Trekking in India is fast becoming very popular activity amongst
the people of all ages, especially the younger lot. The trend has picked up
substantially in the last 6 to 7 years. The whole experience of getting closer
to nature, break from the monotonous city life and the craving for solitude is
what is attracting more and more people to the Himalaya year after year. Owing
to my roots, I have been trekking since I was 16, but that was in Nepal. I
still remember, way back in 2006, while on my first trek in India to Triund (Himachal
Pradesh), trekking and camping scenes were absolutely different as compared to
today’s day and age. Today if you visit Triund, you will at least see 8-10
tents pitched at the campsite on any given weekend and
the number can rise to 20-30 tents during peak months in summer. As the time is
passing, trekkers are staying away from Triund to avoid the crowd. These days,
Roopkund a.k.a Skeleton Lake is the new craze. A mysterious alpine lake located
at an astounding altitude of over 16,000 feet above sea level with many a
legends around it sounds like a place straight out of a fantasy book. A lot of
trek organising companies these days are taking hundreds and hundreds of people
every season to Roopkund. Now, you must be wondering why I took the names of
two random trekking destinations and explained the whole scenario? That is
because Triund and Roopkund are two different types of treks which need
different approach in terms of preparation and experience. Triund, is a low
altitude trek which reaches up to the maximum altitude of 9,000 feet above sea
level and needs almost no preparation or prior trekking experience to attempt
it, whereas Roopkund is moderate grade trek which reaches up to an altitude of
16,000 feet above sea level and needs prior high altitude trekking experience
with a bit of preparation. The common mistake that people make these days is
they choose the wrong trek as their first trek and later pay the price in the
form of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which can cause breathlessness, headache,
stomach illness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, etc. These things can kill the fun
of being in the mountains under the shadow of the towering peaks.
CHOOSING
YOUR FIRST TREK
Choosing your first trek is a tricky thing. People often
read beautifully written articles and look at the breath-taking pictures on the
internet and get influenced to attempt difficult treks. The other reason is
peer pressure, as there always this one friend in every group who is little adventurous
about things and is pushy as well. One thing that I would like to make clear here
is that the mountains are no joke. You can’t seek adventure at the expense of
your safety and wellbeing. One can only enjoy the real happiness of being in
the mountains by adhering to nature’s rules and understanding your body. To
attempt any level of trek, first and foremost thing one requires is ‘physical
fitness’. Trekking grades/gradients are divided into 4 levels, namely easy,
moderate, difficult, and technical. Usually easy to moderate level treks don’t
need any experience or preparation and being physically fit is enough, but
difficult to technical levels need prior experience and physical preparations.
The next thing one should not ignore is the right trekking
attire and gear. I have seen people turning up for a trek in their pyjamas and
sneakers. In India most of the people who trek are of the opinion that grooming
comes last on their priority list while trekking which, I’m afraid, should not
be the case. The right trekking gear and attire can change the whole trekking
experience. A good pair of trekking boots provide good ankle support and
traction which can save your feet from slipping and other troubles while
traversing the tough terrains. They also reduce the effort your legs make to
walk. Likewise, a good pair of hiking poles reduce compressive force on the
knees by up to 30% while trekking. They propel your body forward to make
walking easier. They also reduce the impact on ankles and feet. Last but not
the least in a rucksack. People in India usually carry normal backpacks to the
treks which needs to change, because backpack is something that you carry on
your shoulders throughout the trek and it should not be a burden. So to deal
with this problem, one must invest in a good rucksack. Backpacks and rucksacks
are two different things. A backpack (or daypack) will invariably be smaller
and a rucksack will be larger. Both terms however are often used interchangeably
in India. Rucksacks which are made for outdoors come with hip belt, compression
straps, back support plates, chest straps, several pocket compartments and rain
cover. Around 60 to 70% of the weight of the sack will sit on your hips. An adjustable
hip belt helps to secure the bag around the hip area for added support and load
transfer. Compression straps on the rucksacks can be pulled tight to reduce the
volume of the pack and to minimise movement of items within. A rain cover is
useful for covering your rucksack to prevent the contents from getting wet in
the rain. If your rucksack doesn’t come with a rain cover it is possible to buy
rain covers separately. All these things and factors combined will increase you
average speed during the trek and make your experience enjoyable. Similarly,
right pair of trekking pants and t-shirts can help you with easy movement,
quick drying and ventilation.
After experience, physical preparation, and right trekking
gears comes choosing the right weather. There is no hard and fast rule for
weather vis-à-vis a trek, but it is all about witnessing the beautiful
landscape in all its glory, so choosing the best season for a trek is also
crucial. For example, treks like Brahma Taal, Bisudi Taal in Uttarakhand and
Hampta Pass, Bhrigu Lake in Himachal Pradesh give you the best experience when
attempted in early winter when there is fresh snowfall or during spring when
the snow starts melting and the forests are full of Rhododenron flowers with
wild flower strewn green meadows adding to the beauty. Similarly, treks like
Prashar Lake, Deoria Taal, etc. provide beautiful landscape when attempted
during peak winter. A lot of moderate to difficult grade treks are fair-weather
treks and can’t be attempted during peak winter because of excess snow deposit
on the trails which makes climbing the steep stretches a very tough task as
there always is the danger of slipping and falling. Likewise, for monsoon,
Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand is the perfect trek. So one should never be
casual while choosing the right weather for a trek if you want to witness the
real beauty around.
In conclusion, I feel trekking is a sport which should be
studied, practised and followed with great passion and respect. It is a mix of
careful planning and execution to reach the level of adventure you seek and not
by negligence and ignorance. So next time you plan to go on a trek, choose the
right one for yourself!
