Imagine watching the first rays of the sun kiss the snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas or walking through a valley surrounded by pristine beauty. There is so much to explore and truly there is beauty beyond fear.
“I can’t explain how it is up there. As a tourist, there is a point till where you can go, but after the road ends, amid the untouched beauty and wilderness — that’s where trekking begins,” says Arjan Kripal, who started a venture called GetupandGo five years ago, thanks to his passion for Nature. He recently also rode from Kathmandu to Lhasa via Everest Basecamp, covering nearly 900 kilometres.
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Drinking water from a stream, eating berries along the way, encountering different species of animals — you are truly connected with Nature. Whether it is for fitness or a love for wide open spaces, millennials today are taking to trekking as part of their travels, even if they have to pass up the comforts of hot water and comfortable beds.
A feeling like no other
“The rewards are confidence and invaluable self-worth; something unmatched,” says Kripal.
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Kripal was a national-level cricketer, who had tried his hand at sport and working corporate jobs, but after nearly 40 treks all over the world, realised his heart was in the mountains.
He says the three simplest treks for an amateur would be the Bhrigu Lake trek in the Himachal region of Manali, the Beas Kund trek to the source of the Beas river and the Chopta trek. “I have had children as young as 10 do the trek up and come down via mountain biking. They reach the Ganges and then raft their way down.”
Through the year, these three treks are closest to the snow line, and therefore popular with people who want to experience or even see snow. “If you are in Himachal Pradesh you will see snow by day 2 of your trek,” says Kripal.
Logistics of trekking
Leading a group of trekkers is a task based on the gradient of the climb. “It’s important to know the elevation. Between 3,000 metres and 4,000 metres is a comfortable range. As you go higher, it’s tougher,” he adds.
Another factor to consider is the distance covered every day. “For instance, easy treks entail three to four hours of walking per day, moderate ones are four to five hours, and the difficult ones last up to eight hours. I have trekked up to 17 hours in a day during the Gokyo trail, as we had to walk over a pass submerged in snow. It remains one of my favourite treks.” The distance of the campsite from the road is another factor to consider. “If there is an emergency, the closer we are to a city, the easier it is.”
“Age,” says Kripal, “has nothing to do with being a beginner. A 13-year-old started by trekking to the Everest Base Camp. I also had a 65-year-old lady join me, and she trekked better than many people younger than her. It’s a question of just beginning that journey.”
How to get trek fit
* Be at least gym fit to enjoy the outdoors more and have lesser aches and pains.
* Do stair climbing before the trek — either in your building or in a stadium.
* Develop a positive attitude.
During the trek
* Acclimatisation is important, no matter where you climb.
* Hydrate and take it slow.
* Sometimes pop a Diamox.