla Konda (Golla- shepherd, konda-hill in Telugu) but is in vogue as Golk-

onda ever since the Kakatiyas built a fort on it in the 13th century. The fort was

later rebuilt by the Qutub Shahi Kings of the then Hyderabad state.

At Golkonda one could trek and photograph a lot. GHAC Trekometer rates Golk-

onda trek as easy.

Though this is a usual tourist spot in Hyderabad, for a trekker it’s still as

interesting, as it provides ample opportunity for a good trek. There are other attrac-

tions like the acoustics engineering in the fort’s architecture, the sound and light

show etc., And When GHAC conducts it, it’s a whole new experience.

Rightly said by one of the trekkers: “Rely on GHAC to make even a local trip a

great adventure.”

Photo Album:


I was very excited to be going on my first trek with GHAC. The plan was to get down at Castle Rock station in Karnataka and walk for 14KM on the railway track to Dhoodsagar waterfalls. As I settled down in my seat, the only thing on my mind was to get acquainted with the group. So I took out my camera and started clicking as it is the best ice breaker for any situation. The overnight journey was restful and we played dumb charades, which was a great way to know each other..

We reached Castle Rock station around 12:30PM and it was already raining heavily, I decided to change into my tracks. After lunch as we were set to walk for 14KM to Dhoodsagar and there were no intended stops in between.

Around 1:30 we started our trek and soon realized it was going to be slippery road when one of our group members Varun fell on his head. Luckily he did not get a serious injury and was coura-geous enough to continue the trek.

On the way we came across several tunnels and the best we could do while crossing them was to hope that no train came when we were in the tun-

nel. But as they say when we fear something it will always comes to haunt us, and in our very first tunnel we had a goods train coming, luckily for us it was a wide tunnel hence we could eas-ily manage by sticking to the walls. That was thrilling!

How does it feel to walk for 14KM on railway tracks? Painful, pitiful, adventurous, dangerous .........well I can use many superlatives yet you have to actually walk to experience it. Why the hell did we walk for 14KM when we could have gone by train? Is that what you are thinking? To answer that, let me ask you if you ever came across a scenery and wished that time stopped but it wouldn’t? For those 14 KM we could stop time whenever we wanted and let the nature's love seep in for eternity. The deep valleys, small water streams, invisible waterfalls (we could only hear water gushing) made it worth walking 14KM.

We reached Dhoodsagar station by 6PM and it was getting dark, Prashant had gone ahead to make arrangements for the group to stay for the night. As we started walking for accommodation, we could hear the sound of the waterfall com-ing closer after walking for another 5 minutes we saw a white veil of water across the tracks and there it was gushing and rushing down the hill. It was so soothing and satisfying to see it at last, probably this is how people feel when they suddenly find water in a desert!

We saw some steps near to the hill which lead to a small room. We put up two tents in the room which could together accommodate 12 people and others would sleep in sleeping bags outside the tents. But why tents in a room? The room had only roof and no walls and any strong wind blew rain into the room. Some of the guys did not have sleeping bag so they huddled together wrapped in shawl talking all the night and taking short naps when-ever possible. I got up at 5AM it was pitch dark and was shivering like mad, Prashant suggested me to wear my coat which will help to trap my body heat even though it was wet and it worked like charm (experience helps a lot on such trips and I am very thankful to Prashant). Most of the group was up by 7AM we all went to see the spec-tacular Dhoodsagar water fall, get wet and play like children.

I can still hear it – Dhoodsagar Falls - Priyank Shah



It was time to get back so we packed and walked back to the Dhoodsagar station around 8:45 AM and reached Londa by train at around 10AM. Now my only quest was for dry clothes, and we managed to find a market nearby and we could find some clothes and hot wada pav to treat ourselves with. Having changed into the new clothes, were officially looked like the Londa Fashion bri-gade in colorful t-shirts and shorts.

We boarded train to Hyderabad around 5PM and parted ways soon after we reached there

When I look back at the trip I know there could not have been a better learning experience, no better way of making friends, no better way of seeing nature. All the time I was trying to sleep that night, I very much felt the might of nature and that everything lived under its shadow. Nature does not show discrimination, it acknowl-edges everyone and treats them equally. I was made aware of its existence and it was aware of mine.

You can read more on the author’s blog: http://see-throughmyeyes.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-was-very-excited-to-go-on-my-first.html

Photo Albums: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1001101 http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1019820

Laknavaram & Ramappa Lake Trek Laknavaram is a lake some 250Km north-east of Hyderabad and near Warangal. The 10

thousand acre lake stores rain water, and is every bit inviting with its thirteen odd serene

islands. What’s more interesting is the hanging bridge that connects three of these is-

lands. Ramappa Lake built by the Kakatiyas is nearby and serves irrigation water for the

areas around it.

The 20 member team had loads of fun trekking, walking over the suspension

bridge, visiting temples, singing, boating and what not.

This is what participants had to say – “Had awesome time with friends! Laknava-

ram and Ramappa Lake was beautiful. Kranthi was awesome host right from working all

the logistics to arranging yummy lunch to adding a lot of charm with his guitar. His sing-

ing and guitar playing were the highlight. Weather added its own charm bringing all the

jovial souls together. I must say the group was lovely and I totally cherish meeting and

spending time with everyone. GHAC is such a fabulous club, people meeting for the first

time feel like they know one another already. Thank You GHAC for yet another remark-

able event! God bless the club and all GHACians!!”

“Enthusiastic group of people. The view from Ramappa Lake and dancing in the

rain will be memories to cherish. Thanks to everybody and especially Venkee for keeping

us fully entertained along the journey :).”

Photo Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/102356009778416770484/LaknavaramRamappaLake

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mleSKeico

Jog falls is the highest natural plunge of 253mt for a natural water fall in In-

dia. Located in the Shimoga district in Karnataka, some 700Km south-east of Hy-

derabad. Gokarna on the other hand is a Hindu pilgrimage place around 140Km

east of Jogfalls. Apart from a Siva temple, Gokarna is famous for its beaches (Kudle

Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach) and scenic landscapes.

GHACians on this trip were awe struck at the beauty of the beaches

at Gokarna and by the might of the Jog falls. The trip involved trek in the beaches

and by the sides of Jogfalls.

Here’s what the trekkers had to say – “A beautiful trip. Walk and trek along

the Om beach was my favorite part. Also the 40km drive from Sirsi to Unchalli

Falls was pure bliss, the greenery was completely mesmerizing. I hope to visit this

region again. Thanks Sreenath for organizing this meetup.”

“Nice getaway in Monsoon, beach trek was good, could have done

more though. Jog falls was scenic, bad luck that some renovation work is underway

on stairway leading to the bottom of the falls.... but that turned us to Unchalli Falls

which I’d call my highlight of the trip; fierce and fascinating”

Photo Album http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=1010819

Jog Falls & Gokarna Beach Trek


Narsapur Forest & Lake Trek

The Narsapur forest is 45 KM north of Hyderabad, spread between Gummadidala and Nar-

sapur towns in the Medak district. This forest spans over 30sq km and has a mini-ghat sec-

tion, thick forest, a hill, a large lake, a good number of birds, butterflies, varied flora and

fauna and our ancestors (monkeys!).

Trekkers who participated were treated to lush greenery, they could even spot Pea

Hen, Deer, Rabbit, Owl and lots of butterflies.

The GHAC Trekometer rates Narsapur Forest hills trek as of easy to medium difficulty.

Here’s what one of them had to say: “Never knew so much greenery close to Hy-

derabad, it was a good forest trek, unfortunate for those who missed expecting rain, it was

pleasant weather the forest was a curious mix of trees, grass and spotted with rocks in. The

highlight was walking for two hours and coming back to other side of the same place. Over

all it was memorable experience and not to forget the orange berries we ate, they tasted like

mangoes though! It was a wonderful company all of them demonstrated a lot of enthusiasm

and endurance to walk around 14km,”

Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/all_photos/?photoAlbumId=984253


How often do we come across the words “Do not litter” on our adventure club website? Every time a

meet up is scheduled, Right? But do we really follow it once we are back from an outdoor adventure is a question

we need to ask ourselves. The answer is "No" for most of us. Reason? No, it’s not that we do not love nature.

Reason again, can be lack of knowledge about the detrimental effects of litter or just ignorance.

Do Not Litter, But Why?

♦ Eyesore, yes litter is more of an eyesore amidst the grandeur of nature.

♦ Litter clogs the drainage system and can cause havoc during rainy sea-son.

♦ Health hazards: Litter attracts vermin and is a breeding ground for bacteria.

♦ Plastic litter may choke marine life and suffocate birds.

♦ Contamination: Dog poo , grass, leaves etc, may pollute our water-ways.

♦ Hole in the pocket: Yes, it does make a hole in your pocket as remov-ing litter from environment costs everyone money. And who doesn’t love money…!!?

Environmentalists consider litter a nasty side effect of our convenience-oriented disposable culture. So

until we change this culture, I hope, posting these reasons might help motivate most of “US” not to litter and

even spread the word outside this club as well, because we being adventurers would definitely hate to be called

litter louts….What say?!

Bitter Litter - Srinivas Bitla

Trekking in Ghattuppal Hills GHAC’s organizers are always on the search for newer and interesting places to travel

and trek. One such endeavor was this trek to Ghattuppal hills some 90Km south-east

of Hyderabad. The place is a stretch of seven to eight hillocks with a highest altitude

of about 600mt.

This trek did not only give the participants an experience of a new place but

also some tough rock climbing opportunity too.

GHAC Trekometer rates Ghattuppal hill trek as medium to hard.

As said by one of the participants about the place and the experience - “A

splendid venue for some descent rock climbing and treading through the fairly thick

bushes. Enjoyed the beautiful location and wonderful company a lot. Lot more to

explore in the area in coming months....”


The itinerary said: Fly from Hyderabad to Delhi. Then take a car from Delhi to Ma-nali-600kms, then drive from Manali to Leh Ladakh, drive from Manali to Srinagar, roughly 1000km. That soundsed simple eh? But windy uphill roads about 2/3rds of the way, driving at an average of 15km per hour or less, it took a lot more time than one could estimate.

It is true that the drive from Manali to Leh is the the most beautiful and mesmerizing drive of my life, and I have been to many wonderful places. Yet the facts are simple: you are basically driving through the Himalayas. Don’t underestimate the raw strength of something just because it is beautiful and amusing – that’s the main lesson I learnt from the mighty moun-tains.

Starting from Manali, we stopped by Keylong, stayed at Nordaling Guest house. With no meals included, it cost us Rs.2000 for three rooms for five people. Is that too cheap? I don’t know.

Next morning, we started for Kelong at 7am, which was a big mistake. If you get lazy and don’t get started at the crack of dawn, you will pay the dues by the end of the day. Early to bed, early to rise. The rule of the jungle works in trips like this. We were headed to Sarchu antici-pating we would notice it, but it was not more than a few shops and camp sites, so we missed it. The next town, the only town between Sarchu and Leh, is Pang.

In a case like this, I made the call that it would be better to move forward than to go back and forth. So we proceeded to Pang. Again, this is a town with around a dozen tents, mostly food and basic beds in each large tent, to serve travelers. They were nomadic people. The food was very basic, the accommodation minimal. Its freezing cold too so don’t forget a sleeping bag. Given all this, one should be prepared for a rugged trip, both physically and mentally. Whining won’t help, fussing about won’t build a hotel. This is the great Himalayas, as God created it, to make us stand in awe and fear of the vastness and indifference of this natural wonder. All the beautiful scenes of green mountains with low hung clouds creating the most romantic set up for a song and dance, the shapes and colors of different stones as the ranges change form and the romance of it; all disappear when most of us face uncomfortable situations. The trick here is to prepare yourself to be tough, take something from the rough ranges into yourself. Else you be-come too easy a target for nature and it will bring you to your knees, sick, tired, crying and re-senting the idea of the adventure. As I said, this is as much a mental game as it is a physical challenge. Sarchu to Pang was the most diffi-cult drive, the most beautiful one thus far and at the highest point of road reached to over 16,500ft. Pang itself is over 14,500ft.

We hit the road at the crack of dawn, 5am, to Leh so that we could be near a hospital in case things got bad. The distance from Pang to Leh is about 175km; the road stays tough as usual for half the distance, but greatly improves in the second half. So we got to Leh late afternoon around 3pm.

There are plenty of hotels in Leh. It is truly the commerce centre there and the centre of tourism in that region. Local places worth seeing are the Thiksey Monastery, Stok palace (you will miss the fun in this if you are not willing to hike up to the dilapidated palace and dis-cover old wonders the hard way), Hemis monastery and the downtown of Leh itself.

Rafting was great. It was a scene out of some movie, Lord of the Rings comes to mind, with the canyon feel and a river cutting through it. 32km over three hours in a wet suit and life jacket in the sun has got to make one tired. The rapids are about a grade three, average and not too bad. It isn’t too hot in July on the waters, especially if you get wet, then you start to feel a little chilly too. All there is to do after that, is to walk around the Tibetan stores in the evening and do some shopping for handicrafts and other knick knacks.

Then, we left for Nubra Valley the following day. That is where the Bactrian camels are in the high altitude desert. I heard that; I couldn’t have imagined it though. It didn’t make sense to see sand dunes, camels and snow peaks in one picture frame. It was extremely hot and the sun drained me of any enthusiasm and energy I had mustered that morning heading out for camel rides into the dunes. The camel ride was fun. It is a photo op if there ever was one: snow peaks, sand dunes perfectly staged, camels with fur on their knees and double humps, and me riding alone.

A 1000Km along the Himalayas - Prathima Vee



That being done, we headed back to Leh. Oh, and by the way, on the drive between Leh and Nubra comes the highest motorable pass in the world, Kahrdongle Pass at 18,500 ft. So you go from desert to snow peaks in freezing cold and frozen high altitude lakes, then back into warm Leh.

There are two lakes worth seeing near Leh. Both are around five hour drive each way. One is Pangong Lake and the other is Tsongo Lake. While Pangong is the more popular one and is seen in many movies, locals claim Tsongo is a much more beautiful lake and holds more meaning to the people there. Accordingly, there are plenty of tourists at Pangong Lake, a small contributing factor being a drive less by an-hour each way than Tsongo Lake. That is the information I have! Our stay at Ladakh came to an end as of July 13th morning. So we packed up and headed west towards our final destination, Srinagar. Leh to Srinagar is about 485km. Don’t miss Alchi monastery and Lamayuru Monastery. We took about 12 hours to get to our guest house in Mul-bekh, a small town about 30km before Kargil.

Through this journey, I learnt a lot about hostile cities, conflict zones, people played by politicians and how, beneath it all, life still goes on although cautiously.

Still, we stayed at one of the nicest boat houses in a quiet area looking out at the Dal lake; its water lily gardens, see weeds, birds of all kinds, and more. The thing to do was to become one of the lake people and set out discovering each corner of the lake on a Shikara, a decorated canoe that a man rows gracefully. Dal Lake is 70sqkm and filled with romantic corners. The owner of the house boat was gracious enough to send us our own personal guide, his son.

Other things to check out around Srinagar are Nishat Bagh and tulip gardens. The rest of them, Pari Mahal, Mughal Gar-dens etc were kind of a waste of time, really. It would have been nice to be able to walk along the road by the lake in the evening and have some corn and other Indian treats, but even the locals abandoned their local spots and so we ran back onto the safety of the water.

One gets to see a lot of mountain communities, nomads, and their lifestyles in the country up and down the mountains. It is quite interesting, actually. It is hard selling in these regions, and hard core bargaining. My friend got a Pashmina scarf that started at a price of Rs2100 for Rs850!!! “How much is it really worth?”, she asked, confused that she actually got it for such a ridiculous price. Ultimately, these things are worth what you think they are, so if you have the guts to ask for a price, do it, you may get it!!

Cost of my trip including flight from Hyderabad to Delhi, 14 nights accommodation, car from Delhi to Srinagar (no pub-lic buses in between), rafting, food, water, flight back from Srinagar to Hyderabad, horse ride, Shikara for a day and tips along the way = Rs.40,000 per person.

It was a long trip for sure. It packed a lot of continuous action and movement every day for long hours. One of the outstanding things that define the state of Jammu & Kashmir for me is the difference in people, culture and religion from east to west. Whereas Ladakh and its surroundings are very Buddhist in look and feel and the way people look, Kar-gil onwards is mainly Muslim and the people look very different and lead lives that are quite contrasting to their eastern half. I can’t write everything I have learnt. It is too much and I haven’t digested it all yet.

You can read more on the author’s blog: http://exclusivexcursionsinc.com/2010/07/manali-leh-kargil-srinagar-2/


About 180kms from Hyderabad and 58 kms from Srisailam, amidst the Nal-

lamala forest lies another nature’s marvel ...Mallelatheertham literally meaning a

'Shower of Jasmines', a waterfall showering from a height of about 110ft. The wa-

ter collects in a deep and wide pool in which one could swim and enjoy a natural

spa and massage. The lush green canopy covering the nearby areas is a great treat

to the eyes.

What can one do there: Trekking, camping, bird watching and spot wild animals.

The night camping in the woods with yummy aloo roast and Maggie

(courtesy Sukumar and Abhishek) were something which made the trek more

memorable.

The GHAC Trekometer rates Mallelateertham trek to be medium.

This is what some of the members had to say about their visit:

“Bheemunikonallu was Srisailam's Grand Canyon.” And “Mallela was like ‘GHAC

guys in wonder land’”


Mallelathertham & Bheemunikonallu Trek


Talakona Waterfall & Forest Trek

Talakona falls is 50 km from Temple town of Tirupathi. Famous for the falls,

Talakona forest is all welcoming for trekkers and nature lovers alike with its calm and

serene atmosphere. It is home to some endangered species. According to the locals

the source of the falls cannot be traced as some underground spring surfaces but we

GHACians have found one more perfect weekend retreat.

Overnight journey to Tirupathi by train from Hyderabad and another hour journey to

be lost in nature’s embrace but save a little to guard your belongings from the intelli-

gent thieves “Monkeys” as one of the trekkers says!

Well organized by Natraj and Padmaja to make it memorable for all the participants.

Photo Album: http://meetup.ghac.in/photos/992587/16544439/


Buying a sleeping bag is a not a child play because Sleeping Bags vary a lot in terms of weight, price and

the weather condition you want to use them in. You should certainly know beforehand what you should look out

for when you are buying one.

SIZE

Most sleeping bags available are good for people with average builds and height of

5 4" to 5 10". For tall persons you need a longer length, for heavy persons you

need more space, generally you get mostly 3 sizes, small, medium and large.

SHAPE

The rectangle ones are big enough for 2 people and can be made into a backpack too with some straps. The

mummy shaped ones are narrower at the legs and head. The mummy shaped ones are lighter and better for

regular use.

AIR CIRCULATION

Sleeping bags with side zips are better as they allow for air circulation, especially if someone sweats a lot, they can

open the zip.

TEMPERATURE

A sleeping bag made for 15 degrees is good, it will help you in cold temperatures

and you can always open the zip to let in some air if it’s hot, better to be too warm

and have to unzip the bag than too cold and shivering through the night.

COMFORT

If you are using a mat underneath, then a light weight and thin sleeping bag is ok, if

not using a mat then the material should be thick underneath.

WEIGHT

The lighter the better. Sleeping bag for regular usage should not be heavier than 3 kgs. The lighter ones tend to

be more costly but are great for long duration treks and lessen your load. A sleeping bag for high altitude or cold

temperature can be heavy depending on the temperature.

MATERIAL

Synthetic material is better as its light weight, and is a good insulation in wet and monsoon weather and dries

quicker when washed. Choose a bag that can cover the face with a hood or one that can be cinched around the

face. The inside material should absorb the sweat or it will feel damp.

Buying a Sleeping Bag - Diyanat Ali

GHACians are epitome of the spirit of adventure. And every adventure,

whatever its nature, involves some amount of risk. That’s why at GHAC, we be-

lieve in being completely prepared to face situations. One such endeavor was the

third of a series of First Aid Certificate Courses.

The course takes participants through basic techniques of administering first aid,

acquaintance with equipment, life saving procedures referring to bleeding, respira-

tory problems, wounds, bone and joint injuries etc. After an 8 hour participation

in the course, a certificate from St.John Ambulance Association, Hyderabad,

comes as a token of recognition.

The event was fun packed with lively instructors and interactive partici-

pants. One of the participants observed – “Had a Gr8 time..The course was really

informative with lot of fun and humor...Learned many life saving techniques...If

we could save a life in future then the credit also goes to instructors and organiz-

ers who organized this event...Thanks a lot to them :) :)”


First Aid Certificate Course 3


On Jul24 ’10 a bunch of 10 adventurers from GHAC set out on a very unique journey into the wild.

Geesugandi is a remote tribal hamlet deep in the Nallamala forests in Mahabubnagar district. The

destination is roughly 220 Km from Hyderabad.

Travelling to the place was unique in many ways. For one, it involved a 3hour upstream

boat journey from Nagarjunasagar to Geesugandi. The boat journey took GHACians through Na-

garjuna Konda amidst some scenic views of the numerous island hillocks on the way.

The trip was a combination of boating, trek through serene forests, camping and staying with the

Chenchus (tribes/forest dwellers are so called locally). Chenchus thrive on fishing and live mostly

by the riverside and in the forest.

The trip left the participants with invaluable experiences of travelling to virgin landscapes,

interacting with the Chenchus, camping and more.

One of them was so excited to say – “The amazing lion-hearted hospitality of the Chenchu people

swept us off our feet. The trip was beautiful... light rain which never let us feel exhausted and the

beautiful forests, the small temple inside a long lost fort, the crystal-clear waterfalls, the sound of

the peacocks in the deep jungles, the tasty food prepared and kept ready for us inside the tent and

the ever smiling Chenchus in their cute little hamlet, the amazing beauty surrounding us during the

3 hour and odd boat ride.... words fall short to describe the pleasant experience...”


A Night with the Chenchus


Great Hyderabad Adventure Club is a Non Profit community group from Hyderabad city in the state of An-dhra Pradesh, India, consisting of like minded volunteers and individuals who are interested in adventure, nature and outdoor activities. Hyderabad and Adventure - an unlikely combination but the Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC) merges them into an adventurous union. Started in May 2008 by Diyanat Ali, a software engineer by profession, GHAC is one of the first online adventure clubs of Hyderabad. The club has received a great response from the otherwise ‘laidback’ city of the Nizams and till date has successfully completed over 220 Adventure Events and has a total of 2400 members and growing! Inception: Diyanat Ali who is the chief organizer of the club developed an interest for adventure when he was a member of the NCC. Even after leaving the NCC he didn’t let go of his love for adventure and turned it into a full-fledged hobby. Together with a small group of friends Diyanat would go on regular treks and participate in adventure ac-tivities until 2008, when he came up with an idea of starting a club for people who were keen on trekking. So he started a meet up website http://meetup.ghac.in and the rest is history. GHAC found lot of support from initial members like Dr Prasad, Mario, Priyank, Ali Razvi, Rajan Patel, Vibha, Padmaja, Javed and few other members who joined in later like Ranga, Manisha, Sreenath, Prashant Pai, Deepam, Arun Raj who added a lot of value to the club by introducing new places and conducting score of adventure activities. Without the support of these people GHAC would not have reached where it stands today. GHAC has experienced and trained volunteers and had conducted a range of adventure activities from Rock climbing, Rappelling, Bouldering, Water Rafting, Sea sailing, trekking, Jungle Treks, Scaling hillocks, camping and anything that spells adventure. More and more ideas and adventures are added by the very active and creative organizers who are dedicated to making this group a leading adventure sports and activity centre for the residents of Hyderabad. The fiber and fabric of this is to provide a better quality of life as well as make new friends in an exciting, healthy and safe manner. GHAC focuses on weekend getaways, with a physically challenging twist and professionals on hand to help partici-pants explore their active side. The group is a mix of professionals in their early twenties as well as those in their late Mid Fifties. There are also two junior divisions that plan appropriate children’s activities which are aimed to fostering personal growth and instilling courage and confidence through outdoor activities.

"GET MORE OUT OF LIFE" The club’s philosophy "GET MORE OUT OF LIFE" prompts us to venture out in the wilderness at least on the weekends away from the concrete jails. We are constantly looking for people who share the same values, have the same goals and love outdoors and selflessly support the movement.

About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club

The club is for open to everyone, irrespective of gender, caste, creed, religion or economic status. It’s a right place to start for the novice, for the amateur who wants to experiment and also for the professional who want to share. Everyone with a good sense of fun and adventure is welcome.

The Club's Mission is to get people together for the purposes of: - Getting close to nature and enjoy nature in an eco friendly manner. - Experiencing local, regional & far away trekking, hiking & other outdoor activities at all skill levels. - Learning tips, tricks, techniques and first aid for safe and comfortable outdoor adventuring. - Networking with the group and its members. - Organize Social Treks for poor children and contribute towards their education & welfare. - Build courage and confidence by taking part in outdoor activities. - Foster team spirit, friendship and build leadership qualities in every individual. - Inculcate & enhance a sense of discipline and spirit of sportsmanship and adventure. - Promote overall personality development of an individual and stay fit and Healthy too. - Enhance outdoor experience while living in or visiting Hyderabad.

The age limit are Adults (18 - 60 Years) - can participate at free will. Junior II (13-17 Years) - will need parent or guardian's written consent for participation. Junior I (8-12 years) - can only participate along with a parent or a guardian.

About Great Hyderabad Adventure Club ..cntd


Let others know, we are on


GHAC Management The Great Hyderabad Adventure Club is managed by the most active and enthusiastic members of the club. The Club consists of the following committees and Boards

21st Aug Trek: Dhoodsagar Falls Railwaytrack. Organizers: Padmaja & Sukumar

Know More: http://meetup.ghac.in/calendar/14017458/

Adventure Reminders

2nd Sep Trek: Chandoli National Park Organizer: Sreenath Know More: http://meetup.ghac.in/calendar/14226213/

25th Sep Trip: Brahmagiri Peak Trek and Iruppu Falls Organizer: Sreenath Know More: http://meetup.ghac.in/calendar/13826963/

9th Oct Trek: Everest Base Camp Trek Nepal Organizers: Diyanat Ali & Ali Razvi Know More: http://meetup.ghac.in/calendar/12871705/

1) Executive committee Chief Organiser: Diyanat Ali Organiser - Training: Ali Razvi Organiser - Membership: Padmaja Organiser - Public Relations: Prathima Organiser - Publications: Shishir Chandra Organiser - Equipment : Ranga Rao Organiser - First Aid & Emergency: Dr. Vibha General Counsel: Javed Razack Treasurer: Ranga Rao

2) Organizing committee - Diyanat - Rajan Patel - Ali Razvi - Dr. Vibha - Ranga Rao - Prashant Pai - Shishir Chandra - Arun Raj - Sreenath - Sreedhar R - Jayanta Mondal - Deepam Morporia 3) Training Committee

Trainer - Physical Fitness & Performance Train-

ing : Ali Razvi

Trainer - Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Boul-

dering: Deepam Morporia

Trainer - Trekking, Hiking, Camping : Diyanat

Trainer - Outdoor Survival : Arun Raj

Trainer - Search & Rescue : Diyanat

Trainer - First Aid & Emergency Medicine: Dr

Vibha Naik

4) Web Team: Webmaster : Diyanat Moderators: Padmaja, Rajan, Sudhansu 5) Newsletter Team Editor: Bharat Reddy T Contributors: Srinivas, Karteek, Naresh

great hyderabad adventure club ghac newsletter aug 10

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