Snowboarding the Himalayas? Beware of the Wildlife

Most skiers and snowboarders understand that there is a degree of risk when shredding down a snow covered mountain; we accept that there is a chance of injury from a collision with another slope user or a tree, a risk of being hurt or killed by an avalanche, or the possibility of breaking a few bones in the terrain park.

However, winter sports fans heading off on a ski or snowboard trip to Gulmarg in the Kashmir region of India, have to face a whole new level of threats from the natural world.

The SnowSphere.com crew, who are soon to be tasting Himalayan snow for ourselves, have just signed a disclaimer form issued by our soon-to-be hosts SkiHimalaya, which states that we accept the risk of "attack from animals (monkeys, dogs, bears and snow leopards)" amongst other more regular dangers.

In the recent article "Riding at the Eye of the Storm" by Ed Blomfield, editor of White Lines Magazine, who travelled to Gulmarg in Kashmir last season, the fear of being ravaged by a snow leopard is an ongoing theme. In the end, it was the monkeys who proved to be more of a threat.

With this in mind, we signed on the dotted line and waived our lives goodbye.

So, if you find that SnowSphere.com never gets updated again, you'll know the reason why…