The Trail Head will be taking items for the Gear For The Garhwal gear drive through April 30. The Nature-Link Institute (N-LI) is looking to accumulate used and donated mountain/outdoor gear which will be exclusively donated to the Mountain Shepherds Initiative (MSI) organization located in the high Himalaya of Northern India. As an international study abroad organization the N-LI has an understanding of the desperate need that grassroots organizations, such as MSI have staying afloat financially.
MSI is a villager owned and operated eco-tourism/guide organization located within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, considered one of the last great wilderness areas within the Himalaya. Owned and operated by 44 local youths certified through the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, the organization is at the forefront of the Nanda Devi Campaign which is dedicated to the cultural survival and sustainable livelihoods of the Bhotia villagers.
The N_LI is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit international study abroad organization accredited through the University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation. N-LI has offered the 6-credit course within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve since 2005 and during that time has built a special bond with the MSI organization. As a sustainable academic adventure tourism organization N-LI believes in the possible advantages of helping MSI by donating used alpine travel gear. Once the gear is collected by N-LI it will be distributed to the study abroad students who will then hand-deliver the gear to the MSI organization.
Gear of most critical need
- 3 and 4 season tents
- Sleeping bags (30 degree or less)
- Sleeping pads
- Backpacks
- Technical shells and pants
- Trekking/hiking boots
- Duffel bags
- Trekking/hiking socks
- Performance layers
- Climbing gear
- Cold weather hats and gloves
- First aid packs
- Headlamps
- Stuff sacks
- Camp chairs