Why I Believe Trekking Is Transformative

My name is Prachi, I live and work in Bangalore. Recently, I went for the Minchukallu Betta trek with my 13yo son. This was our third trek with Indiahikes in the last one year.

I want to start by expressing my deepest and most sincere respects to you and your team for creating INDIAHIKES . What you guys are doing is truly commendable and I consider myself fortunate to be associated with this great venture in whatever capacity I can. I have done treks with other organizations as well. The passion, humbleness, expertise, attention to details and the spirit of your team is unmatched.

"Trekking is transformative..!! it is a life changing experience" This is something I read on your website last year. And what I want to share with you today, is my transformative journey.

Last year, for my son's b'day(Nov), I registered for the Channarayana Durga Trek. Our experience was phenomenal, learning to pitch and un-pitch the tents, about green trails, water conservation, tips on handling steep climbs and descents , the lovely cake at the summit and scrumptious food at the base campus, a delightful and enriching experience. I discovered a whole new side of my son's personality on the trek. A kid who is generally so shy at home was so active, curious and enthusiastic during the trek.

Kevin, who was our trek leader, inspired us to plan a Himalayan trek . Few other co-trekkers suggested that Dayara Bugyal trek is a good one for beginners and with all the interesting stories and experiences shared over that weeknd, we returned home, smitten by our newfound interest.

I started reading on the internet about longer duration treks, the challenges and preparations needed. Once again, big thanks to Indiahikes team for the informative videos on youtube that cover almost every aspect, from buying merchandise, renting gear, packing the bag ,folding clothes, medications, curated workouts..etc. The more I read, the more I was clear that we have to do this, and do it the proper way.

We booked the trek for Apr2024 and started preparing as per the guidance from the videos. Though I have always been a regular at the gym,I was not running much. But this new endeavour I had undertaken, brought motivation. By April, I was able to run 5Kms in 38min. That was the first transformation, which happened even before I went for the trek:-).

The trek was a great learning experience for us .Packing and preparing for the trek was super exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Despite the warnings about overpacking, we over packed..like most first timers.

There were several challenges for us.

Being in Bangalore, and spoiled by the year round comfortable weather, we found the weather chilly esp. at night. The biggest orderal was getting out of the cozy tents and going to the toilet in the middle of night, with huge mountain dogs barking and the rain making the trail wet and slippery.

Washing utensils in the rain was another thing I disliked.

Honestly speaking, there were moments when I was doubting my decision.

My son, on the other hand, was so much at peace and not at all vexed. He was enjoying every bit of it, embracing it all.

The 4-5 days, filled with lovely moments, interesting folklore from trek guides, new experiences , and picturesque scenery made me go through a full spectrum of emotions. At times, I was irritable, exhausted and sleep deprived. Other times, I was filled with joy and gratitude.There were a lot of emotional moments as well.

Plenty of learnings from the trek :

• Minimalism, the perks of keeping your life simple and close to nature.
• A sense into how little we actually need and how much we accumulate.
• An insight into what really matters in life, valuing experiences over things.
• A feeling of gratitude and appreciation for what we have, without all the time worrying about what we don't have.
• After 5 days of using dry bio toilets and not bathing, an attached bathroom of my home seemed like a luxury:-)
• As a woman, travelling alone has always been a worrisome affair. Indiahikes makes it possible for women to explore the world without depending on anyone to accompany us. This is truly empowering.
• Excited over this newfound interest area, I was extremely scared when I read the fateful news about the trekking group from Bangalore this year. I did bring it up with Bharath, our trek leader for Minchukallu, and he patiently explained and cleared all my doubts and queries.

I am extremely pleased that I got an opportunity to go through this journey, even happier that my son has embraced it. With the values and learnings from such experiences, I am sure he will be able to make wise choices in life and navigate the challenges thrown at him.

Someone once said "Travelling makes you speechless and eventually turns you into a storyteller."

Looking forward to many more treks with Indiahikes...

Thank you once again for doing this ..and for doing it so well...

I will conclude with one request, please add more treks to the South Campus near Bangalore. North Indian treks need a lot more planning, air tickets, longer time aways from work and school, but the south campus is so easily reachable from Bangalore. It doesn't matter what mountain we climb, the whole experience is what makes it worthwhile. This will allow up to trek more often.

Hope you will consider.

Regards,
Prachi