India Expedition 2000

Twelve intrepid explorers from the King's School set off to India on a World Challenge expedition for one month in the Indian Himalaya. With nine students, two members of the Kings School staff and an expedition leader from World Challenge the team set off on July 13^th. The first four days were spent in transit, consisting of long overnight bus trips and crazy rickshaw rides. The initial heat and humidity of Delhi was unbearable, but it wasn't long before the team reached the cooler climate of the North Indian Himalaya.

The Trekking Phase:

The trekking phase started in Manali, a small alpine like settlement set deep in the heart of the Hiamachal Pradesh region. The team spent two days provisioning and organising the eighteen ponies, guide and five sherpas that would accompany them for the duration of the fourteen-day high altitude trek.

The team's pre-trek expectations were soon shattered as from day one the monsoon dampened morale and turned the trek into quite an ordeal, as opposed to the expected stroll amongst the glaciated peaks. The 14-day trek climbed a maximum height of 15,000ft over the Khaleyani and Thamsar passes. The team responded brilliantly to the hardships of expedition life at altitude and in extremely unpleasant weather conditions. On a diet of rice and dahl with numerous chappatti it is difficult to keep one's spirits up but nevertheless the team overcame their initial doubts to complete the most physically and mentally demanding trek that the Himachal Pradesh region has to offer.

It took seven days to hike to the isolated settlement of Barabanghal amidst the steep sided peaks and a patchwork of cultivated maize fields. This provided a welcome rest day in order to catch up with washing and diary entries. Plus the opportunity to sample the local home brew affectionately know as 'double dog'. After recovering from the previous seven days the team had to hike a further five days up over the Thamsar pass to reach Bir in the foothills of Northern India.

Once again the weather closed in around the team as they trudged across the Thamsar glacier and up over the pass. One cannot explain what passes through one's mind, only to say that it takes considerable reserves of strength and willpower to overcome the anxiety caused from intense rain, cold and fatigue. People respond in many different ways, yet are drawn together with the common goal of completing the trek and simply 'making it to the end'.

The team experienced a variety of different emotions and diverse climatic conditions from glaciated peaks to sun drenched alpine slopes. They came across numerous 'Gadi' shepherds herding goats and sampled sherpa tea in makeshift tea houses perched high in the valleys. This truly was a chance of a lifetime and had to be experienced to be believed. With early starts and long eleven-hour days, hiking at altitude and having to put up tents not only in the dark but also in the middle of the monsoon, one may have questioned why they were there at all. In retrospect I expect each member of the team learnt a great deal about themselves and each other and feels a true sense of accomplishment.

The small town of 'Bir' marked the end of the trek, and the first bottle of coke for a fortnight. It was also in Bir that the team was alarmed to discover leeches!

Adam Langston's leg looked like something out of a horror movie, and it was only after de-leeching in the town of Dharamsala after a two-hour coach journey that the team relaxed and enjoyed their first shower.

The Project Phase:

Mcleod Ganj sits high in the foothills of the Himalayas and is the home of the Dalai Lama, the exiled religious leader from Tibet. The small atmospheric village was the venue of the week-long project, which involved the renovating of the Tibetan Community Village School (TCVS). The team was responsible for sweeping, sanding and painting half of the school hall and also took the time out to discover Tibetan culture.

Mcleod Ganj is the home of thousands of exiled Tibetans who have made the arduous journey to escape Chinese oppression. The team was made aware of the hardships people had faced for freedom of speech and expression of their religious beliefs. By the end of the week, the hall had been totally transformed and the staff at the school put on a tea party in recognition of the team's efforts. The headmistress gave a heartfelt, emotional speech expressing gratitude for what we had achieved in such a short space of time. The suffering that the Tibetan people have endured touched each member of the team and it is hoped that the King's School can maintain a link by providing support for the children of the school with a charity collection.

The Rest and Relaxation Phase:

The final week of the expedition was a period of reflection and a time to enjoy the many wonderful tourist sights Northern India has to offer. After a long, dusty, uncomfortable bus journey the team arrived in Jaipur. The temperature soared into the forties and the humidity was unbearable. This being in total contrast to the freezing temperatures experienced the previous week high up in the mountains.

Jaipur is famous for its palaces and gemstones. The team spent time touring, shopping and relaxing by the hotel pool. It was also a time to enjoy the delights of good restaurant food and live it up a little. This being in stark contrast to what was experienced during the trekking phase.

The team had managed to work out their itinerary so that it became possible to spend the final two days in Agra. Agra is a bustling city, famous for the Taj Mahal. On the penultimate day of the expedition, the team left the hotel at 5:30am to view the Taj Mahal at dawn. This was a magnificent finale to the most culturally diverse and physically challenging expedition that the team could have wished for!

The Team:

So much happened in a month that it is difficult knowing what to write and how to explain the emotions and feelings experienced. Throughout the month each member of the team contributed in their own way and developed their own personalities. Thank you to each person who made this trip such a success, and for all memorable moments and special times that we shared together!