Trekking has become popular these days and increasing number of people are opting for it. There are ample of blogs on the Internet to guide you for the trek you desire. Even Himalayan treks are guided with blogs!
But what matters is how well prepared you are for any trek.
My love for trekking has taught me a lot of things which i would like to share with you all. It is strictly for western ghats and Saiyadri mountains in India only. Some points you might have never heard about, while some are very basic but still ignored.
PS – I invite all the trekkers and mountaineers to contribute their experience in this article for the benefit of the readers.
- Research.
Research, research and research!
Research as much as you can. Learn from other people’s experience who have already done that particular trek. With the Internet so much handy these days, reading information and blogs is one of the best ways. There are even many books written on Saiyadri mountains (many are in Marathi).
Study the mountain route on Google maps or on other GPs apps on mobile. While this might not help you much when you are doing an actual trek, it will at least give you a basic idea.
- doing an actual trek, it will at least give you a basic idea.
Diksal dam, Mathern
- Never go alone.
There are some crazy, daring people who prefer going for treks alone to quench their thirst for adventure. I would say don’t do that! Take at least one person with you. Trekking in the jungle is highly vulnerable and anything can happen. If you have a companion with you, not only the risk is reduced. But also there is someone to help you out in danger.
Peb fort, Mathern
- Shoes and water, your life!
Wear a decent sports shoe or trekking shoes like Actions or Quechva.
Carry at least 2 liters Of water with you. You should always keep some water with you as a backup also. Most of the water streams and water logging are portable. The mud beneath is calm and you can safely drink the water.
In any case, if you feel that the water is not clean and you still want to drink, hold your bottle straight and submerge it completely inside the water. Bubbles will start coming out of its mouth and the water starts filling in. This technique removes the dirt aside through its bubbles. Using water purification tablets is also a good option.
Kalavnti durg, Panvel
- Most of the mountains have a base village.
Go for any trek, and you will find at least one village of huts inhabited by people at the base of the mountain. Most of the villagers speak Marathi and are very humble. You can request them to prepare tea or lunch for you. There is no fixed cost for it. Whatever you give them humbly, they accept it. You can even stay overnight with your sleeping bag in the veranda of a temple or a primary school. Knowing basic Marathi will help you in communicating.
irshalgad, Panvel
- Keep your body covered.
Wear full sleeve shirt and full length track pants. Now this is not mandatory, but I will narrate an incident with you. Some months back, I noticed my skin was developing boils and blisters all over my body. I consulted a doctor and he said that I had got infection of an insect bite while I was in the jungle. It took me 2 months to recover from it. And trust me, it was horrible! All this just because my body was not fully covered. Of course, such case’s are rare but precautions are always better than cure.
Nakhind, matheran
- Trekking season.
The best season for trekking is in monsoon. You get lush greenery, foggy mountains, beautiful landscapes and singing waterfalls. The pleasant weather doesn’t let you get exhausted easily. It is like a heavenly escape. But good things always come with conditions. The mountains are most dangerous in monsoons. The mud and rocks get slippery and you can get seriously injured. Don’t put your steps on the green patches or wet patches of rocks. These are the most slippery areas. You should have a good quality of shoes. You cannot avoid your shoes from getting wet, and that is fine.
Camping on top of the mountain is best done in winter. Many mountains have caves in which people prefer to sleep with their sleeping bags. In the night it can get very cold, so better take some extra clothes or jacket.
view from Kalavanti
- Transport.
Mumbai is blessed with local railways connected to the mountain areas surrounding it. You can travel in a train till the nearest station of the mountain and then take a local transport (rickshaw or bus) till the base village. This is the cheapest way to travel. But the best way is to have your own vehicle riding directly up to the base village without any problem. You can park your vehicle at the base village and start your trek.
Mumbra
- Start early.
I actually mean super early! Starting your trek max before 8am from the base village. It is best as the weather is pleasant. Never mind if you have to wake up at 4 in the morning for that. Starting late in the morning is a bad idea. It gets exhausting, to trek under the heat of the sun in the afternoon.
Rangna, Konkan
- Finding your way.
The most important part of trekking is to find your way till the top of the mountain. It took me 2 years to develop my instinct in identifying the way. In reality it takes much less time depending on how much you are willing to take risks. You must not venture alone in the jungle. Having a person with you helps. Many time’s there are a fixed trail created due to frequent trekkers. So you don’t need to worry about, you can easily find your way. If you are not confident of trekking on your own, then there are various groups organizing treks. You can check onmumbaihikers.com. I personally arrange treks under an adventure company called ‘Life Away From Life’. If you are not willing to go with a group then you can hire a local as a guide from the base village. They are friendly and easily approachable. They know the way very well and charge anywere between 100-500 bucks.
Yogi hill
- Follow the instructions
If you are going with a group then please follow their instructions and don’t take it for granted. I personally am a trek leader, participants tend to ignore the list of things which I ask them to bring and then they suffer.
Igatpuri
- Take the right start
Many a times I have seen people doing their first and only trek swearing themselves to not do it again due to bad experience.
You cannot have a good experience if you expect picnic. You cannot have a good experience if you aren’t well prepared. So what can you do?
Choose an easy level trek for your beginning. I would personally recommend Tugareshwar, Matheran range and Karnala. Do some light leg exercise for some days before your trek. When tired, avoid sitting down on the trail. This will only increase tiredness further and make it difficult to start walking again.
backside of Matheran
- Go slow!
This is for those who trek regularly. You are not going for a race. When you go into the lap of nature, feel the nature. Completing the trek in less hours and hurrying for everything doesn’t make any sense. Sit for a while in silence and feel the breeze brushing against your face. Listen to the waterfalls roaring and get curious to the chirping of birds. Gaze at the endless landscapes and sleep on meadows under the sun. Don’t forget the basic purpose of trekking. It should not be a race to the destination. The moment you want to get ahead of everyone, in the process, you miss the wonderful sights and experiences along the way.
Konkan Kada, Harishchandrgad
- Other things to carry with you.
- Glucose powder.
- Plastic bags ( covering all your belongings to keep it dry from rains).
- Light trekking pants.
- Extra pair of clothes.
- Personal Medicines.
- Personal toiletries.
- Photo ID card.
- Puncho, Raincoat or Wind-cheater (umbrella not desired).
- Light Lunch like sandwich, thepla etc.
Knife, Torch with extra batteries.
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