Jagan Timilsina

I am an outdoor professional with more than 15 years of working experience in the Himalayas, the Alps and Rocky Mountains.

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What I'm up to right now

After much deliberation I have decided to take on one of the biggest challenges of my life by participating in the Great Himal Race (http://trailrunningnepal.org/trail-races/himal-race-2017/).

The race consists of a 50-day trail through the entire Himalayan range of the country, covering 1 800km in total and averaging around 30km per day at very high altitudes. In total, there are more than a hundred high passes to traverse and requires not only an ability to run, but also technical climbing and expedition skills. Food and accommodation will only be available in areas of settlement, for the rest of the race I will have to camp and carry all my supplies, which offers an additional challenge at (maximum) altitudes of 5900m.

The main goal for participating in the race is to raise funds for promoting outdoor education for children in rural and urban areas (in collaboration with schools). This will be a perfect opportunity to fill the gap left by the current Nepalese schooling curriculum.

This is a cause I strongly believe in because I feel that Nepal’s current education system, consisting of 8 hours of back to back lessons inside a classroom, does not allow children sufficient environmental and outdoor education. There is no practical training on how to think independently, make decisions, take leadership, teamwork and most importantly, respect and appreciation for nature. Outdoor education aims to instil these skills and qualities via team building exercises, simulation scenarios, theoretical classes and field trips.

The course will be run by a team of outdoor professionals under the leadership of Jagan Nath Timilsina, who is a certified backpacking instructor and wilderness first responder from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the USA. We aim to reach 50 schools with each course hosting a group of 20 students.

The course curriculum includes:
Basic First Aid
Self-Awareness
Leadership
Risk assessment and decision making
Environmental Studies
Basic Rock Climbing
Basic Ice Climbing
English terminology (for outdoors)

A general overview of the project can be found here.

The funds collected will be spent on purchasing equipment such as: tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, backpacks, cooking pots, stoves, tarp covers, ropes, garden shovels, water containers, first aid kits, GPS devices, radios and repair kits. Aside from this equipment, it is also essential to purchase the necessary health insurance for the children attending training programs.

Through the Great Himal Race, I want to help spearhead the initiative to bring these much needed skills and training to children across our beautiful country.

Although GHR is a solo endeavour, I believe outdoor education requires our collective efforts. I therefore encourage you to join me in raising funds for this even Greater challenge.

To Donate follow the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jaganruns

Please share the link with your friends and family, together we can make this goal a success.

The race starts officially on April 9 from Kanchenjunga Base Camp (5143m). Make sure to follow facebook.com/greathimalrace for photos and updates.

About The Great Himal Race

The unique Great Himalayan Race will take place in April and May 2017. GHR will use the GHT (Great Himalayan Trail) route and cross the entire Nepalese Himalaya from East to West. The first half will be common with Himal Race 2017 from its start at Kachenjunga Base Camp to Helambu. After this, it will continue through Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurnas, Mustang, Dolpa, Simli Valley and Humla Valley before ending at Hilsa, a village at the West border of Nepal with Tibet.

Organised by the French running collective www.leschevaliersduvent.fr

Work Experience

Founding Director at Freedom Adventure Treks
2015 to present | Kathmandu, Nepal

Outdoor Instructor at National Outdoors Leadership School
2013 to 2016 | USA

Expedition and Trekking Guide at Himalayan Encounters
Work highlights: Climbed Mt. Everest, cycling in India, backpacking in Europe
2011 to 2013 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Trekking Leader with Himalayan Encounters
Work Highlights: Trekking leader in Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Mustang regions
2007 to 2009 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Assistant Guide with Himalayan Encounters
2005 to 2007 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Porter with Himalayan Encounters
2003 to 2005 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Freelance Porter
1998 to 2003 | Nepal

Training

Helicopter Marshall Training
Nepal Mountaineering Association
March 1th -3th, 2016 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Mountain Liaison Officer Training
NEPAL ACADEMY OF TOURISM AND HOTEL MANAGEMENT (NATHM)
September 4th -10th, 2016 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Alaska Mountaineering Instructor Course
NOLS
May 2016 – 35 Days

Emergency First Aid Responder
HIMALAYAN MEDICS
April – September 2015 | Kathmandu, Nepal

Wilderness First Aid Responder
NOLS – WMI
December 2014 – 10 Days | Kathmandu, Nepal

Advanced Mountaineering Course
KHUMBU CLIMBING CENTER
January 2012 – 8 Days | Kathmandu, Nepal

Basic Mountaineering Course
NEPALI MOUNTAINEERS ASSOCIATION
January 2010 – 35 Days | Kathmandu, Nepal

Jagan was fantastic. An excellent group leader, who tailored the trip to the people who were in the group. He dealt with all problems/issues well, including supporting a girl who had lost her passport on the plane.

Kevin
(Trekking)

Very enthusiastic Extremely competent Very professional Good sense of humour (including understanding UK humour)

Clare Darlison
(Trekking)

Jagan is an amazing guy, his knowledge and abilities are legendary and his trekking skills ensure that a fabulous time will be had by all

Colin Horn
(Trekking)

Great combination of outdoors expertise and people skills

Michael Wills
(Trekking)

As Seen on

Overview

KTM Trail Series is a super cool series of short distance trail races held in the Kathmandu Valley hosted by Trail Running Nepal team. Series races are held in the Kathmandu Valley in green places outside the ring road, on foot trails and quiet jeep tracks away from pitch roads and traffic. A dedicated course-marking team and start-finish race base team will be in place to make the experience professional for all participants. The races aims to build community of trail runners, contact with nature, face challenges, and give a platform for talent. Mira Rai, star Ultra runner from Nepal is the figurehead and energy behind the series. Great prizes will come at the end of the series and award those who’ve shown commitment the series and who race and score points often.rn

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Dates	February 18th, 2017
Location	White Gumba Jungle Trails
Organized by	Trail Running Nepal
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Contact

Trails, Map and Altitude

Swyambhu- Rato Gumba- Shiv Mandir- Seto Gumba- Halchowk

rnGet ready to soak your sole into a bliss of natural rejuvenation which will quench your thirst for excitement and calmness in the wilderness.rnrnThe trail is a mix of dirt tracks and some ominous climb into the Ichangu’s hill which endorses you with a rich Buddhist culture and architecture. You will pass through the canopy of wild pine trees, meandering dirt tracks, serene villages, flower farms, orange orchards along with panoramic view of Kathmandu valley. The smell, sounds and prayer flags that spread around the trails will mesmerize you with message of peace, patience, and calmness.rnrnWith some technical elevations and turns, there are lot of surprises that will delight an adventure enthusiast. The course will be well marked and we request participants to be vigilant about the markings to make it to the finish without losing out the way in jungles.rnrnPlease make sure you carry a backpack with plenty of water, energy packs and personal supplies (as you think is necessary ) for the race.rn

What to expect ?

rnRace Start Location – Springshine International Pre-school rnrnDistance – 12K rnrnDifficulty – Medium (Challenging for beginners)rnrnRace Sections – rnrnTrail Section 1 – Killing elevation rnrnTrail Section 2 – Nice easy descent and moderate elevation till the White Gumba Checkpoint ~5 kmrnrnTrail Section 3 – Beautiful meandering narrow trails and steep vertical climb going through flower farms and orange orchardsrnrnTrail Section 4- jungle trails, pass through a small village and return to Halchokrnrn rnrnElevation– rnrnCheckpoints– 2rnrnShiv Temple Checkpoint – Record the timernrnPokhri Dara Checkpoint- 5KrnrnHydration station– 1rnrnPokhari Dara Checkpoint- 5KrnrnPost Race-rnrnRecovery Food at the finish-rnrnFinishers badge collection rnrnPrize distributionrnrnRace Cut Off Time-rnrn5 hours from the start timernrn

seto-gumba-loop-feb2017-map-illustration

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Schedule

Prices & Deadlines

Registration	Date	Race Fees (NRS)	Late Entry (NRS)
Regular Price	Until Jan 25th 2017	1000	1500
Subsidized Price	Until Jan 23th 2017	500	800
Students	Until Jan 25th 2017	300	500

Regular Guests

Limited slots reserved for talented students who prove themselves in the school level events.

Recommended athletes by the coaches/ trainers/trusted officials

Girl runners from girl sponsorship fund

Students

Special discounted per student fee for the school students to participate in the trail running series. Students are supposed to carry their ID cards at the time of registration to avail discount.

Sign Up!

For participants registering from Kathmandu

You can drop by any one of our reps as listed below for registration

Kausi Cafe (Thamel)

Sano Durbar (Basantapur)

Sports Bar Cafe (Jhamsikhel)

Best View Restaurant (Bouddha)

Participants are required to bring their ID cards and complete amount for payment.

Registration Checklist

Documents (Nepali participants)

ID card scan
Passport-size photo

Registration will be finalized once all the above are received and liability waiver signed. Participants under the age of 18 require their legal guardian’s signature on the liability waiver.

Payment

You can drop by any one of our reps as listed below for registration

Kausi Cafe (Thamel) (Logo, map, contact)

Sano Durbar (Basantapur) (Logo, map, contact)

Sports Bar Cafe (Jhamsikhel) (Logo, map, contact)

Best View Restaurant (Bouddha) (Logo, map, contact)

Participants are required to bring their ID cards and complete amount for payment.

Participants under the age of 18 require their parent’s signature on the liability waiver.

Notes

Food

If you are new to trail running, you’ll want/need is a good ruck, something you can be comfortable carrying on your persons for at least 4-5 hours given that is how long will you take to complete the race. Though we have one water station at 5km, you’ll still need a solid source of hydration and you’re expected to remain self-supported. In addition to hydration you’ll also need to keep yourself fueled for the entirety of the event.

Hydration

Stay hydrated…

Weather

The race will take place in localized winter season of Kathmandu. Expect chilly breeze and moderate sun through jungles. Do carry windcheaters and warm running gear.

Equipment and Gear

Wear proper clothes…

Safety

The race takes place mostly in Kathmandu jungle trails, technical trails, rocks etc. hence there are some risk factors involved. Make sure you run/walk within your limits and not push too hard. Some trails could be very narrow and since there are construction taking place at some spots,one has to be careful. However, trails is as fun as it is challenging. We’ll provide a first aid kit at 5k checkpoint.

If you need to retire early from the event, you must notify a race director/ volunteer as soon as possible.

Scoring

Each race will assign points based on the winning men’s/women’s results according to the “Ranking points breakdown: 100-88-78… down to 2 points, to the 40th position for men and 15th position for women”.

The ranking points in the final race of each series will be increased by 20% for all competitors.
In the event of a tie, the best result in the previous race of the official calendar will be counted in the General Ranking.

Disqualification Policy

No littering. If caught, you will be disqualified. We encourage carrying your own bottles/cups/small backpacks.
No shortcuts. Same penalty as above.
Bibs must be worn on the front and visible at all times. No bib, no race. We take “ghosting” very seriously-that is, running the course without being part of the event. This is not allowed.
If you need to retire early from the event, you must notify a race director/ volunteer as soon as possible. We cannot pack up and go home with people unaccounted for.
Obey the directions of all race volunteers. They have the right to remove you from the course for safety reasons (e.g., you become injured, you reach a cutoff too late) or for violating one of the rules.
Please do not take off the trail markers.

FAQs

Seto Gumba Loop Questions

Where do I come on the race day? At what time?

Please be at Halchowk by 7am.

Where is the finish line?

It is a circuit race. The finish line is at Springshine International Pre School, where the race also starts from.

How far do I have to run?

The Seto Gumba loop is about 11km. Since, it is a distance on the trails, expect more effort to be put compared to road races.

General Questions

How do I register?

Participants in KParticipants in Kathmandu Valley will have to visit our agents, register and make payments to them.athmandu Valley will have to visit our agents, register and make payments to them.

What if I am late to register?

You will have to pay late penalty fee.

What if I am outside of the Valley?

Online form for the participants outside of Kathmandu Valley and paymOnline form for the participants outside of Kathmandu Valley and payment arrangement will be made on the spot.ent arrangement will be made on the spot.

I am new to running. Can I run this race?

Yes. The trails can be attempted by the new runners. However, it is a challenging course for the beginners. Take it easy.

What if I cannot come to the race after I register?

There will be no refund for no show-up.

If you want to transfer your bib number to your friend you can write to us at

How do I get sponsored for the race?

We are giving sponsorship to the talented young athletes and girl runners.

You need to have a letter from your mentor/authorised coach.

Bring your racing history and previous race timings.

Why is there a subsidized rate category?

We do not want to exclude the talented local Nepali runners coming from low income background from participating in our events.

They will be guests – who are invited by Mira Rai and trusted sports officials.

I’ve never done a trail race before. Will that be a problem?

It depends on how physically and mentally prepared you are. Trails presents challenging uphill climbs and descents, which could be taxing to your knees if they are not yet in form. However, you can also take it easy, hike and finish as per your comfort. Do not try to sprint if you are new and read about trail running to keep yourself well informed.

What if I don’t know what to bring? I’ve never done one before.

Don’t worry, when you need to know, we will let you know. Some things you can be certain you’ll want/need is a good ruck, something you can be comfortable carrying on your persons for at least 4 hours given that is how long you will take to finish the race. You’ll need a solid source of hydration and you’re expected to remain self-supported, there may be opportunities to refill at on course water stations, but do not rely on this to be the case. In addition to hydration you’ll also need to keep yourself fueled for the entirety of the event. Bring your liability waiver form when you show up.

Can I bring my own food? Will there be time to have a break to eat?

You will be required to fuel yourself, trail events are partly self-supported, meaning you feed and hydrate yourself with no outside assistance. Bring enough food to endure the event. We provide recovery food at the finish. However, you should let the organizers know if you are allergic to any food.

Can I use the same liability waiver for all the Ktm Trail race series?

Yes. The liability waiver signed by you at the time of registration can be used for all the subsequent trail race series.

If I miss a time hack and don’t finish on time, can I still get a medal/points or a certificate?

No.

Medals for the series is only provided for the overall winners and category winners.

Certificates will be provided to all the finishers within the cut-off time.

Points is given up-till the cut-off time finishing rank.

Are there photos like at a Ktm Series Race?

Depends who shows up to to the event. If a shadow wants to take photos and share them with the participant it is advised to upload all photos taken to the Trail Running Nepal Facebook page. Sometimes our photography team will take photos and upload them as well.

Cubs	17 and below
Eagles	18-39
Lions	40 and above