THE TRIATHLON MAIN CHALLENGE (1st to 8th August, 2008)

The second Raleigh program was held in the months of July and August. Their last activity involved a strenuous adventure challenge organized and executed by Kalypso that included a two day trek, a day of cycling followed by a 24 hour survival camp and 3 days of bamboo and river rafting. The challenge was framed keeping in mind the abilities of participants but also with a view of testing their stamina.

The Raleigh team arrived at Hornbill camp on the 31st of July. Set on the banks of the Periyar River, Hornbill Camp was the field base for the 7 day adventure challenge. They were divided into three teams of about 15 each and briefed about the days ahead. The three groups were to simultaneously undertake different activities, led by the Kalypso team, so as to complete all the trekking, cycling and rafting tasks at the conclusion of the week.

The challenge was to be a competition between the three teams who would be presented with a variety of “secret agent tasks” which would all count towards their final group score when they returned to Hornbill camp on the 8th. The next 7 days were truly going to be a test of their survival and innovative skills.

As a start to the challenge, the teams were given some interesting tasks to complete. It involved thinking outside the box, as well as a whole lot of teamwork.
Rallying themselves into their groups, the participants discussed strategies for the days to come in whispered tones and pumped themselves up for the challenges ahead.

Getting to know their team

One of the many 'secret agent tasks'

Time for strategies

The trek portion of the program was probably the toughest on each team. Two days of mostly uphill trekking from Lakeside to Korangani and then to Top Station, over rough paths strewn with rocks and stones certainly took their toll on the young participants, not to mention their encounters with leeches. Despite this, they persevered each day, setting their sights on reaching the campsite for the day. The trek took them through some spectacular locations, with views overlooking pristine valleys. and some exciting encounters with wildlife.

Encounters with the passive Indian cow

Enjoying the welcome shade

Across streams...

and mountains

Birds eye view

Planning for the days ahead

Creative juices flowing

The result!

Packing up camp

Teams set out early for the cycling bit, as they needed to cover 50 km in a day. For safety reasons, they were not allowed to cycle past 4 p.m. meaning they had about 8 hours to complete this challenge, which involved a lot of uphill cycling. Undaunted by this, the teams set out early and started on their course. All teams were not able to complete the entire course, but they each did reasonably well, taking into account the unpredictable weather and steep, bumpy mountain roads. The route took them through the lush, green Kerala scenery till they reached Lakeside where they set up camp for the night, in preparation for survival camp the next day.

The next day saw the teams being challenged to survive on their own for the next 24 hours after being given a few essential commodities. Each member of the groups learnt some useful new skills after this survival challenge which included a GPS treasure hunt, a night elephant watch, cooking a meal with some basic ingredients and sleeping in basha beds they had to construct from scratch during the day.

Initial briefing

Passing by the lush green tea plantations

Tired out

Chai break

Setting up camp

The last activity of the challenge was 3 days of bamboo and river rafting. The first day of this activity required them to build their own rafts with the materials supplied to them. The materials included bamboo sticks, ropes and inflated tubes. Using this they constructed the rafts and paddled down the river to their campsite at Neriamangalam.
The second day saw them embark their rafts for another day on the Periyar River, to reach Hornbill camp where they happily camped for the day, with access to modern toilets and facilities they had sorely missed the last couple of days.
The bamboo rafting portion was relatively easier for the teams and they had a fun time bonding and splashing around as they floated down the river. Despite the hot sun beating down on them and the slow current, most teams reached the campsites in good time.

The thought process

Instruction time

Starting problems

Ready to go

We've reached!

The last challenge was a rather more relaxed affair- river rafting. The teams first went on a little 7 km trek to Boothathankettu damn to warm themselves up. After a short stop for lunch and briefing by the Kalypso team, the group all geared up in life jackets and helmets set out for a fun day of river rafting. Following a relatively calm time paddling down the river, the group was in for a surprise when they were asked to jump overboard! It was all a part of the Kalypso experience. After an exhilarating time being gently swirled around by the light current, the group climbed back onto the raft and continued on till the end point, from where they were transferred back to Hornbill camp.

Setting out to the dam

Unni, instructing the team

Going down to the river

And they're off

With the adventure challenge over, all teams headed back to Hornbill camp for a day of relaxing and packing up before they headed back home. The entire program ended on a high note with a barbecue and party organized to celebrate friendships made, new experiences and accomplishments.