It has been a week since we arrived in Tajikistan, and through all the red tape and driving we’ve met some great people and found some cracking runs.
The ‘usual’ (if you can call it that) season for kayaking in Tajikistan is between September and November. We decided to go a little bit earlier to try and kayak some tributaries that are usually too low later on in the year.
Huge cascade
After a quick warm up not far from Dushanbe we took the long scenic journey over to the Pamirs in the East. We were hoping to paddle some of the major rivers and explore some of the tribs.
High water warm up
Plans have had to be flexible as some rivers are too big and some insignificant tribs have turned out to be well worthwhile! There have been uncountable generous offers of riverside chi and bread which have also added to the requirement of fluid plans!
Chi, bread, and babies in helmets.
We have brief river notes for many of the rivers, and due to water levels grade 4/5 rivers are out of the question. The only real disappointment so far is that the power of the Gunt was a bit too intimidating for us! With a huge lack of eddies individual rapids lead into one another meaning scouting your line a km at a time. No thanks!
Ben getting swallowed on the Shirkent
After spending some time in the Southern Pamirs, we headed along the impressively huge Panj river (the border between Tajikistan and Afganistan) to the Vanch (by road, not river!)
After driving half way up the spectacular valley the river started to become braided and looked unlikely to gorge up again. After paddling a fun fast flooded trib we paddled about 5km of braided grade 2, before things picked up. And they really picked up! In the limited translated river notes it was grade 2 with bits of 3. They’d obviously not been there in August! Huge crashing waves with many a pourover to keep you on your toes. The best grade 2 I’ve ever paddled!
The best 'grade 2' around
Danny facing off another huge surging wave on the grade 2
We’re now back in the capital Dushanbe getting ready for a 5 day multiday. Bring it on! Lets hope the levels are lower than in the Pamirs…
Dave Burne
(written on expedition, uploaded post expedition. Less time on the internet means more time on the water!)
A new association to represent L5 coaches who are also active paddlers in their discipline has been formed.
Please check out www.apcpaddlerscoaches.co.uk for details. Many Palm paddlers are already on the list.
Who are the A.P.C?
The A.P.C is a collaboration of Level 5 coaches across disciplines that provide the highest level of coaching and the training and assessment of NGB awards. These coaches are also active paddlers having their own adventures in their spare time, be it in the UK, Europe or on expedition. Membership is open to any L5 coach be it a freelancer or in full time employment, who is an active coach working at a range of levels and who is an active paddler in their free time.
The L5 coach is the highest coaching award in the UK and at the moment there is no independent organisation to promote their services. The aim of the logo and the website is to provide a simple way of identifying the highest levels of coaching from active paddlers passionate about their sport. Our members are chosen by their peers and the criteria ensures that not only are they L5 coaches, but they are active in their chosen discipline.They provide evidence of this which has to be updated every 2 years to retain membership. This ensures you get the highest quality coaching from active passionate paddlers.
Nige Robinson, Olly Sanders and Sid Sinfield have just returned from a successful trip in Greenland. The trio circumnavigated the large island of Nutarmiut, a distance of almost 300 km and also put up 3 new mountain climbs. The climbing, camping gear and food was squeezed into the boats for the 3 week unsupported trip. The Aleutian drysuits and other Palm gear was great.
Look for a full report in the paddling press soon.
This weekend saw the Palm wagon role to Cardiff in Wales to be part of the CIWW Paddlefest 2010. Palm is one of the official sponsors of the pumped whitewater course.
CIWW
Team Paddlers Rosie Cripps and Nick Horwood led up the Dagger and Palm teams for the Palm 4X Challenge Boater X which saw the Pro’s team up with a Junior, Senior and an experienced Senior in a timed and head to head challenge, it seemed that local knowledge was key to success as Cardiff resident Rosie led Team Dagger to be win the competition. Nick with team Palm came in 5th in an event which was entertaining and inspiring.
Team Dagger winning the Palm 4X Challenge
In the evening the band “The Blims” set the scene for the apres boating and everyone tucked into the BBQ and danced into the evening.
Look forward to next year, hopefully I will have spent enough injury free time to get myself back in my boat by then!
See you out there,
Ben
Scotland’s finest tidal race has not been the most consistent of play spots over the last few years but a couple of weeks ago she was on the finest form that’s been seen in a long while, giving out a solid three and a half hours of wave time and whirlpool fun.
The main wave stayed solid until late in the tide, although the shot above was taken earlier when it’s at it’s best. Falling off the surfers left shoulder after a wipeout is often a challenging route back to the eddy through the whirlpools which give this spot a line of separation between the men and the boys.
The Axiom was the ruler of the forever wave, an experience which sets the Falls of Lora apart from the rest, giving long cruises out on to the glassy ripple in the middle of the channel watching the jelly fish go by!
Catch you on the water
Ed
