Unfinished business in Pakistan

By this point most people will probably have heard something about the infamous Rondu Gorge on the Indus River in Gilgit-Baltistan, the northern part of Pakistan bordering China.
What is seen as one of the hardest rivers you can do in your kayak, every lap on the Indus from any person ever, has created wild stories of big lines you have seen, random things that will have happened, or big surfs you will most likely have been into at some point during a decent.
I personally have been to the Indus before, initially Bren and myself had the chance to spontaneously hop on a trip with friends back in 2017. The trip was super fun and we got to paddle the Rondu Gorge, but a mix out of weird water levels, sickness, a freshly thrown together group which hasn’t been kayaking before, rockfall due road blasts and many other issues- it never felt like I had “checked off” the Rondu gorge on the Indus or anything like that, it was always a strong case of “unfinished business”.
I have been trying to put together a trip back to the Indus for around two years now, every winter there was another reason why it would be a lot better to push the Indus trip back another season and another season. Eventually I was over it. This year I told myself I’d go back to the Indus no matter what, worst case I’d go for a solo lap. Luckily it never came to that since Eirik Hansen and me got talking after a shared lap together on the Myrkdalselva in Norway this summer. He was mentioning a strong interest to get back to Rondu as well, having encountered similar challenges like me on his prior trip.
The idea was there! Next up it was Eirik who sent a four-line long email to our contact in Pakistan Ali from Golden Peaks, who has been taking kayakers into Rondu with exceptional service since 2016 and by now has it really figured out. Logistics really changed recently in the Indus valley, having a fully built highway compared to a narrow bouncy dirt road really changes things and you can make the drive from Gilgit to Skardu in 4 hours what used to take 18.
After Ali got back to us with extended travel itinerary’s and more all what was really needed was to spread the word around friends who might be interested in joining, buy some flights to Pakistan and see who comes back and is up for it.
With that tactic at hand quickly we ended up with an amazing group out of great friends who all have paddled regularly before together and had similar aspirations why we would want to come back to Rondu gorge.
/ adrianmatternkayak
/ senders

[@gordmccoll5009]

Loving this ❤❤❤❤ 😊😊😊😊 makes me so happy to see you sending it with your best mates. No doubts Bren was there in spirit.

[@KayakingWithJordan]

Good to see you back on the platform 👌💪

[@norganic1972]

Nur wenige Paddler haben diesen Sport in den letzten Jahrzehnten derart geprägt und gepusht wie du und deine Senders Gäng. Einfach atemraubend wie ihr dort paddelt. Und auch wenn das fahrerische Können und das Wildwasser mich wahnsinnig fasziniert so ist doch auch dein Mindset, das was mich tatsächlich beeindruckt. Schön wieder Videos von dir zu sehen. LG schreibt der Norganic

[@Senders]

danke für dir worte!

[@business_time2610]

Senders will always be larger then any individual team member - Bren would look at this and be so happy you are continuing the legacy with epic content - much love!

[@amye4087]

So glad to see you out there doing your thing. Could see some happiness in your eyes. Definitely chaotic water and always amazes me at what you all can do. Glad all are safe and Bren will always be with you. Thank you for taking us along.

[@austerace]

It's been a while. Very good to see you back. Great trip, Bren is very much in our minds, all of the time, it will be different now, but Bren will be with us always. Be safe and enjoy. Thank you for keeping his memory alive. ❤

[@Senders]

@@austerace brenshitz forever!

[@FEVERDREAM889]

Stoked to see the channel up and running again! Love you're carrying on Bren's legacy! Much love! 💜❤

[@mrintrospective]

That end bit and tribute to Bren brought some tears. Well done guys

[@DiscosVideos]

So glad you’re continuing to send it. Bren will always be with you on and off the water. He’s definitely smiling from above.

[@RagingRapids311]

21:35 Hard not seeing Bren with you. Respect to the guy who poured one out for him before passing the bottle around. Great video and editing

[@b.a.n.6390]

first six and a half minutes and I think this new style and video quality are off the charts and I just love this video! Holy amazing Please keep it up, this made my day

[@kajakjulz4708]

Wow was ein Video! Brutales Footage, wunderschöne Natur, sehr guter Video Schnitt und eine menge Emotionen. Sehr schön dich wieder auf dem Fluss zu sehen und Danke fürs teilen insbesondere für die letzten Minuten 💙🧡

[@kenaipeninsulawhitewater5650]

So cool to see a new Indus vid, the K2 of big water kayaking. I thought I spotted "Stookesberry Rapid" on one of the aerial shots but wasn't sure. Maybe it wasnt bad at this flow or underwent some alteration?

[@ewartaylward6595]

Dude.... That river's terrifying! Great filming, music, and edit. Sick work.

[@b5yuwu672]

Thanks for this, Adrian 🤝

[@MSFSD]

Thank you indeed for showing us what we have but none of us the idea.... Water is terrifying at some places....hard to even imagine to be there.... Hats off to your courgae....love....and expertise.....lots n lots of love from Pakistan

[@cheskybaba4864]

So great to see you on this channel. Bren is loving you. When I see you Adrien, I see Bren.

[@oldcrow9495]

Much appreciation Adrian, for so many aspects of this trip. Thanks for keeping this platform moving forward in a positive direction. Keep up the good work, we know Bren would be proud and excited. Stay safe out there!

[@AerieLeauVive]

Such a run culminated from a lifetime of prep you all made to have this descent. Love the tribute to Brenshitz. Miss him. He’d be so proud of all of ya.

[@b5yuwu672]

14:42 holy shit.. thats a bloody clean transition

[@davehumpleby3440]

Liquid chaos! What a fantastic, feel-good mission and video. Glad everyone came through safe and stoked. Truly epic whitewater.

[@scottlindgren_]

So stoked for you bro. Spirit in the sky! 💫

[@Senders]

🙌🙌🫶

[@soundwarper]

I’m not a kayaker, but this film makes me wanna be! Love this. Absolutely Bren was there in spirit - and will always be. ❤️

[@mikelsarasola]

Good to see you guys having fun and enjoying such sick place as a team. Nice lines and beautiful edit Adrian!!!

[@Senders]

@@mikelsarasola cheers brotha

[@elzeardroustang1577]

Wow, la video est juste exceptionnelle. Merci de partager encore ça.

[@WegerBrothers]

Thanks for the epic times brotha & brothas!! Hammer edit! So Siiiiiick!!! ❤❤

[@averydicentes]

So amazing to see a new vid from this channel❤ also dope vid and kick ass white water🤟

[@noahkoller1469]

Insane river, and wild quality of editing and filming. Big congrats to you and the team 🙏🏼

[@Senders]

@@noahkoller1469 thanks man!

[@unnamedman1720]

Glad to see you back at it and carrying on the channel, seriously rowdy rapids, next level!

[@Scurfeild]

so glad to see you back dude

[@salmanbokharee]

Hi! Saw you guys kayaking on the 27th and 31st October on our way to and back from Skardu. Truly a remarkable feat conquering these waters

[@ashleymercer3052]

Thank you for taking us on this journey. Great work boys!

[@tankmaster1018]

So good to see you back Adrian!

[@sbo149]

Really really good!!! Bombastic edit, thanks Adrian!!!

[@RookieRainchaser]

Great to see you on here Adrian. Epic water and awesome paddling!

[@levisandskayak]

Welcome back Adrian. Thanks for sharing again

[@Grasshopper2]

Amazing so happy your posting again ❤

[@MoritzEngel-j9x]

Amazing video, amazing trip!

[@rrinvisible]

So impressive, and Adrian is just such a modest guy. I would like a music list though please ! Some nice tracks!!

[@allenstill5121]

That was gold. Thanks, Adrian!

[@yirequ2150]

Its great to see you back

[@AdrianSnell99]

Great edit mate! Keep up the good vibes!!

[@seamonkey74]

Epic. Mad skillz for sure.

[@WetandWindy]

You've come back swinging 🤘❤️

[@fabiantandler6780]

Woooow - Hühnerhaut Moment!!! Stay safe out there

[@almighty123T]

What an amazing edit!

[@matthewjasmin666]

This warms my heart

[@stuartreedsadventures]

Awesome. I’m interested to know boat choices for the crew?

[@Senders]

we had quite some different boats out there! ReactR L Stoke DRX Cross Beast

[@stuartreedsadventures]

@ thanks. Amazing trip and huge water

[@DMEjazz]

Fantastic! 🎉

[@braydenraw7738]

Goosebumps

[@TraveltoPaddle]

Great video, epic paddling

[@tim__sadler]

Epic storytelling. 🤘

[@morenodellabruna]

congratulations, amazing video!

Awesome buddy! ❤

[@trendingtigers]

Missing Bren!

[@amakla5103]

Gooooood stuff!

[@darkskynv]

Awesome!

[@Senders]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thelethalmoo]

8:27 gotta be like the most air ive ever seen! Jesus

[@ustotz]

Great - thank you all!

[@hlwposse458]

much love

[@Elena-qn2xr]

Nice one! 🤝🏻

[@joshsouthern2k]

brenshitz forever 💙🧡

[@jakeanderson9258]

This edit is so fucking good 🤟

[@shanemurphy35]

Respect!

[@yevhenii_iv]

Wow !!!

[@MichaelDonlinAwesome]

Crazy AF and beautiful.

[@Ale_conca]

Figata!

[@Senders]

thank you for the love🙌

[@andreszuluaga5397]

Epic!

[@HayatKhizar-b5k]

Pakistan Is Amazing

[@scottbarber8783]

🙌🙌

[@nknemokayak6623]

👍👍💪💪

[@issacmartineztv2257]

❤

[@mia67217]

🔝💯

[@broberts1505]

Who else was on the crew boating?

[@Senders]

Matthias Weger Eirik Hansen David Sodomka Mario Leitner Janosch Plathner Marinus Bauer awesome crew to be with!

[@noerighetti]

🚀🚀🚀

[@kayakkootenaybc]

12:21

[@Nottomorrownotyesterday]

💙🧡🙏🏼

[@RayKegler]

🫶🥹🫶🥹…. SEND. 🧡

[@big1dog23]

Fantastish. What is it that draws back again. Bren is smiling down at you. Adrian, are you aware of the Lower Indus's fascinating ancient history? An entire ancient civilization, arose down there and then disappeared when the river and it's tributaries changed it's course. Harapaa and Mohenjo-darro.. Water worshipers. Like us. Depicts the timelessness of water, life and us, kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKTac5Khe9aapZY

[@patrickbusche5665]

😏👍

[@markt5426]

Adrian, Bret was watching over you. 🙏

[@marcozeccola]

So sick

[@aaron3795]

Im form WhatsApp from the group

[@TheWorganBrothers]

🫳