CAMP LEOPARD WATCH 20 – 22 March 2010

Rhododendrons in full bloom around the camp; the forest afire with these beautiful crimson sprays.

Happy to see me again, the village children returning from school, crowd around me for a touching welcome.

Negotiating a landslide. Took some training and encouragement to cross a precarious stretch of very slippery, powdery earth fall.

White-capped water redstarts put on a show to make birdwatching immensely rewarding.

Our Camp Leader par excellence, takes a break at the Vice Regal Lodge.

A very promising photographer who is also a student of Art Kendra.

Trekkers discuss the challenges encountered on the morning's trek which detours Dieter’s Ridge.

The youngest camper takes refuge in Ruskin Bond’s Green Book, tucked comfortably in a hammock strung between two oaks.

A challenging stretch confidently maneuvered on the second attempt to the waterfall.

A brave heart through thick and thin!

Camp Mascot- CHICKEY, Labrador Retriever.

(No leopard was safe with her around!)

Energy packs opened at the right time. Topping up for another difficult stretch.

Swallows have returned for the summer nesting near a tea stall.

This is part of the very dense forest: home to leopards which prowled around our camp, barking deer(kakar) and lakkarbaggas(hyenas). The nightjar stuck to its post and warned of predators.

NOTES: Camp Leopard Watch

This was the first of the summer training camps. As a matter of fact, it could be termed a recce camp. The summer had just set in and the rhododendrons were in full bloom. A new road being built in sections along an old one ‘called’ for dynamiting large portions of hillsides. The rubble cascaded down the hillsides in enormous slides of earth and boulders – some very huge ones were seen.

I decided to use this as another venue at the training camp site. The new picture offers bold and challenging opportunities for hill walking, scrambling and climbing.

The recce team aged from a senior citizen to an eleven year old girl, encompassed a broad band for applied activity. Safety norms, physical endurance and an introduction to living in the wild (and that too in tents!) were the highlights of the trip.

I have developed ‘spots’ for rappelling, rock-climbing, belaying etc & the terrain gives very good opportunity for hill walking, scrambling & climbing with and without aids(special equipment).

Star gazing was excellent. Constellations like the Great Bear, Orion and Cassiopeia were clearly demonstrated in the summer sky.

One of my students at Art Kendra doing photography, showed tremendous advancement in his taking technique. Many of his photos are prize winning material. He showed a great sense of concern & duty to the group, went with the events in an astonishingly dedicated way, and set an example in courage and grit.

Of course, everybody in the group has a long way to go in perfecting their camp craft and jungle lore.

My main aim is to lay the foundations for good relationships and trust in a group. Then to use these qualities in forging a esprit dé core in teams, very conscious in the role they will have to play in conserving our Himalayan heritage.

This is what Himalayan Venture Action is all about!