Thursday, November 27, 2008

DAY-BY-DAY TREKKING ROUTE TO ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP




SPF NEPAL FIRST HIKING TRAINING 15 OCT 2008 (ECP)

As we countdown to our trip next week, let's recap our first long walk with some of our friends who have trained with us before....

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

BUKHA VILLAGE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMME

Staff & Pupil Allocation

Main Staff / Group

Supporting Role

Teaching

Interactive Activities

Cultural Exchange

Chng CK / Lu Xian / Fitri

Clark Group

Wong TH

Music (Recorder)

Traditional Games

Ang SC / Rachel Teo

Messner Group

Wei Li / Teo WM

English

Board Games

Sim SH / Adrian / Sherry

Rita Group

Sherry

Art (Mask Painting)

Sports

Teo WM / Low WL

All other staff & pupils

Community Work

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Updated Training Dates and other important dates

Updated Training Dates

3pm
17 Nov

8 am
19 Nov,
21 Nov (Cancelled)

24 Nov

26 Nov

28 Nov
2 Dec
3 Dec (Final Preparations)



Walks
Changi – 15 Nov (whole day)

•Other Important Dates
Vaccination – 19 Nov (afternoon)
–Meet-the-Parents – 28 Nov (evening)

FINAL GROUP FOR NEPAL EXPEDITION

Nepal Expedition 2008

Group: Rita
Teachers:
Ms Rachel Teo
Mr Sim Seng Huat
Mdm Ang Sor Cheng
Mr Wong Ting Hsin
Ms Zhong Yun Ling
Students:
Joshua Hoe Wen Hong 
Muhammad Zulfahmi Bin Othman
Joseph Hoe Woon Kang 
Daniel Zulfiqar Bin Dinas
Nur Fazlin Bte Abdul Malek 
Wong Si Hui Genevieve

Group: Messner
Teachers:
Mr Adrian Lim
Mrs Sherry Lim
Mr Cheng Ping
Mr Muhd Fitri
Students:
Benjamin Hoe Wen Tao 
Muhammad Faliq Bin Mohd Suhaimi 
Abdul Najib bin Mohamed Refunggi
Nadirah Bte Abdul Latiff 
Wong Shu Shan 
Ching Sangy

Group: Clark
Teachers:
Mr Chng Cheng Keong
Mr Teo Wee Meng
Ms Lee Lu Xian
Mr Kok Wah Keong
Ms Low Wei Li
Students:
Chua Huai Wei 
Muhammad Hafiz Bin Latiff
Muhammad Zulfadhli Bin Othman 
Muhammad Shakir Bin Abdul Salim
Eliza Wong 
Ong Siew Chin 
Khaw Wen Xi

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Students' Groups


Pack List for Long Walk Training

PACK LIST

• Daypack
• 1.5l water bottle or water bag
• Rations like bread, energy bars etc
• One set of clothes which includes
o t-shirt
o shorts or pants
o socks
o undergarments
• Towel
• Money
• Stationary
• Writing Materials
• Log Book

Note:
Group Photographers are reminded to bring along their cameras for documentation

Upcoming Training Dates

Training dates:

5th Nov (Wed)

12th Nov (Wed)

19th Nov (Wed)
21st Nov (Fri)
26th Nov (Wed)
28th Nov (Fri)
2nd Dec
3rd Dec (Final Prep)

Our Walks:
Bukit Timah - 8th Nov
Changi - 15th Nov

Projected Itinerary

Date 4th to 21st December 2008

Projected Itinerary

DAY 01: SINGAPORE / KATHMANDU – Receive and transfer to Hotel 4/12

DAY 02: KATHMANDU/POKHARA – Bus. POKHARA/BIRETHANTI (B/L/D) 5/12
Drive from Pokhara by Bus [approximate 2hrs drive] Commence your days hike along the classic trek trail which heads to Jomsom via Ghorepani.
DAY 03: BIRETHANTI / BUKHA VILLAGE (1400m): (B/L/D) 6/12
Start the days hike crossing the bridge, the trail starts ascending for 4hours until you reach BUKHA. This village constitutes of majority ethnic group of Nepalese people like GURUNG and few houses of low caste tribe like KAMI & DAMAI [Blacksmith and Tailors]. Being this your second day only, we camp here for the night. Activities here at Bukha can be arranged visiting the Local village and mingling with the villagers, visit to the Junior School or just resting at your campsite admiring the Annapurna South majestic mountain.

DAY 04 & DAY 05: COMMUNITY SERVICE AT BUKHA(B/L/D) 7 & 8/12
DAY 06: BUKHA / ULLERI (2073m) 9/12
Tdays’ hike will be through a off the beaten trail, very fewly frequented by other trekkers. The trail starts with a horizontal trail, twisting and turning around corners of the hills gradually ascending to your night campsite.

DAY 07: ULLERI / GHOREPANI (2853m) (B/L/D) 10/12
The trail continues to ascend a bit more gently, through fine forest of oak and rhododendron. Ghorepani means, "horse-water" in Nepalese. Indeed, along the whole trek, you probably have seen caravans of packed mules adorned beautifully thronging the high roads. Nestled on top of the mountain, this village is shroud with clouds and offers the magnificent view of Dhaulgiri and Annapurna range.

DAY 08: GHOREPANI 2853m / TADAPANI 2600m: (B/L/D) 11/12
This morning, rise early if you want to take an optional hour's climb to Poon Hill (3015m). This high point offers a panoramic 360-degree of the land around you. Your climb will be well timed such that you will be able to watch sunrise approaching the mountains. It will be a memorable experience to relish; especially catching the sight of the distant snow peaks bathed in a coat of gold. Cut through forested path and descend steeply to Tarapani. On the way, we will walk alongside a pebble - strewed stream and forest in this sub-alpine terrain.

Day 09: TADAPANI/CHOMRUNG (2210m) : (B/L/D) 12/12
Today’s journey is to descend all the way down the bank of the Modi Khola for about 1 and half hours and then cross the wooden bridge. Crossing the bridge you have to climb up to the ridge and move straight for 40 minutes to reach Gurjung the lunch point. From here you can see Tadapani. And after finishing lunch you will repeat small ascends and descends for about 2 hours. Then you reach to your tonight’s campsite Chomrung. Chomrung is like a junction. From here you can go to Ghandruk and ABC as well. One can see nice views of mountains from here. Mostly Annapurna South 7219m, Himchuli 6441m, Annapurn III 7855m, Fishtail 6993m, Gangapurna 7485m, Gandhrava Chuli 6249m.

Day 10: CHOMRUNG/DOVAN (2700m) : (B/L/D) 13/12
The upper end of the village, descend the long stone steps and cross the suspension bridge over the Chomrong Khola. Climb the mountain flank, pass the hamlets and restaurants in Callbong, Tialche, Bhanuwa, and Sinuwa and you will reach the end of the ridge. Follow the rocky path through the forest area until you come to Durdi Ghar. Then after, descend the stone steps and pass the check post. Continue the descend through the forest, follow the path into bamboo forest and you will reach the Bamboo Hotel. This is the lunch point. After lunch, the descend will have been about 360 meters. You will now make a gentle ascend through the forest area and move on crossing about three streams that flows down from the flank to your left. You will soon reach Dobang (2606m).

Day 11: DOVAN/MBC (3700m) : (B/L/D) 14/12
Today you are heading for Machhapuchhare B.C. The first section is a forest area. Cross a stream and pass the spot where water is overflowing on the path. It requires careful walking. Now you will be about 50m from the Modi Khola. Trekking a little further will bring you to a flat clearing in the forest. Move on to a place called the Himalayan Hotel (2900m) with two lodges, ascend the rocky path and you will soon reach Hinko cave. This area is prone to avalanches during the time of snowfall and there have been disasters. If there is no snow on the upper part of the rock face, there is no problem. You will soon reach Deurali (3100m), which is the lunch point. From Deurali, go to the riverbank, follow the path on the flank until you come to Bagal (3300m). You are heading for Machhapuchhare B.C, which are about 400m higher. From here follow the path on the flank where big rhododendrons are growing and you will come to end of the ridge. On the hill beyond the stream flowing from the South Annapurna Glacier, you can see the lodge of Machhapuchhare B.C. behind which Gangapurna (7455m) soars. After crossing the stream, climb a little and you will reach Machhapuchhare B.C. (3703m).

Day 12: MBC/ABC (4130m)EXCURSION/HIMALAYA (2740m) : (B/L/D) 15/12
This morning if the weather is fine, we will move early morning at about 4:00 to catch the sunrise at ABC. Do some excursion there for about 1 hour. And walk down to MBC for lunch. Duration for this walking distance up and down will be about 3 and half hours. After finishing lunch we walk down to the Himalaya for 3 hours. Tonight’s camp will be at Himalaya.

Day 13: HIMALAYA/CHOMRUNG: (B/L/D) 16/12

We will be taking the same route down to chomrung for coming back. From himalaya to Sinuwa the lunch point will be 4 hours walk. And from the lunch point Sinuwa to Chomrung our campsite will be 1 hour down till the river and 1 hour up.

Day 14: CHOMRUNG/LANDRUNG (1990m) : (B/L/D) 17/12
Start with a steady climb up to the top of the village, continue your days hike with stopping for lunch at Khimrung Khola. You may notice most of all the villages around here end the name of the village with a “RUNG”, this indicates majority of the inhabitants are from the ethnic group of GURUNG. After lunch a passing through a light forest and you reach your nights campsite. Ghandrung the most developed village in this area and majority of the inhabitants have either served under the British Gorkha Army or Singapore Police Force. Visit around the village is a good experience and one can also visit the Annapurna Conservation & Museum here.

Day 15: LANDRUNG/BIRETHANTI/PKR (700m): (B/L) 18/12
Descend down hill along the staircase steps till Modi Khola and following the banks of the river you reach your lunch spot Shauli Bhatti. Following the river bank you later reach Birethanti village which was your first nights campsite. Proceed further and you reach Naya Pul, from here we take a bus till Pokhara. Check into hotel.

Day 16: Pokhara 1 day stay
Day 17: Pokhara/ Kathmandu via overland - transfer to Hotel
Day 18: KATHMANDU/SINGAPORE : Transfer Airport for your final departure to Singapore (B) 21/12

Elevation in metres

The Springfield Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek and Community Project 2008

The Springfield Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek & Community Service Project
4th to 21st December 2008
(A) Introduction - Trek & Community Project Information
The ABC Trek is a world-famous trek and one of the most popular in the Nepal Himalaya. It is a moderately strenuous 16-day journey passing through some of the highest and most beautiful mountains in the world. Participants will ascend gradually to an altitude of 4200M in early winter when the weather is usually stable and cool. The gradual ascent will minimize risks of Acute Mountain Sickness. Along the way, we will go off the beaten trail to render 3 days of community service at the village of Bukha. Here they will participate in a homestay programme, interact with students from the village primary and secondary schools and help to set up a library of English books
Springfield's knowledge and long experience in outdoor adventure and community service programmes will enable the participants to work and create a unique project which offers opportunities to develop personal and social skills, and culminates in an adventurous expedition of a lifetime.


(B) Projected Outcomes
Students develop practical and interpersonal skills that will prove a major asset in higher education and in future employment. Participants will gain experience in the following:
• Leadership, teamwork and communication skills are applied from the earliest stages of preparation and even after the final flight home.
• Planning & Organisational experience during the preparation phase will give the group confidence from the outset and inspire them to great achievements during the expedition
• Practical outdoor skills that encourage self-reliance, self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.
• Witnessing life in a foreign country is the first step in understanding its culture and opening minds to diverse ideas..
• Participation in Project Programme involving cultural and social exchange that leads to increased global awareness.
• Satisfying and complementing specific areas of the School Curriculum and its broader aims. Students to "learn across the curriculum" in areas such as entrepreneurship, financial budgeting, cultural and sustainable development, thinking

(C) Safety & Insurance

Participants must be certified medically fit by a doctor and attend regular training to prepare for the trek. The project will be led by teachers who have vast experience in outdoor expeditions and community service. The teacher:student ratio is at 1:3. Comprehensive insurance cover will be obtained for all participants for the duration of the expedition.A meeting with parents/guardians will be held prior to the trip to present details of the expedition, explain safety precautions and procedures, preparations and to address any other concerns.