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" The Raging River" ~ Marshyangdi
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Country: Nepal |
Description |
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Rapids:
Instant
Karma,
Morphine,
Twinkie,
Mama's
Big
Butt,
Good
Morning,
Chandra's
Revenge,
Kiwi
Cupcake.
Marshyangdi
means
“Raging
River”
in
the
local
parlance,
and
this
aptly
describes
one
of
the
best
whitewater
runs
in
the
world.
This
is
one
of
the
steeper
and
more
continuous
rivers
in
Nepal.
Combination
of
Class
IV
to
V-
rapids,
the
magnificent
views,
its
natural
surrounding
and
typical
culture
has
listed
this
river
among
the
best
five
rivers
in
the
world
for
5
days
rafting
trip.
Because
of
the
Middle
Marshyangdi
Hydropower
Project
it
is
no
longer
a
5
days
trip.
Nevertheless
it
is
still
the
world-class
4
days
trip
in
the
Himalayas.
The
trek
along
the
Marshyangdi
is
stunning,
with
great
views
of
the
Manaslu
and
the
Annapurna
Range
ahead
of
you,
the
entire
time.
The
scenery
is
breathtaking.
From
Ngadi
downstream
to
the
Turture
it
is
solid
whitewater.
Rapids
are
steep,
technical,
and
consecutive,
making
the
Marshyangdi
a
serious
undertaking.
For
people
looking
for
a
trip
with
a
lot
of
demanding
whitewater
and
great
mountain
scenery,
the
Marshyangdi
is
hard
to
beat.
This
is
the
river
that
demands
Respect.
Class
IV
-
V
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|
 Rafting |
Included |
| Transfer
from
and
back
to
Kathmandu,
full
board
on
trip,
accommodation
in
double
tents. |
Departure Dates |
|
2009> 23 Oct Ð 26 Oct; 29 Oct Ð 01 Nov; 31 Oct Ð 04 Nov (5 days); 04 Nov Ð
07 Nov; 05 Nov Ð 08 Nov; 10 Nov Ð 13 Nov; 16 Nov Ð 19 Nov; 22 Nov Ð 25 Nov; 06
Dec Ð 09 Dec
|
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Itinerary |
Day
1:
A
6
AM
meeting
time
at
the
Ultimate
Descents
office
in
Thamel
is
a
preview
to
the
early
morning
to
come.
After
warming
up
with
tea
and
coffee,
arranging
last
minute
valuable
and
luggage
storage,
we
walk
10
minutes
to
our
chartered
bus,
and
settle
in
for
the
4-hour
bus
ride
to
Bhoteodar.
The
true
test
of
a
river
guide
is
their
ability
to
make
bus
rides
not
only
bearable,
but
also
outright
fun.
Ours
succeed
brilliantly.
Considering
the
difficulties,
rapids
and
safety
requirements,
the
1st
day
will
be
the
drive
and
training
day.
A
raft
trip
down
the
Marsyangdi
is
so
much
more
than
a
vacation.
It
is
an
education.
Our
river
guides
spend
time
explaining
the
finer
points
of
how
to
paddle
through
whitewater
and
stay
in
the
raft
as
it
bucks
and
contorts
through
the
rapids.
For
those
who
missed
a
point
in
the
previous
lesson,
there
is
a
lesson
on
how
to
swim
through
whitewater,
using
your
flotation
device
and
paddle
to
keep
your
head
up
and
your
feet
to
push
off
rocks.
The
guides
will
also
teach
you
what
they
are
looking
for
when
they
run
the
river—the
innocuous
looking
rise
in
the
water
that
hides
a
hole,
or
the
way
you
can
use
the
pillow
of
water
rebounding
off
a
rock
to
push
the
raft
where
you
want
it.
The
more
you
know,
the
safer
it
is.
Whitewater
rafts
are
amazingly
versatile
and
stable
craft,
and
in
the
care
of
an
expert
raft
guide
it
is
possible
to
runexhilarating
lines
safely
and
confidently.
Your
guide
is
a
professional,
someone
who
has
devoted
their
life
to
learning
and
running
Whitewater
Rivers.
Under
his/her
careful
indoctrination
the
raft
crew
learns
how
to
work
as
a
team,
perfecting
these
skills
on
such
challenging
rapids
as
Instant
Karma,
Twinkie,
Adrenaline,
and
Mama's
Big
Butt
by
Bhulbhule.
Teamwork
is
what
makes
it
possible
to
run
any
river
safely,
and
this
extends
beyond
your
raft.
All
the
rafts
and
safety
kayakers
work
as
a
team,
communicating
with
and
supporting
each
other-
it's
impressive
to
watch.
You
are
never
in
a
rapid
alone.
Once
we
arrive
at
the
Dumre
Bazaar,
we
stop,
and
pick
up
fellow
members
of
the
group
arriving
from
Pokhara.
Then
our
bus
moves
towards
Bhoteodar.
After
reaching
Bhoteodar
we
enjoy
a
hearty
delicious
lunch
and
rest
for
a
while.
From
here
on,
we
begin
our
training
cum
rafting
trip
at
earliest
possible.
After
finishing
the
rafting
trip
below
Turture,
we
take
a
break
for
lunch.
Then
we
set
up
camp,
relax
and
find
the
best
spot
to
take
in
the
magnificence
of
the
surrounding.
Day
2:
Our
second
day
begins
with
a
leisurely
breakfast
and
a
2-hour
drive
up
to
Khudi.
The
scenery,
as
we
wind
our
way
up
the
Marsyangdi
valley,
is
varied
and
splendid.
We
arrive
at
Khudi
on
time
to
set
up
camp,
relax
and
find
the
best
spot
to
take
in
the
magnificence
of
the
surrounding
Himalayas
at
sunset.
Another
evening
on
the
river—relaxing,
discussing
the
day's
events,
relaxing,
eating,
watching
the
night
sky,
and
more
relaxing.
Day
3:
After
having
breakfast,
we
trek
to
Ngadi
with
rafting
equipment.
Our
SARDAR
(head
porter)
shows
up
with
a
crew
of
farm
boys,
women
and
men
who
will
carry
all
the
expedition
gears.
These
wiry
people
with
quick
smiles
and
quiet
manners
have
left
their
farms
for
the
chance
to
earn
some
cash
money.
Gear
is
divided
up,
prices
haggled,
and
these
stouthearted
men
and
women
then
pick
up
loads
with
their
necks,
which
can
exceed
their
body
weight,
and
head
on
up
the
trail.
It's
enough
to
want
to
make
you
join
a
health
club.
It
is
quite
impressive
to
watch
a
60-kilo
man
carry
an
80-kilo
raft
hanging
off
a
strap
that
runs
across
his
forehead.
We
take
care
to
look
after
the
porters
and
ensure
that
there
are
at
least
three
people
to
one
raft,
so
that
they
can
switch
off
when
needed.
These
are
heavy
loads.
Being
a
basically
soft
lot,
we
are
happy
to
have
only
a
light
daypack.
It
is
a
beautiful
2.5-hour
walk,
paralleling
the
river
and
providing
spectacular
views
of
Manaslu
and
the
surrounding
mountains.
Our
introduction
to
the
Raging
River
on
Class
IV
to
V-
rapids
starts
this
day.
This
days
rafting
needs
much
more
skills
and
alertness
during
whole
trip.
This
day’s
ride
is
just
a
hint
of
what
follows
for
the
next
day’s…
rapids
are
continuous,
very
challenging,
and
very
committing.
The
first
full
day
on
the
Marsyangdi
offers
more
rapids
than
many
weeklong
trips
offer
in
their
entirety,
and
it
doesn't
stop
after
the
first
day.
Crews
are
working
together
more
precisely,
knowing
exactly
how
to
respond
to
the
guides'
commands
and
less
apprehensive
than
the
day
before.
The
crystal
blue
water
thunders
down
steep
cataracts
for
mile
after
mile,
with
lush
jungle
clinging
precariously
to
the
canyon
walls
and
surreal
mountains
suspended
high
above
the
forested
ridges.
This
is
such
a
new
river
with
so
many
rapids
that
many
are
waiting
for
a
reason
to
be
names…
who
knows,
you
might
get
to
name
one.
Day
4:
We
rise
early
for
hot
drinks
while
breakfast
is
prepared,
and
watch
the
river
that
will
be
our
playground
of
intense
whitewater
rafting
for
the
next
4
hours.
Day
4
plunges
us
directly
into
whitewater
again.
We
end
the
day’s
rafting
just
above
the
Dam
Site
at
Phaliya
Sanghu
where
the
river
opens
up
a
lot
and
it
is
good
to
relax
and
reflect
on
the
beauty
of
this
pristine
area.
Then
you
can
have
your
Lunch
ready
to
be
served.
At
this
point
you
will
get
our
chartered
bus
for
a
5-hour
return
to
Kathmandu. |
Departure |
| Kathmandu,
Nepal
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Price: $ 220
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