It seems like an age since Tibet was a scene of adventure...so it seems time to process the feelings of a 1st descent. Images will follow at some point!
The rumble of the Land cruiser, the noise the rolling mass of the truck. The tyres pound the roads away from Lhasa. Past the PLA road blocks, unsure we head into then unknown. Hours of idle chatter, hours of silence. The mind wandering into itself, into parts hidden for years. Into the desolate tears of youth. Into the almighty destitute pains of depression. Surfacing in the gold lining of passion, of embracing the present. The road leads forever onward telling more about the soul than we care to mention.
With each mountain pass over 5000m we get closer to our aim. It is uncharted land, the river that flows away from Tibet. Like the river, we must also fall headlong into Nepal. We must follow the surprises that are around each bend; we must search for the lotus, for the jewel.
As the virgin flows grow from birth at Shishi pangma, stumbling like a child, blindly into the world. With adolescence comes angst, it pays off well. The river engulfing all, draining the hills, taking with it the souls of men. Faster they fall into the gates of hell. Deep into the impossible cascades of Nylam and beyond into the new kingdom – unchartered by man in Tibet. The river, used and abused for commercial gain in Nepal, even before it joins the Sun Kosi. The river looses all its innocence.
Time ticks away, the villain of half-truths the foundations rise like the morning sun, casting doubt in the shadows of life. Riders beckon forth. Each step one more step from birth; one closer to the end. One step too far, draining life to the end of it all. Each grasp for breath, each blink of an eye. The end will come. There is no escape there is no justice. Time is time.
Wild horses charge on the horizon; stampeding forward – never stopping. Hitching a ride is difficult, for our own sakes we must jump on. Riding like the wind into the fading future into a new game. Each morning call a new book, with each hour passed a new chapter turned.
As a 1st descent the Bhote Kosi/ShishaPangma is mind blowing. It matters that it happened. It sure as hells matters that we took the last eddy before it fell into hell at Nylam,.
Words cannot express the emotions of the river, any article or report would steal the soul of the water and dilute the experience of the team. I hope that the words above can help you chance a glimpse into the soul. I hope that words are not used foolishly and memories will not become lost in myth. It matters, even if it only matters to the few.
Thank you for letting us pass through on the way to Nylam.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Saturday, 2 February 2008
KAYAKING RISK AND RIVERS
River Running
Is it reckless to run rivers on the hop?
Is it without care that a group of kayakers follow each other blindly down unscouted rapids?
What safety measures are in place for times of peril?
Firstly I would like to explain my personal take on the ‘blue angel’ style of river running. It is my understanding that ‘blue angel’ river running came to prominence in the mid-1980s on long but tight alpine rapids. I understand it that the AKC were advocates of this technique and I have no doubt that kayakers the world-over adapted the style up until the AKC promoted it on the seminal film family mad (1980s)
Many river runners may be unaware of the ‘blue angel’ style so I will describe it in simple terms, although the technique is far from simple.
‘blue angel’ refers to a style of river running that posits a lead kayaker at the front with the other in the group following closely behind. The lead kayaker sets off down river, challenging rapids on sight without call to eddy out. The next kayakers in the group will then follow one after the other. Decisions are then reactive, moves cannot be planned as no scouting has taken place. When the lead kayaker gets tired or is seemingly daunted by the horizon line or river feature they simply pull into the best available eddy. Kayaker number 2 in the group, the one that has been following the lead kayaker, has a discussion to make at this point. Does he pull into the eddy or does he take the lead. If he takes the lead then the original lead kayaker takes the back marker position.
To run rapids on spec in the ‘blue angel’ style presupposes the following aspects.1. That all the kayakers are of an equal ability. 2. That all the kayakers in the group are aware of the style of river running that they are undertaking 3.That all the kayakers in the group trust each other implicitly.
The obvious dangers are apparent to running certain rivers in a ‘blue angle’ style are obvious. Low-head dams, giant water falls and tree hazards for example all pose problems. Answers to these problems are often found in the traditional group dynamic of catching eddys, and being relaxed enough that down stream obstacle can be seem and dealt with accordingly.
Many kayakers feel that advocating and indeed running rapids in the ‘blue angel’ style is fool hardy due to the inherent risks of running into the unknown without a safety plan, without a ‘spotter’ on the bank or a chase boater in position below the hardest rapids.
I feel that it is imperative to understand these risks when running in a ‘blue angel’ dynamic and that each group and river must ask of the paddlers to do an internal risk assessment and crisis management plan.
For my own part I favour the ‘blue angel’ style or river running over a more controlled system. Having said this I would never run a river in a ‘blue angle’ style where too many variables are at play, for example an unknown group or known river were portages are mandatory and eddies must make.
Personally I find the ‘blue angel’ style complements my individual paddling style well. This is to say that I position myself as a reactive paddler even when scouting I am unable mentally to assess a rapid and its ‘run ability’ with a stroke by stroke analysis. I prefer in this instance to have an ‘exit move’ and a ‘worse care scenario’ before committing to a rapid that has been scouted. ‘Blue angel’ river running suits long stretches of whitewater where slack pools are none existent, it also favours small groups, i.e 3 paddlers. The closeness of the kayakers gives a morale boost whilst they are also in position to chase boat instantly, should the worst happen. This is possibly a better rescue plan that having ‘one man out’ with a throw bag. Although each team and scenario is different!
From experience running in the ‘blue angel’ formation running centre line avoids the sides, the eddy fence whirlpools, the majority of siphons and undercuts, it avoids many tree hazards and the main rapids formed by landslides.
To conclude this description of the ‘blue angle’ style I think that it is fair to say that the skills relating to this seemingly renegade style are complex and the techniques used suited to every kayakers metaphorical tool bag.
Is it reckless to run rivers on the hop?
Is it without care that a group of kayakers follow each other blindly down unscouted rapids?
What safety measures are in place for times of peril?
Firstly I would like to explain my personal take on the ‘blue angel’ style of river running. It is my understanding that ‘blue angel’ river running came to prominence in the mid-1980s on long but tight alpine rapids. I understand it that the AKC were advocates of this technique and I have no doubt that kayakers the world-over adapted the style up until the AKC promoted it on the seminal film family mad (1980s)
Many river runners may be unaware of the ‘blue angel’ style so I will describe it in simple terms, although the technique is far from simple.
‘blue angel’ refers to a style of river running that posits a lead kayaker at the front with the other in the group following closely behind. The lead kayaker sets off down river, challenging rapids on sight without call to eddy out. The next kayakers in the group will then follow one after the other. Decisions are then reactive, moves cannot be planned as no scouting has taken place. When the lead kayaker gets tired or is seemingly daunted by the horizon line or river feature they simply pull into the best available eddy. Kayaker number 2 in the group, the one that has been following the lead kayaker, has a discussion to make at this point. Does he pull into the eddy or does he take the lead. If he takes the lead then the original lead kayaker takes the back marker position.
To run rapids on spec in the ‘blue angel’ style presupposes the following aspects.1. That all the kayakers are of an equal ability. 2. That all the kayakers in the group are aware of the style of river running that they are undertaking 3.That all the kayakers in the group trust each other implicitly.
The obvious dangers are apparent to running certain rivers in a ‘blue angle’ style are obvious. Low-head dams, giant water falls and tree hazards for example all pose problems. Answers to these problems are often found in the traditional group dynamic of catching eddys, and being relaxed enough that down stream obstacle can be seem and dealt with accordingly.
Many kayakers feel that advocating and indeed running rapids in the ‘blue angel’ style is fool hardy due to the inherent risks of running into the unknown without a safety plan, without a ‘spotter’ on the bank or a chase boater in position below the hardest rapids.
I feel that it is imperative to understand these risks when running in a ‘blue angel’ dynamic and that each group and river must ask of the paddlers to do an internal risk assessment and crisis management plan.
For my own part I favour the ‘blue angel’ style or river running over a more controlled system. Having said this I would never run a river in a ‘blue angle’ style where too many variables are at play, for example an unknown group or known river were portages are mandatory and eddies must make.
Personally I find the ‘blue angel’ style complements my individual paddling style well. This is to say that I position myself as a reactive paddler even when scouting I am unable mentally to assess a rapid and its ‘run ability’ with a stroke by stroke analysis. I prefer in this instance to have an ‘exit move’ and a ‘worse care scenario’ before committing to a rapid that has been scouted. ‘Blue angel’ river running suits long stretches of whitewater where slack pools are none existent, it also favours small groups, i.e 3 paddlers. The closeness of the kayakers gives a morale boost whilst they are also in position to chase boat instantly, should the worst happen. This is possibly a better rescue plan that having ‘one man out’ with a throw bag. Although each team and scenario is different!
From experience running in the ‘blue angel’ formation running centre line avoids the sides, the eddy fence whirlpools, the majority of siphons and undercuts, it avoids many tree hazards and the main rapids formed by landslides.
To conclude this description of the ‘blue angle’ style I think that it is fair to say that the skills relating to this seemingly renegade style are complex and the techniques used suited to every kayakers metaphorical tool bag.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
