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Adventure Sports

Grand Tetons, WyomingOn the banks of Cauvery in Karnataka, IndiaSunset in the Kudremukh Ranges, Karnataka

 

"The mountains tell you, quite ruthlessly, who you are and what you are. Mountaineering is a game where you can't cheat. When you're on a long climb, what counts is not your heart or your lungs or your fitness or your technique so much as your inner motivation, your ability to withstand the cold, tiredness and solitude; more than that, what's important is your determination, cool nerves and knowing how to make the right choices." -- Reinhold Messner

I have been involved with some adventure sports activities in the last 4 decades. 

It started with trekking (or hiking) and rock-climbing in the State of Karnataka in India, in the mid-80s. Have extensively trekked in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, covering many areas in southern India. Rock-climbing was done mainly in Karnataka. In recent years: I went trekking in July '95, during a visit to India. The trek was from Muthatti to Bluff via the Shimsha Power Project along the Cauvery River, in Karnataka; 'Went on two outings in India during May/June '97. One was an all-night trek from Maakali Durga to Nandi Hills. The second trek started from Sangama in Karnataka heading towards Hogenakkal Falls in Tamil Nadu, along the Cauvery River. During my visit in February 2004, my family and I spent a weekend in the Silent Valley Resorts in the Western Ghats of Karnataka (near Kalasa and Kudremukh). During this trip, we visited Belur, Halebeedu, and the surroundings of the Resorts. During December 2004, we went on a day-hike at SavanDurga, Karnataka. It was literally a trail that we made up the wooded rock-hill as we went along...

I think, trekking in India is much more fun and adventurous, as there are no trail-maps and very few trails. In almost all the places, you are your own trail-maker !

 

Kudremukh Ranges in Karnataka, IndiaDenali National Park, AlaskaYaana in Karnataka, India

In U.S., I have gone hiking in the foothills of the Appalachian range in Alabama; in White Mountains of New Hampshire; in Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee; in Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee; in the mountains near Hotsprings, Arkansas; in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming; in Denali National Park, Alaska, in Grand Canyon National Park (Album-1998); (Album-2000); (Album-2006), Arizona, to the summit of Mt. Si near Seattle, WA; to Yosemite Point, in Yosemite National Park, CA; Cheaha State Park, AL and Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

In August 1998, I spent a week hiking in the Swiss Alps near Zermatt/Furi (base village near the world-famous Matterhorn). During that week, I climbed to reach the summit of Breithorn (4165 m / 13,665 ft).

In August 2000, I spent 10 days hiking around Zermatt, Saas Fee and Grindelwald. During this trip, I hiked up to the summit of Ober Rothorn (11,300 ft).

In July/August 2002, I spent 2 weeks hiking around Sils-Maria and Grindelwald.

In February 2005, I joined a 10-members' trek-team to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

In April/May 2007, I went on a Colorado River Rafting outing through the Grand Canyon, from Lees Ferry to Lake Mead.

In September 2009, I was on the Great Walk of Africa in Tsavo National Park in Kenya.

In June 2011, I hiked 27+ miles of Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

In June 2013, I trekked from Lukla to the base camp of Mt. Everest in Nepal.

In July 2015, I spent two weeks hiking in the Swiss Alps around Wengen, Kandersteg and Zermatt.

In June 2016, I spent two weeks in the Ladakh region of India, trekking in the Nubra Valley (Indian Himalayas).

In June/July 2018, I spent two weeks in France and Switzerland, hiking the Haute Route from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland.

In May/June 2019, I spent three weeks in Scotland and Italy, hiking around the Isle of Skye, Scotland and Dolomites/Val Gardena, Italy.

In February/March 2020, I spent two weeks in New Zealand, hiking in the South Island.

In December 2022, I was on a National Geographic expedition to Antarctica, sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina to cross the Antarctic Circle and make multiple landings on the continent.

In June 2024, I took my second National Geographic expedition to explore Svalbard, sailing way far north, upto 508 nautical miles from the North Pole.

Glacier near Juneau, Alaska Lakeview in Kudremukh, India Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming

I did some flying in a single-engine Cessna, a few years ago. Soloed and flew some cross-country trips around Tennessee and Mississippi.

In Memphis/Houston, I train in the Korean style of martial arts, Taekwondo and am a practicing 3rd degree Black Belt. Also, did Scuba Diving and got certified as a Open Water Diver. The open water diving was done in the Gulf, off the coast of Panama City, Florida.

I have ventured into white water rafting in the Ocoee River in Tennessee and the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon; para-sailing at the Panama City beach and Kona, Hawaii; spelunking near Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee, and in the Blanchard Springs Caverns in the Ozarks, Arkansas; ballooning over Canberra, Australia; paragliding over Grindelwald, Switzerland; snow skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado; and skydiving in Houston, Texas.

One of these days, I want to trek the koras of Mt. Kailash.

Below are some interesting Web sites related to Nature and adventure:

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