Specific Unanswered Gulmarg Questions

**gpcharles** · 08-14-2009, 01:36 PM

i'm a built in feature for your convenience

**andrewmc** · 08-14-2009, 05:22 PM

I've not got any of the vaccinations yet and I was checking prices out with a friend that is a GP practice manager. I can not recall where I got that list of vaccinations though I have heard differing advice on more than one that is on that list.

I was not offering it up as a definitive list, just where I was in the process.

As to planning to address someone else's post, its a lot of cash and whilst i accept that once there any and all planning can go to rat shit, I'd like to at least know as much as I can about what its like and what I need to do and where I need to be. I've a friend that came back from SE Asia having spent weeks in hospital with Hep B? I'd like to prepare and plan for the worst.

**samthaman** · 08-15-2009, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by andrewmc

As to planning to address someone else's post, its a lot of cash and whilst i accept that once there any and all planning can go to rat shit, I'd like to at least know as much as I can about what its like and what I need to do and where I need to be. I've a friend that came back from SE Asia having spent weeks in hospital with Hep B? I'd like to prepare and plan for the worst.

seconded, I've got nothing against taking it as it comes once I'm there, but I think its naive and irresponsible to travel half way around the world to a region with a state department travel advisory and just hope for the best. Call me a pussy, but I'd like to have at least some understanding of what to expect when I get there.

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all. Any degenerate kerouac wannabe with a few bucks can buy a plane ticket and go on an adventure, those with actual goals and objectives though find it's more effective to plan in advance rather than to leave the success of their entire trip to chance. Why don't you tell us all about your great unplanned adventure and how it went though? We might all learn something from your wonderful example.

TC - I have no intention of underestimating the region and the challenges we'd face, in fact that's exactly why i've asked so many annoying questions. Why do you say we shouldn't venture into the backcountry without a guide? snow hazards, or something else?

Thanks to andrewmc and boltonoutlaw for helping to paint a more complete picture of what this will entail and cost.

Hugh Conway · 08-15-2009, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by samthaman

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all.

Then why are you going to Kashmir? There are plenty of places in the world with better terrain, better snow and better BC skiing all of which are safer and easier to travel to.

andrewmc - there's no fucking mosquitos mate. none in Gulmarg in winter. There aren't many in N. India either. If spending £200 for prevention from Japanese E, Yellow Fever (doesn't exist in India) and Malaria makes you happy, have at it.

**xyz** · 08-15-2009, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by samthaman

seconded, I've got nothing against taking it as it comes once I'm there, but I think its naive and irresponsible to travel half way around the world to a region with a state department travel advisory and just hope for the best. Call me a pussy, but I'd like to have at least some understanding of what to expect when I get there.

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all. Any degenerate kerouac wannabe with a few bucks can buy a plane ticket and go on an adventure, those with actual goals and objectives though find it's more effective to plan in advance rather than to leave the success of their entire trip to chance. Why don't you tell us all about your great unplanned adventure and how it went though? We might all learn something from your wonderful example.

TC - I have no intention of underestimating the region and the challenges we'd face, in fact that's exactly why i've asked so many annoying questions. Why do you say we shouldn't venture into the backcountry without a guide? snow hazards, or something else?

Thanks to andrewmc and boltonoutlaw for helping to paint a more complete picture of what this will entail and cost.

I have endless travel stories from all over the planet I could share, including Gulmarg. The fondest memories I have are the unplanned spontaneous moments, not the crossing off of my 'goals and objectives' on my Blackberry.

Just go with flow, accept, embrace and try to enjoy, getting ripped off, missing buses, losing luggage etc etc because it WILL happen in places like India. Control freaks, like you appear to be, honestly shouldn't go anywhere near Kashmir.

You’re not going to Gulmarg for an adventure? seriously, wtf?

**hop** · 08-16-2009, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by samthaman

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all.

What Hugh and xyz said.

**samthaman** · 08-16-2009, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by hop

What Hugh and xyz said.

not adventure in the way that they were describing. I'd rather have my adventure on skis than in a bus terminal trying to figure out how to get where I'm going. sorry, i thought i'd made that abundantly clear in all of my above posts when I said i'm happy to take it how it comes once I get there, but i'd like to know as much about what to expect before I get there.

**allenataylor** · 08-16-2009, 09:25 PM

Hugh, xyz, hop:
The title of the thread is "SPECIFIC Unanswered Gulmarg Questions"

If you believe that a trip should entail no more planning than the purchase of a plane ticket then what are you doing posting in a thread which is meant to address specific questions?

**xyz** · 08-16-2009, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by samthaman

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all.

Originally Posted by samthaman

I'd rather have my adventure on skis... sorry, i thought i'd made that abundantly clear in all of my above posts

abundantly clear?? ahhh, no

anyway, whatever, i'm tired of useless thread. have a good trip guy.

**liquidadventures** · 08-16-2009, 10:55 PM

It seems like the current amount of information available for skiing/boarding in Gulmarg is pretty sketchy and all over the place. We at Liquid Adventures,(www.liquidadventures.com.au), are an Australian based Adventure holiday travel agent, and we are currently researching and compiling an in-depth travel guide for our clients, aimed at somewhat demystifying the location for snow lovers, due to offering Gulmarg as a snow holiday destination for the first time, starting this December.

Answers to some of your Gulmarg questions may be found here: http://wikiski.co/wiki/index.php/Gulmarg an Australian based initiative of ski.com.au, to harness the wealth of knowledge about snowsports around the world.

When we release our travel guide on Gulmarg, we will let you know. Hopefully it's pretty soon. Cheers

**hop** · 08-17-2009, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by samthaman

not adventure in the way that they were describing. I'd rather have my adventure on skis than in a bus terminal trying to figure out how to get where I'm going. sorry, i thought i'd made that abundantly clear in all of my above posts when I said i'm happy to take it how it comes once I get there, but i'd like to know as much about what to expect before I get there.

You were not abundantly clear at all, but thanks for trying. Also, what we were trying to tell you is that by traveling to India, you can expect a serious adventure before you ever put your skis on. If you're looking to have an adventure on skis w/o the hassle of travel in India, go to Europe.

In Europe you'll find:
1. Gnarlier terrain for a day trip
2. Females
3. Easy logistics

Originally Posted by allenataylor

Hugh, xyz, hop:
The title of the thread is "SPECIFIC Unanswered Gulmarg Questions"

If you believe that a trip should entail no more planning than the purchase of a plane ticket then what are you doing posting in a thread which is meant to address specific questions?

I'm here to help, obviously.

**thin cover** · 08-17-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by samthaman

seconded, I've got nothing against taking it as it comes once I'm there, but I think its naive and irresponsible to travel half way around the world to a region with a state department travel advisory and just hope for the best. Call me a pussy, but I'd like to have at least some understanding of what to expect when I get there.

xyz, "adventure" isn't really my primary goal for this trip at all. Any degenerate kerouac wannabe with a few bucks can buy a plane ticket and go on an adventure, those with actual goals and objectives though find it's more effective to plan in advance rather than to leave the success of their entire trip to chance. Why don't you tell us all about your great unplanned adventure and how it went though? We might all learn something from your wonderful example.

TC - I have no intention of underestimating the region and the challenges we'd face, in fact that's exactly why i've asked so many annoying questions. Why do you say we shouldn't venture into the backcountry without a guide? snow hazards, or something else?

Thanks to andrewmc and boltonoutlaw for helping to paint a more complete picture of what this will entail and cost.

hey guess my post came off the wrong way not here to swing my dick just saying I went there all young an gong ho after college and did not have any plan, spent a year traveling on no plan. And I realize how incredibly lucky I was traveling in any of those Asian countries, especially Cambodia. But they simply do not have the same SAR training or facilities for that matter that we have here so injuries or lost can almost mean certain death. Weather is much wilder out in those mountain than in the states and Kashmir has been too rundown and war torn for anyone to really develop any BC acumen there like we have here, or Yurp or even SA for that matter. That being said there is tons to do and you guys will kick ass and have a good time as you normally do. You guys know your outdoor skill level better than I do and should just proceed accordingly is all I am saying. If you have any specific questions since there has been so much thrown around here I am not sure what you are still looking for, just PM me.

and I kinda agree with HOP, not in the same demonstrative way, but if you are going to ski in India just to say I skied in India then it is not worth it. And you are not going to have the same amount of fun as you would in Europe. Nothing compares to Europe when it comes to BC access or even lift served. Just getting your shit to Kashmir and making a plan will consume more time then you are anticipating. India is wild as hell and I definitely am not saying do not go, but the skiing is more a bonus to one of the craziest countries you can ever imagine.

**boltonoutlaw** · 08-25-2009, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by mc_roon

mmmmmmmm, thats a very nice tola...

I had to to look it up - definition of tola from Wikipedia.

The word tola is also the slang term for a measure of charras (Indian hashish).[citation needed] It is, however, exceedingly rare that a piece of charras sold as a tola will come anywhere near this standard of 11.6638038 grams.

Not in this case, however...Shukriya!

**boltonoutlaw** · 09-01-2009, 05:12 PM

SOLDIERS KILLED IN SRINAGAR - Gulmarg '09/10

BBC:

[Two] Central Reserve Police Force soldiers were shot at close range in a busy market near the historic Lal Chowk area in the summer capital, Srinagar.

Kashmir Observer:

Motorcycle-borne gunmen opened fire on two CRPF personnel near the Uco Bank...Reports suggested that the gunmen carried silenced weapons...

BBC

In a separate incident, militants threw a grenade in the city's Batmaloo area, injuring several people...This is the fourth attack targeting security forces in the Kashmir valley in the past month.

Troops killed in Kashmir violence - BBC, 1 September 2009.

**boltonoutlaw** · 09-15-2009, 07:26 PM

CAR BOMB KILLS FOUR IN KASHMIR - Gulmarg '09/10

SRINAGAR (Reuters) - A car bomb killed at least four people and wounded 10 on Saturday, when it hit a police bus in Srinagar, police said.
The explosion, the deadliest in recent months, shook buildings around Central Jail, the main prison in Srinagar. Three police and a woman were killed.

**abonello** · 09-15-2009, 09:26 PM

Hey all.

Stumbled across this thread, so I registered to share my experience. Basically dont be deterred. Everything about the place--the skiing, the people, the complexity--is amazing.

Some photos, POV and reflections on a great place to explore.

http://anthonybonello.squarespace.co...tegory/kashmir

**boltonoutlaw** · 09-18-2009, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by abonello

Basically dont be deterred...

..despite this recent tragedy: Police destroys cannabis farming in South Kashmir

**boltonoutlaw** · 09-18-2009, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by samthaman

Charities/ NGO's in the region? ( It'd be nice to have this trip benefit some worth cause, as I'm sure we'd generate useful exposure for someone)

Originally Posted by prestonf

YES! I've been thinking about this too, cool to see that someone else is as well...

If anyone is interested in teaching skiing or snowboarding to local Kashmiri children, and young adults, it can be done during your visit to Gulmarg.

Below, two videos that show active volunteer programs at Gulmarg for '09/10. Both are supported by business owners of foreign tour operators in conjunction with their respective local partners in Kashmir, one from NZ, one from AU, both non-profit, both no-cost for the participants:

[ame="http://vimeo.com/6427693"]http://vimeo.com/6427693[/ame]

**samthaman** · 09-18-2009, 09:14 AM

stoke level just hit 11 after watching tangerine dream last night and now those.

Hugh Conway · 09-19-2009, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw

If anyone is interested in teaching skiing or snowboarding to local Kashmiri children, and young adults, it can be done during your visit to Gulmarg.

Below, two videos that show active volunteer programs at Gulmarg for '09/10. Both are supported by business owners of foreign tour operators in conjunction with their respective local partners in Kashmir, one from NZ, one from AU, both non-profit, both no-cost for the participants:

now that's what the Kashmiri's need

**llyon** · 09-21-2009, 10:21 AM

Im finally starting to get set on dates and details. Looks like I'll be down there Jan 29 - March 29, with some other traveling in January.
I still havent decided on lodging; debating quality vs price. Where are other people staying?
Also, does anyone have contact info for the more budget places - Billa's, Green Heights, etc?

**boltonoutlaw** · 09-22-2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

now that's what the Kashmiri's need

Since you know what Kashmiris need why don't you cough it up, instead of keeping it to yourself?

Hugh Conway · 09-23-2009, 01:23 AM

Green Heights - [91-1954] 254-404

Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw

Since you know what Kashmiris need why don't you cough it up, instead of keeping it to yourself?

Fewer westerners running NGO projects whose primary accomplishment is westerners feeling better about themselves? That's damn easy for me to avoid. Kashmir (and India) is dirt fucking poor - without investment in education (and probably even then) the kids are extrememly unlikely to ever be able to afford to ski themselves.

**AKPogue** · 09-23-2009, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by boltonoutlaw

Since you know what Kashmiris need why don't you cough it up, instead of keeping it to yourself?

Didn't you know, skiing is for rich white people only so anything that brings the poor to the sport so they can maybe have a little fun is BAD!!!

Hugh Conway · 09-23-2009, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by AKPogue

Didn't you know, skiing is for rich white people only so anything that brings the poor to the sport so they can maybe have a little fun is BAD!!!

86% of India lives on less than $2.50 a day. Clearly I'm a horrible person for thinking working to change that would be a good thing and teaching them skiing is pretty irrelevant.

Care about the poor in Kashmir? Teach them to read and write:
http://kashmirmedia.wordpress.com/20...us-in-j-and-k/

Then the study concludes that there is direct relationship between illiteracy and incidence of poverty.