How Sooraj and His Family Came Better Prepared for Their Second Himalayan Trek

“Trekking to Gaumukh Tapovan with my family was a humbling experience.

This was the second attempt for us to come together and go for a trek.

We had gone for the Roopkund trek in 2018. On the first day of the trek itself, I felt unwell. At that point, my wife and son came together to support me and take care of me.

There were a lot of things that we were not prepared for on the trek and these were things that we could have easily taken care of if we had done better planning.

However, the lack of preparation didn’t deter us from completing the trek. On our Roopkund trek, we realised the value of trekking together as a family. It brought us closer to each other on a deeper level.

This year, when we signed up for the Gaumukh Tapovan trek, our learnings from the previous trek helped us. We went about preparing for this trek more like a team than three individuals.

On the trek, I had a new learning, which will stick with me forever. I realised how powerfully the trek had impacted my 18-year-old son.

He understood that life never comes with a silver spoon. There are going to be challenges that life keeps throwing at you and you have to take them on, no matter what.

The generation to which he belongs is surrounded by gadgets. It becomes so difficult to get them out of that bubble. However, a trek naturally helped him learn such important lessons without externally forcing him to imbibe it in himself.

Now my son is planning to pass on the spirit of trekking to his friends.

Seeing him makes me swell with joy. If trekking has become such an integral part of his life, I am sure he will grow up with the right kind of values.”

- Sooraj, Indiahikes Trekker