Trek News from the Himalayas -- Ali Bedni Trek Open, Training at Indiahikes

The Indiahikes Weekly Digest brings you the latest news, updates, articles, and videos from the trekking world.

It takes you through everything new in the trekking world. You will find that you cannot ignore any of the sections in this digest.

We hope you find this digest useful, and at some point in time, contribute to it too!

Ali-Bedni Bugyal Trek Now Open for January

We recently opened groups for the Ali Bedni Bugyal trek. But unlike other winter treks, which have groups running in December, Ali-Bedni Bugyal trek has groups opening only from January 10.

This is because of all the winter treks, Ali Bedni has the most beautiful snow covers. As snow cover in December is thin, to make the most of the winter feels on this trek, the best time to trek is from around mid-January.

Brahmatal trek is also in the region. What makes it more special on the Ali Bedni trek is that the slope faces the west. Early in the morning when you are trekking up the slope, the sun slants through the trees hitting the snow at magical angles.

Trekking closer to Ali we get into lovely clearings where the snow sits in vast playing fields. The snow creates a landscape that resembles a land from the story books.

From our camp at Abin Kharak, climbing to the ridge of Ali Bugyal and catching the sunset on Mt Trishul is perhaps one of the best trekking moments that you will have.

Yet, for us it is the way snow settles on the twin meadows of Ali and Bedni Bugyal that makes us come back to the trek again and again.

View Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek

Indiahikes Annual Training Kicks Off at Barsu

Trekkers find it intriguing that each member of the Indiahikes Team is so deeply involved with the vision of the organisation. Right from the local staff to cooks to Experience Coordinators to Trek Leaders, all are working towards one clear goal — Everyone Must Trek, because Trekking Transforms Lives.

This synchronisation is not incidental.

Every year, the Indiahikes team comes together for a special annual training (aside from the regular training that occurs). During this time, Trek Leaders, core team members, and all team members on the slope sit together to re-align with the vision and core values of the organisation.

But it isn’t limited just to realigning team members.

There’s also a lot of skill and knowledge building involved. For instance, we have an external trainer, Gerrit Onstein, from the Netherlands training our Trek Leaders. With experience in outdoor training for the past 30 years, Gerrit is helping improve the experience facilitation skills of our Trek Leaders. On the other hand, our team had a session with a physiotherapist to understand how to get stronger and also help in aiding trekkers.

“A Trek Leader (TL), providing transformative experience to trekkers from all walks of life, requires a certain set of skills or the right facilitation strategies. These facilitation strategies are essentially the ability of a TL to direct self-learning in a trekker. With the right facilitation skills, a TL can mold any moment on a trek into an everlasting memory, for their trekker,” shares Syama Krishna Trek Leader turned into a trainer in his blog How A Training Program At Indiahikes Changed My Perspective Of Trek Leading.

Among our cooks, they’re learning interesting methods to reduce fuel consumption while cooking. They’re also learning to bring in more flavours and cuisines into their menu. Our guides, on the other hand, are learning to use soft skills that can help take their careers forward, beyond the technicalities of high altitude trekking.

It’s an experience to be a part of such an intense training program. Especially when it is set against the stunning backdrop of the Garhwal Himalayas.

A recommended read on this topic: Last year, after coming back from one such training program, Swathi Chatrapathy, Chief Editor, Indiahikes, penned a blog on the culture of training at Indiahikes and how it sets Indiahikes apart from other trekking organisations.

Read Swathi Chatrapathy’s Blog

Our Mountain Lovers Gold Calendar 2022 is here!

Just like every year, this is a large wall calendar, 19 inches in width and 14 inches in height. So the calendar bursts to life, giving you the wonderful feeling that the mountains are truly in your room.Take a look at it yourself.

We’ve chosen these pictures after sifting through thousands of photos.They have all been taken by trekkers and the Indiahikes team. And what an honour it is for them to be featured in this calendar!

Like every year, it’s truly a calendar for mountain lovers.

It features

• 12 rare professional pictures of our Himalayan trekking trails. It’s easily a head-turner.
• The 220 GSM art paper used ensures you can cut out the pictures at the end of the year to make picture frames out of them. It’s matt finish as well, so the photographs won’t glare from any angle.
• The Mountain Lover’s Gold Calendar makes it a very unusual and thoughtful gift in case you want to surprise anyone. We ship it in a wonderful hard case cylinder which keeps the calendar in shape.

So order yours soon. Last year our calendar sold out in 11 days. The calendar costs ₹ 490. This includes all taxes and shipping.

Pre-Order Your Mountain Lovers Gold Calendar 2022

Why Trekking in Jan & Feb is Better than December

For most trekkers, December is synonymous with the Christmas-y feels of winter. But stats show Jan-Feb is a better time to experience winters in the Himalayas.

Read Blog

Working with Indiahikes – A Platform to Realise Your True Potential

In this video, Sneha Yadav, Social Media Manager at Indiahikes, shares how she experimented with her interests before settling into a role that she loves to take forward.

Watch Video

Last weekend, Nithyam Nachappa from Bengaluru Office trekked to Kumara Parvatha with his brother. He had heard a lot about the trek and its challenges. What stood out for him were the two forest sections on the trail.

“Although on the same trek, within a few km from each other, these forest sections are starkly different. You come across the first section 5 km before check post. This section is dense. The trunks of trees are thick and spookily shaped. In contrast, the next section comes up right before you start climbing the peak. The trees in the second section are thin with quirky shapes. It gives a scattered feel to the forest,” shares Nithyam while describing the sections.

Incidentally, Nithyam is also taking you through the Kumara Parvatha trek photo story on Indiahikes Instagram. Don’t miss it!

Kumara Parvatha trek is most loved by trekkers for the variety it offers — right from the thick forests, to vast grasslands and even a waterfall — this trek has lots to offer.

Having said that, we recommend the Kumara Parvatha trek to intermediate–experienced trekkers who can take on this demanding trek.

If you are a beginner, we highly recommend you follow a fitness routine, improve your cardiovascular endurance, strengthen your muscles and do a couple of easy treks such as Skandagiri and Savandurga, before attempting Kumara Parvatha.

How to Reach

Kumara Parvatha starts from the town of Subrahmanya where the historic Kukke Subrahmanya temple lies. You have to first reach Kukke Subrahmanya and reach the base before you start your trek.

Get Complete Details on Kumara Parvatha Trek

That brings us to the end of the Indiahikes Weekly News Digest. If there is anything else you would like to see in this email, do let us know.