In 2006 members of the Youth Club asked about the possibility of a major expedition. After some deliberation the idea of attempting the First Youth Descent of the Zanksar Gorge (the ‘Grand Canyon of India’) was agreed upon and a group of young people from Laburnum, the West Reservoir Centre, Islington Boat Club and Canalside were hand picked and set about the daunting task of raising the £24,000 needed to go; organising flights, insurance, inoculations, visas; getting equipment sponsorship and undertaking safety training.
It took a year of work from the team and many man-hours donated by Laburnum Boat Club before the group of 11 young people and 3 members of staff were ready to go (including a sponsored 47mile paddle around London which raised £7,000 alone).

The aims of the trip were 3 fold:

•      To do the First Youth Descent of the Zanskar by kayak and raft.
•      To increased the personal development of all involved (developing teamwork, communication, organisational, written and presentation skills).
•      To be a motivational tool for other young people, with the production of a lecture tour to show what you can achieve.

In August the group left Laburnum and flew to Ladakh in Kashmir, Northern India. They spent two days acclimatising and had a one day warm-up on the Indus River followed by a three-day drive. After passing numerous glaciers, peaks and 4,500m passes they finally made it to the start of the Zanskar River. They spent 5days descending the river, with 3 days in the gorge.

The group were supported by two local raft companies and included a GB freestyle kayak team member as a guide. Nothing could have prepared them for the breath-taking 300 metre sheer-sided canyon cliffs that awaited them, or the warmth, curiosity and beauty of the local children, who waved from the side of the river and visited the camp.
The size of the river itself was also unimaginable, being as wide as the Thames in parts, and reducing down to 5m wide turbulent gaps in others, as well as including 5ft waves and raft size boils. On 31st August the group emerged from the gorge, tired and dirty but successful in their attempt to become the first youth group to complete the arduous trip.

Since their return the group have made a presentation about their experiences, to take to schools, youth clubs and watersports centres. They aim to inspire and motivate other young people to get active and get involved.

The group would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who made this amazing trip possible, including all the sponsors, especially Dagger and Palm, Drakes, PHS and the Gordon Foundation.

Beth Ettinger
Deputy Co-ordinator