Perhaps that’s why she was chosen to launch a range of MTV gears by Wildcraft, one of India’s leading bags and adventure gear companies. The range features laptop bags, backpacks, duffels, gym-bags and totes. And also includes a ‘Roadies’ line that comprises ultra-functional outdoor adventure bags, tents and sleeping bags. “It’s a great mix of style and functionality. I especially like the graphics and the unique mix of colour palates,” said Jacqueline.

Available in bright and neutral colours, the concept came from MTV’s Streetmuse concept of international fashion products, born out of a desire to highlight unique urban landscapes around the world. A delighted VJ Rannvijay said, “I am a complete outdoor person and therefore always on a lookout for bags that cater to that side of my routine. Now, I don’t have to go hunting for them.” Commenting on the range, Sandeep Dahiya, Senior Vice-President, Consumer Products, Viacom18, said, “Style is the second skin for generation MTV. This range has therefore been developed to provide them with stylish options across all usage points.” The range is available across all the exclusive Wildcraft stores and the key modern retail format shows.

News Article source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Jacqueline-launches-MTV-gear/articleshow/6200552.cms

The range is priced between Rs 745 and Rs 2,995 and is available across exclusive Wildcraft stores as well as modern trade shop-in-shops. The creative inspiration of this outdoor range comes from MTV’s Streetmuse concept of fashion products. Each product has at least one unique functional element, thus making the range an exciting mix of style and functionality. Viacom18 Senior VP consumer products and communications Sandeep Dahiya who is responsible for the MTV brand said, “We are excited to partner with Wildcraft to enter into yet another important category in the youth space. What makes this range unique is the mix of innovative product features with international creative & design elements.”

Combining contemporary urban designs with Wildcraft’s exceptional workmanship, the range is sure to capture your imagination. So, get out there on the first opportunity you get and look out for the MTV-Wildcraft gear – we know it will make you sing with joy!

The media extensively covered the launch. To catch up with what some of them are saying you could look up the following links: Times of India, IndiaGlitz, IndianTelevision.com, Exchange4Media.com

13 July 2010 - The weather in Leh is awesome. The team is busy with preparations. We have spent all our time in food purchases, hiring equipment and reporting to local authorities like District Magistrate, Army HQ and the police. There is expectation and excitement in the team as it readies to proceed for the mountains on15 July via Kargil. Tangole will be the last road head.

The moment I can, I’ll post details of my team – which I am certain will be of considerable interest to you. For the moment, I am signing out and will report on our progress once the initial excitement has died down a bit.

Take care

Rupesh Khopade, Team Leader, Nun Expedition

Shanti Stupa

Rohtang Pass

Traffic at Rohtang Pass

11^th to 13^th July – (Delhi to Leh) we intend to travel from Delhi to Leh via Manali and Keylong. After we arrive at Leh, we will have a stopover for 2 days; during which we will purchase and round up all the necessary supplies. This will be the only time we will have to pack all basic necessities / amenities for most of the rest of the climb, until we are back from base camp. Packing is most important and only the most essential should be packed. We don’t want to be searching for something vital in an emergency.

14^th to 18^th July – (Leh to Kargil) we plan to reach Kargil on the 14^th. Kargil to Tangol on the 15^th. We will set up Interim Camp after Tangol. All supplies will be shifted from the Interim Camp to the Base Camp on 18^th. The whole team will be involved with this.

19^th to 31^st July – (Base Camp – Camp 01 – Camp 02 – Camp 03) this will be the period where we will split into three teams and hike to our destination. Progress will be excruciatingly slow and filled with uncertainties. Everything depends on the weather and wind conditions. All the three teams need time to acclimatize to the threatening and harsh conditions. Along the way we will set up camps for rest. These will also prove useful as a fallback during rough weather or other extremities.

1^st to 3^rd August – We will split into four teams here. This will be the time when each team will make a first attempt to the summit. This exercise will provide valuable experience for any exigencies we may have to face during subsequent summit attempts.

4^th to 7^th August – One team after the other will make their attempt to the summit. The crowning moment. We know we will achieve it. While one team is attempting to reach the summit, the other teams will stand by for any support.

7^th to 10^th August – will be the time to get back to base camp via all the other camps and clearing up after us.

8^th to 9^th August – these will be dedicated to rest the whole team.

10^th to 14^th August – we take the same route back home. Expecting to arrive back in Pune on the 14^th.

Nun has been explored for over a 100 years; since 1898 when Arthur Neve made three expeditions to the peak. Dutch mountaineer Dr. H. Sillem reached an altitude of 6,400 m (21,000 ft) on Nun. But the first successful ascent of Nun was made in 1953 by a French-Swiss-India-Sherpa team lead by Bernard Pierre and Pierre Vittoz. Fifty-eight years passed before anyone else could successfully scale the peak again – and when it happened, it was an expedition of the Indian Army.

These days its quite common to see expeditions attempting Mt Nun every year.

What is it like to climb Mt. Nun, one of the highest peaks in the Himalayan range on the Indian side of the Line of Control? Mt. Nun (see picture below) at 7,135 m (23,409 ft) is located near Suru valley, about 250 km east of Srinagar, will be attempted by a mountaineering team from Pune led by Rupesh Khopade of Giripremi (what a lovely name for a mountaineering club).

There are very few mountaineering clubs like Giripremi in India that are dedicated to spreading the popularity of mountaineering.  The 10-man Giripremi expedition to Mt. Nun left Pune on 8 July 2010 and are scheduled to scale the peak early August.

Khopade and his team have the well wishes of each one of us at Wildcraft.

Over the next few weeks, Khopade and his team will share their experiences with the challenge, on this blog with details of the team, the background of mountaineers, their schedules, maps, their progress and experience through words and pictures. So visit this blog often to get an up close and personal view of what it takes to scale Mt. Nun. Who knows, one day you may want to follow the Giripremi team in their adventure.

For the rest, this still is an adrenalin pumping real-life adventure in the challenging and tricky Himalayas.

Chea Marak was just about six years old when her family went by a rock climbing wall at a fair. Before anybody knew it, she was half-way up the wall sans a harness. This incident brought her propensity for climbing to her parents’ and others attention.

Eight years hence, Chea is still climbing!

She bagged the gold at the 14th National Sport Climbing Championship, hosted by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation at Delhi. In August 2009, Chea represented India at the Asian Youth Cup in Bali and brought home a silver.

Wildcraft is proud to be able to help Chea achieve her goal: “To be a world Champion”!

Way to go Chea!