If you’re looking for fitness, fun and a healthy dose of adrenaline, then rock climbing near Pune is a worthy pursuit. Though it attracts its share of daredevils, rock climbing is also enjoyed by legions of everyday adventurers. If you’re reasonably fit and get yourself proper equipment and instruction, you, too, can become a rock jock. Follow these steps to get started rock climbing: Find a qualified guide Identify the type of climbing you want to try Gear up Find your route Step One: Find a Guide Your first move before you set foot to slab is to find a qualified guide. Many people get their start with experienced friends, or you can seek out a certified instructor to teach you the ropes. Nisargshala, time to time, organize dedicated camps to teach rock climbing to kids, teenagers and amateurs. Step 2: Choose a Type of Climbing Rock climbing has a broad range of disciplines, with each requiring differing types of gear and training. Your choice of climbing style also helps determine the places and the routes you can climb. As a beginner, you’ll start out doing indoor climbing, bouldering or top-rope climbing outdoors. Indoor Climbing For most people, this will be as a member of a climbing club. Many colleges, public recreation centers have a wall or freestanding pinnacle where people can try indoor top-rope climbing and/or bouldering. All of these places utilize artificial hand- and footholds placed to create routes of varying difficulty. Route setters can move holds easily, creating an endless number of new climbs on the same wall or pinnacle. An indoor climbing wall offers many advantages for getting started: It’s a readily accessible, non-weather-dependent place to practice and work out. You can climb in areas where no outdoor climbing sites are available. It allows you to try the sport with rented gear before investing in your own. It creates an ambiance for kids to learn the basics of rock climbing. We can help you set up your own climbing wall in your apartment. Get in touch with us for more information. Bouldering This requires the least amount of time and gear. Though a few advanced routes can get pretty high, most bouldering takes you only as high as you can jump off comfortably. Climbers can traverse (move along the rock horizontally, parallel to the ground), thus working on strength and movement, without being exposed to a long fall. Bouldering is a great introductory activity because it requires only climbing shoes, a chalk bag, a crash pad (to cushion your jump or fall off the rock) and an experienced spotter. You don’t need a rope or a harness. Outdoor bouldering areas are found around city At Nisargshala , we have many such boulders where you and your kids can try their hands on bouldering. Outdoor Top-Rope Climbing Top-roping involves anchoring the climbing rope to a spot at the top of the route, then climbing toward that anchor while another climber keeps the rope taut. By having a solid anchor points and a taut rope, you’re minimizing the distance you fall if you slip off the rock. That’s why top-rope climbing is the first type of roped climbing you’ll do in both indoor and outdoor settings. The term for the person who pulls in the slack as you progress (and holds the rope if you fall) is “belayer.” Belaying is a critical role, so your belayer should be a guide, instructor or a properly trained climber. You’ll also need to learn how to belay at some point because more advanced climbing teams trade off this responsibility. More Advanced Types of Climbing After you become proficient at top-rope climbing in the gym or outdoors, you’ll be ready to progress to lead climbing, intially on sport-climbing routes. Outdoor sport climbing routes usually have bolts drilled into the rock and you use quickdraws to clip in as you progress. See Sport Climbing Basics for more information. Traditional (“trad”) climbing is another option, although it also requires you to master the art and science of anchor placement. A trad route is one that has few, if any, permanent anchors. The lead climber protects against a catastrophic fall by placing protection—nuts or camming devices—into fissures in the rock. Quickdraws are used to connect the rope to the protection. Step 3. Gear Up to Climb If you start out at a gym or climb with a guide, necessary equipment is usually provided. Some gyms or guides might require you to buy at least a few pieces of gear, though. And, eventually, you’ll want a full set of your own climbing gear. Tip: Always inspect your gear before climbing—whether you own it or rent it. Frequent use inevitably results in some wear and tear. The advantage of buying your own gear is that you know its history. Climbing Clothing Wear clothing that is not restrictive and won’t get in the way of you or the rope. Your clothing should breathe, wick sweat and dry fast so that you can stay warm and comfortable while climbing. If you’re climbing in the outdoors, also carry clothes for changing conditions just as you would for hiking. Climbing shoes protect your feet while providing the friction you need to grip footholds. Most styles are quite versatile, but your climbing ability and where you climb are both factors in choosing the correct shoe. Rock shoes should fit snugly but not painfully tight. The general rule is that closer-fitting shoes are the norm for more technically challenging climbs. See How to Choose Rock Shoes for more information. Note: Rock shoes aren’t comfortable for walking long distances and doing so can ruin them. For the hike from your car to the base of your climbing area, wear approach shoes, trail runners or other appropriate footwear. Climbing shoes are for climbing only. Climbing Helmet When climbing outdoors, you should always wear a helmet made specifically for climbing. Climbing helmets are designed to cushion your head from
Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Its the Earth Day today, and there are a lot of us who are looking to see what we can do in order to celebrate this special and important day. If you want to care for the Earth more, and you want to take the time to celebrate Earth Day, then this article will help you to figure out exactly what you want to do in the long run. Check it out, try some of them, and have a great time when it comes to helping the Earth to be what it deserves to be. According to Wikipedia, ” Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.” We required this planet more than this planet require us. Let’s plant as much trees as we can. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s be a part of global campaign aimed at educating people about environmental issues and factors responsible for environment degradation. Let’s start now. And let’s not stop. Earth Day is more than just a single day — April 22. It’s bigger than attending a rally and taking a stand. Here are 25 different ways you can celebrate Earth day. 1. If you are in a situation where you can actually walk, ride your bike, or carpool in order to get from place to place, then it may be time for you to consider that. The fewer cars on the road, the better off that we will be when it comes to our atmosphere. 2. You can volunteer your time to organizations (local or national) that put effort into making the world a better place and helping the environment. There are a lot of great things that you can do, and on Earth Day, there are usually local activities as well. 3. Did you know that switching all of your bills to e-bills and online invoices can save millions of trees every single year? It’s true! If you are in a position where you can do that without making everything more confusing and stressful, then you definitely want to look at the different things that you can do in the long run. 4. Education is the key to everything that you do for the environment. If you know more about what you can do to protect the environment, then you will be able to use that knowledge and share it with others who may be interested in it as well. And that, in the long run, can make a big difference. 5. Do you want to encourage others to get in on the celebration? Then consider putting together what is known as a pledge board at work, school, or your place of worship. You can leave post it notes there so that people can write down the activities that they pledge to do for the environment throughout the next year or so. 6. Do you have a recycling plan in place? If you already do, start looking into what you have in order to expand what you’re recycling. If you do not, then you want to take a look and see what you can recycle in your local area and if you can work to make a difference in that way. 7. Do your faucets leak? If so, did you know that this wastes a lot of water on a yearly basis? If you haven’t done so yet, then you may want to look into how you can go ahead and get started with it during the next year. 8. Plant a tree. Trees are a big part of our earth, and planting one will just add to the health and wellness of the world that we live in. 9. Join a group that is focused on taking care of the environment and see how you can help. It can get your family involved and excited about everything that is available. 10. Go to a local event. A lot of communities will have an “Earth Day fair” or something similar that your family can enjoy together and learn from. 11. Stop drinking bottled water! There are plenty of alternatives out there and, if you stop drinking bottled water, you can save a lot of plastic that would, otherwise, be filling up landfills and dumps. 12. Consider making your yard an oasis for birds and other creatures. You can put in a bird feeder, install birdhouses, put in a bird bath, and more. By making it comfortable for them, they will be more likely to stick around. 13. Help kids learn about the environment by installing a play garden. These can help children to start to fall in love with nature while also being a lot of fun and helping them to get their hands a little bit dirty at the same time. 14. Consider putting together your own garden in your yard. This can save you money, help enrich the area, and it can make it so that you can get more out of what you’re doing on a regular basis. 15. Are you concerned about legislation at the state or national level when it comes to the environment? Then now may be the time for you to write an email or letter to your representative, corporator, MLA, MP, CM, PM or whatever official that you may be looking to talk to about environment. Source – conserve-energy-future
Its opposition day today – Jupiter – Earth – The Sun – in line with earth in the middle. Jupiter’s gorgeous bands and raging storms are on full display in a jaw-dropping new photo by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble snapped the photo on Monday (April 3), just four days before Jupiter comes into “opposition” — that is, forms a straight line with Earth and the sun, with Earth in the middle. Opposition also coincides with Jupiter’s closest approach to our planet; on Friday (April 7), the gas giant will be just 415 million miles (670 million kilometers) from Earth. (However, Jupiter will actually come a smidge closer to Earth on Saturday, April 8.) Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope on April 3, 2017, just four days before the planet comes into “opposition” (forms a straight line with Earth and the sun). Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Simon (GSFC) At its most distant, Jupiter gets about 601 million miles (968 million km) from Earth. The image, which Hubble captured with its Wide Field Camera 3 instrument, resolves details as small as 80 miles (129 km) across in Jupiter’s dynamic atmosphere, NASA officials said. So the planet’s many colorful bands are clearly visible. “These bands, with alternating wind motions, are created by differences in the thickness and height of the ammonia ice clouds; the lighter bands rise higher and have thicker clouds than the darker bands,” NASA officials wrote in an image description today (April 6). “The bands are separated by winds that can reach speeds of up to 400 miles (644 kilometers) per hour.” The famous Great Red Spot also stands out. This giant storm is larger than Earth, but it has been shrinking since the late 19th century, for reasons astronomers don’t understand. Hubble will continue observing Jupiter, searching for clues to this mystery, NASA officials said. Animation showing Hubble Space Telescope observations of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot from 1992 through 2017. Credit: Z. Levay (STScI)/R. Garner (NASA Goddard) Jupiter comes into opposition every 13 months, so the giant planet’s next close Earth approach will be in May 2018. The new Hubble observations were taken at roughly the same time that NASA’s Jupiter-orbiting Juno probe made its latest close approach to the giant planet. That’s no accident; scientists want to compare the data collected by the two spacecraft, agency officials said. Hubble, a joint mission of NASA and the European Space Agency, has been orbiting Earth for nearly 27 years. The telescope launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990, and was deployed a day later.
Lie back and look up Does this constellation come here every weekend? Such questions show the life, we human beings are living. The life which is restricted only to weekends. We have fun, we party, we meet friends and families, we watch movies on weekends. It was quite obvious that kids of these times, feel that the stars also shine only weekends. Its we, the adults, the entire society as whole, failed to give exposure to our kids to nature and the dark space up and above. So the answer is….write / contribute , about what you think is the correct answer, in comment/reply section. April 2017, yet another month full of celestial thrills and amazing events. You have got plenty of occasions this month to lie on your back and look up in the sky. LEO’S HEART MEETS MOON—APRIL 6 On April 6, the moon will be seen in close proximity to the heart of Leo the lion. The waxing gibbous moon passes very close to the brightest stellar member of the constellation: Leo, the lion. You will find the brilliant blue-white star Regulus only a degree away from the moon. Using your thumb to hide the moon’s disc and block its associated glare, see if you can spot the distinctive backwards question-mark-shaped pattern of stars that mark the head of the cosmic cat. JUPITER AT ITS BEST—APRIL 7 Look for Jupiter to be at its best and brightest of the entire year. The largest planet in the solar system officially reaches opposition—meaning it is on the opposite side of the sky from the sun—and will appear to be the largest disc in the sky, visible from sundown to sunrise. For Jupiter, opposition also means that this is the closest the planet will come to Earth, at 414 million miles. This will make it stunningly bright, outshining even than the nearby brilliant star Spica. Make sure to check out its retinue of moons through binoculars, as well as Jupiter’s own complex atmospheric details through a small telescope. For those with larger backyard telescopes, watch for the famed Great Red Spot to pop into view as the planet spins on its axis. This cyclonic storm is twice the size of Earth and has been raging for at least three centuries. MOON JOINS JUPITER—APRIL 10 A few days after the date of its opposition, Jupiter continues to dominate the sky, and tonight it is joined by a full moon. MOON SLIDES PAST SATURN—APRIL 16 Early on April 16, Saturn will come into sharp relief near the moon. If you have never seen the planet Saturn, this morning the moon will conveniently act as a guidepost to help skywatchers see the ringed wonder. Early-bird viewers can catch this celestial pair high in the southern sky in the pre-dawn hours. By dawn, they will be setting in the southwest and lost in the quickly-brightening morning sky. Even the smallest telescope trained on Saturn will reveal the famous set of rings that encircle the gas giant and even a few of its brightest and largest moons like Titan and Rhea. MARS POSES WITH PLEIADES—APRIL 21 As Mars fades, it will still be slightly visible, and will brush past the Seven Sisters on April 21. The Red Planet is slowly getting overwhelmed by the glow of evening twilight as it sinks closer to the western horizon, but tonight it glides past the well-known star cluster Pleiades. The 360-light-year-distant stellar grouping, also known as the Seven Sisters, will appear only 3 degrees away from the planet in the sky. LYRID METEOR SHOWER PEAKS—APRIL 22 Meteors can be seen near Lyra on April 22. Stay up late on April 21, and look for a flurry of shooting stars streaming from the northeast sky near the constellation Lyra. The Lyrid meteor shower should peak starting after 11 p.m. local time, but promises to really kick in after midnight, when the moon will have set and left behind dark skies. Until the pre-dawn hours on the morning of April 22, as many as 15 to 20 meteors per hour should be visible across the Northern Hemisphere in areas away from light-polluted cities. VENUS ALONGSIDE THE MOON—APRIL 23 Venus can be seen alongside the moon on April 23. A great observing challenge awaits the early morning skywatcher as Venus pairs up with the crescent moon. Using binoculars to cut through the glow of morning twilight, look very low towards the eastern horizon about 45 minutes before sunrise for both the planet and moon. ALDEBARAN MEETS THE MOON—APRIL 28 Orange Aldebaran and the Moon appear again, this time together, on April 28. For the second time this month, the moon returns to the Taurus constellation and its brightest star, Aldebaran. The two objects will have an even closer encounter, appearing only a half degree from each other–about equal to the width of the full moon. However, lucky skywatchers across Europe, North Africa, and North America will get a chance to see the star slip behind the moon in what is called a lunar occultation. For specific occultation times for cities around the world, check out this time table from the International Occultation Timing Association. Happy star gazing to you. Imagery courtesy – NGC
The negative effects of a life removed from nature. “A lack of routine contact with nature may result in stunted academic and developmental growth. This unwanted side-effect of the electronic age is called Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD). The term was coined by author Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods” in order to explain how our societal disconnect with nature is affecting today’s children (and adults). Some of the symptoms of NDD include attention problems, obesity, anxiety, depression, fear of the natural world and disregard for life.” ~ Some of the leading causes of NDD: TV, computers and video games Loss of freedom to play outdoors Parents’ fear of stranger danger Fear and dislike of the natural world; discomfort outdoors Disconnection from where food comes from Loss of access to nature No longer living off the land No unstructured playtime outdoors Entertainment comes from media, not imagination and outside play NDD Statistics & effects in Urban areas 88% of children use computers daily Youth avg 8 hours daily on electronic media, teens up to 12 hrs – they take cell phones & games to bed with them. 9 million youth are overweight, and rising 70% of children are Vit D deficient from lack of sunlight 50% of preschoolers are never taken outside for play Denied access to nature increases anxiety and behavior issues Parental fear is the #1 cause of children’s isolation from nature Benefits of Spending Time in Nature Stimulates creativity Test scores 50% higher Increased imagination, reasoning and observation Able to cope with stress Higher self esteem More adaptable Decreased anxiety and improved balance Healthy mind/body/spirit Increased awareness of surroundings Improved social skills Increased emotional and intellectual development Understanding of nature’s cycles We see this disconnect as the root cause of human imbalance, as evidenced by the underlying anxiety and discord prevalent in many children, adults and in modern society as a whole. With the loss of positive and direct interaction with the outdoors comes the loss of knowing who we are as one of Nature’s beings. When we reconnect, we remember that we are completely reliant and dependent on Nature; we are a part of, not apart from it. This fosters a reverence for the beauty and wonder of Nature, and restores respect for life. As caretakers, we live harmoniously within Nature’s systems. This fosters harmony in ourselves and creates balanced nature-human relationships. It also brings back having fun in Nature! As Richard Louv states in the introduction to his book: “Last child in the woods” he says, “Reducing that deficit—healing the broken bond between our young and nature—is in our self-interest, not only because aesthetics or justice demands it, but also because our mental, physical, and spiritual health depends upon it. The health of the earth is at stake as well. How the young respond to nature, and how they raise their own children, will shape the configurations and conditions of our cities, homes—our daily lives”.