to our world. - NOLS

SEMESTER IN
India
TOUCH DOWN IN THE ANCIENT WORLD OF
the Himalayas and prepare for a semester
packed with unparalleled language and cultural
opportunities in one of the most breathtaking
backcountry classrooms in the world. The Himalayas,
or “Abode of Snow,” swing in a wide
arc across four countries and are home to both
Everest and K2. Your Semester in India begins
at NOLS Pacific Northwest in Conway, Washington,
to prepare rations and gear before flying
to New Delhi. A bus ride through the plains of
northern India to the mountain town of Ranikhet
in Uttarakhand will deliver you to the NOLS
base, located in an idyllic setting at 6,500 feet
in the foothills of the Himalaya. From here, you
will travel through the valleys of the Kumaon
and Garhwal regions where the thick conifer
and broad-leaf trees of the lower altitudes turn
to evergreens, rhododendron, and juniper forests
in the high ridges and shrubs, grasses, and
wildflowers in the alpine zone.
TC Rammelkamp
Whitewater rafting and Hindu religion mesh on the holy
river Ganges. Rishikesh
Facing page: Find time to reflect on your NOLS experience
and how it will impact the rest of your life.
Milam Valley
Discover India’s wilderness on foot, including remote villages and farms amidst the hills and high peaks. Kathi Village,
Pindari Valley
WILDERNESS ADVANCED FIRST AID (WAFA) While in Ranikhet, you’ll experience
rural mountain life while you receive your WAFA certification through the Wilderness
Medicine Institute of NOLS. This 40-hour course focuses on injury stabilization, treatment,
and evacuation guidelines of patients in backcountry environments.
WHITEWATER RAFTING This 12-day section is based in the area around Rishikesh, one
of the holiest places for Hindus and home to many of their rituals and mythology. You
will begin rafting on the holy Ganges River as you hone paddling fundamentals. Once
your skills advance and you begin to “read” the water, you’ll be ready for a few multiday
expeditions where you will learn to be paddle captain and row an oar raft.
CULTURE The village of Kalika, a tiny hamlet at 6,000 feet near the town of Ranikhet,
will be the hub for these ten days. Pairing up with a fellow coursemate, you will participate
in a homestay to experience firsthand what it takes to live in remote, rural India. You will be
engaged in domestic chores and eat meals with your host family. Group classes will include
subjects such as landscapes, forest use and farming as a means of livelihood, and yoga. You
will travel to learn about local food products, economy, and alpine ecology, as well as to visit
Gandhi Ashram, a national monument to the Indian independence movement.
MILAM VALLEY BACKPACKING The Milam (Johar) Valley was once the trade route
between India and Tibet. You’ll travel in those traders’ footsteps over high altitude passes,
through remote villages, and across lush river valleys and flower-strewn meadows, all with
alpine glaciers in the distance.
STUDENT EXPEDITION Your semester will culminate in India’s Pindari Valley with
an opportunity for a student expedition, a chance to apply with a small group of your
coursemates all the skills you have learned over the past months. Although groups will
travel without the immediate supervision of your instructors, you will work closely with
them to craft a travel plan, work out a proposed route, and plan for contingencies. Independent
student group travel is typically 7 to 10 days in length and is a reward for
working hard throughout your entire semester.
DETAILS SPRING FALL
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Average age: 21 • Duration: 80 days
Tuition: $14,950 (spring); $15,250 (fall)
Optional College Credit: 4 hours Biology, 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques, 4 hours
Skills Practicum, 4 hours Risk Management
Dates: page 107
Madhu Chikkaraju
84
www.nols.edu • (800) 710-NOLS • admissions@nols.edu