All the wonders you seek are within yourself.
All you need advice and stories for your sport, delivered straight to your inbox (every month).Nothing more.Nothing less.
P.S: You will enjoy this.
My first trek is unforgettable and still so fresh in mind as if it was yesterday. It's then I realised that it was just this one step that I had to take.
READ MORE
Life was monotonous. Office to home and back. It was like a pendulum just moving back and forth without any excitement. I needed a change, a break. And it was then that I decided to save my leaves and pile them up for a good trek. Yes, the thought was scary at first. I didn't even know the exact meaning of trekking. I didn't know how things went. What would I need to act like, behave like? But I needed to do this for I had to do this.
My first trek was Shamshi trek which gave me a lifetime experience. I was traveling with one of my female friends to trek in a place unknown to 90% of the people. It was a 16 kilometers long trek which we not only had to play with but also survive in. Our target was to cross the jungle and reach the snow-capped mountain. Yes, the jungle! We stayed there for a night all worried about the bear looking out to attack us but calmed by the starry night and peaceful darkness.
A lot of glaciers and waterfalls had to be crossed to reach Shamshi. For this, it was very important to learn how to use the ice equipment properly failing which meant inviting a danger to ourselves. Undoubtedly, the view was worth all the efforts put in and risks taken all the while. I dropped a tear, yes it was this beautiful.
This trek became the game changer for me. I now knew how to convert my weakness into strengths, I now knew how to make new friends and interact, I now knew how to adapt to changes and manage things well, I now knew how to control my mind and emotions.
All this and I'm glad it not only helps in my personal life but also in my professional one. The treks give me such refreshment that I come back and work with double speed.
It's from this day till now or shall I say from that experience till now that I have done 13 treks in just a span of 2 years mostly in the Northern Himalayas, the most adventurous being Chaddar trek, Roopkund trek and friendship peak.
Though I have on a lot of treks, the most difficult one I would say was Moon peak. The trek was at a height of 4800 meters. As soon as I started the trek, the weather Gods warned me to take a step ahead. Winds were blowing at their highest speeds. But my will and calculative risk allowed me to move ahead and touch the peak.
Out of my many learnings, the major one is the sense of direction. Never in my life, I had the requirement to look at a map and figure out the way but when I was lost in jungles I released the importance of it. A good learning experience indeed.
My advice to everyone going on their first trek would be:
Tip - Quechua, Simond and Forclaz in Decathlon have an amazing range
People say women are weak and it's only the men who can go for a trek or climb the mountains or face the harsh weather. To them I would like to ask, who is Junko Tabei or Bachendri Pal? Were they not women? Or did they have some special body or powers to climb the Everest?
Well, it's all in the mind. There is no gender differentiation that can be done here. I have seen men breaking down and women running over the mountains. How can a woman who can menstruate every month and also give birth be so weak is my question?
It's all in the mind ladies. The strength comes from the mind more than your body. So the day you make up your mind, half the job is done there and then.
To all the women who are reading this, I would like to say is “do give a shot”. A trek is worth your time. Even if you don't become a professional trekker or go on any more treks, this one trek will take you through life; will give you so much of learning that you will cherish the entire life.
When you join our subscribe list, you get access to the best of sports inspiration, tips, stories and more to practice your sport. Just One Digest Per Month (Promise)
Priyanka Bhadauria - For the Love of the MountainsTrekking for me is an escape. An escape that I've always needed. Coming from an army background, traveling across India was a part and parcel of my childhood.
Subin MS - From one Peak to the nextI consider Indians to be the most gifted people on earth to be able to have access to the wide range of Himalayan high altitude ranges.
Beas Kund Glacier Trek through Jeslinz Johnson EyesBeas Kund is the place where the mighty river Beas originates. The river starts and flows from the glaciers through the scenic meadows which are surrounded by mountains.
Sanghmitra Raikwal's Trekking ChecklistTo me, mountains are my ultimate bliss. Where am I going to go Trek next? This is what keeps me motivated and on my toes
Priyanka Bhadauria - For the Love of the MountainsTrekking for me is an escape. An escape that I've always needed. Coming from an army background, traveling across India was a part and parcel of my childhood.
Subin MS - From one Peak to the nextI consider Indians to be the most gifted people on earth to be able to have access to the wide range of Himalayan high altitude ranges.
Please subscribe here
