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You'll have the opportunity to see and experience this land as few others do.
Photo: Kevin Emery |
Touch down in the ancient world of the Himalayas and prepare for a semester packed with unparalleled language and cultural opportunities in one of the most breathtaking backcountry classrooms in the world. The Himalaya, or “abode of snow,” swings in a wide arc across four countries and includes Everest and K2 but reaches even higher in imaginations.
This semester begins at NOLS Pacific Northwest in Conway, Washington to prepare rations and pack gear, then it is off to Delhi. Your adventure begins with a ride to the north Indian town of Ranikhet, a quiet rural town at 6,000 feet in the foothills of the Himalaya.
Starting here, you will learn to travel lightly through the valleys of the Kumaon and Garhwal, where the thick conifer and broad-leaf trees of the lower altitudes turn to evergreens, birch, rhododendron and juniper forests in the high ridges and shrubs, sedges, grasses and wild flowers in the alpine zone.
Pindari Valley Backpacking
A nine-day hike to the Pindari Valley will introduce you to this wilderness and to the skills you need to travel comfortably and responsibly, while also helping you build the leadership techniques you’ll carry with you the rest of your life. You’ll journey through villages while gaining spectacular views of the Himalaya and its wildlife, crossing some passes in the 9,500- to 10,500-foot range.
Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA)
Back in Ranikhet, you’ll experience the rural mountain life while you receive your Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification through the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS. This 40-hour course focuses on injury stabilization, treatment and evacuation guidelines of patients in backcountry environments.
Whitewater Rafting
This 12-day section is based in the area around Rishikesh, one of the holiest spots in the Hindu tradition and home to much of its ritual and mythology. You will begin rafting on the holy Ganga (Ganges) as you hone paddling fundamentals. Once your skills advance and you begin to “read” the water, you’ll be ready for a few multi-day expeditions where you will learn to be paddle captain and row an oar raft.
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Courses in India offer students the unique opportunity to encounter a different culture while learning wilderness skills.
Photo: Craig Lenske |
Home Stay and Environmental Studies
Village Sarmoli will be the hub for these ten days. It is a tiny hamlet near the remote roadhead town of Munsiari and offers breathtaking views of the Himalaya. You will be paired up with a fellow course mate as you “go home” for the night to experience first hand what it takes to live in remote, rural India. You will be engaged in domestic chores and also eat meals with your host family.
Afternoon classes will include subjects such as landscape and forest use as a means of livelihood. You will be engaged in discussions that vary from “the politics of potato farming” to the human history of the Johar Valley.
Milam Valley Backpacking
The Milam (Johar) Valley was once the trade route between India and Tibet. You’ll travel in those traders’ footsteps through remote villages, lush river valleys and flower-strewn meadows, with alpine glaciers in the distance. The trek will culminate with an independent student group expedition where you will use every skill you've acquired so far.
Semester in India
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| Duration: |
80 Days |
| Age: |
18 and Older (Average Age: 21) |
| Tuition: |
Spring: $12,700
Fall: $12,900
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| Dates: |
Spring
March 26-June 13, 2008
Backpacking, WAFA, River Rafting, Homestay-Environmental Studies
Fall
Aug. 27-Nov. 14, 2008
Backpacking, WAFA, Backpacking, Homestay-Environmental Studies, River Rafting
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College Credit:
(Optional) |
16
Semester Credit Hours
2 Hours Biology
2 Hours Environmental Ethics
4 Hours Leadership Techniques
4 Hours Skills Practicum
4 Hours Risk Assessment
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| Course start/end: |
Conway, Washington / New Delhi, India |
| Equipment Deposit: |
$700 |
| Fly in/out: |
Seattle, Washington / New Delhi, India |
| Downloads: |
Course Description
(pdf)
Equipment List
(pdf) |
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Next Steps
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Related Courses
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