Himalayan treks are notorious for the risks that they pose. These risks kept people from trekking in the Himalayas for a long time. It’s still what scares many people. 

But honestly, these are risks that can be dealt with. We ask all our trekkers to take it very seriously! All you need is 

There are multiple risks on a Himalayan trek. But I’m picking four of the biggest risks we see on our treks. I’ll tell you what could go wrong and how to avoid it. I want you to note this down: If you are on a trek with Indiahikes, we will empower you through information so you prepare well for your trek.

Terrain

If you’re unfamiliar with the terrain, it can pose a considerable risk. I’m going to share some thoughts by our founder, Arjun Majumdar, on this - 

“When I was much younger and I would trek, snow sections would terrify me a lot. There would be snow on a slope and we would have to traverse that on a narrow trail. When you step on this section and look down, you realise that with one misstep you could go down a long way. This is very common in the Himalayas. It’s not just snow, it might be a landslide section, loose boulders, scree, an overhang with a river flowing down in the valley.” 

So as a trekker, when you plan a Himalayan trek, get familiar with the terrain. Read about it, speak to people about it, watch videos, and study the terrain on Google Earth. 

Just understanding the terrain will mentally prepare you. You might also require special gear for some sections -- like microspikes for hard snow, gaiters for deep snow, ice axes to cut steps in snow or ice and ropes for river crossings or precarious boulder sections. 

The good part is, if you’re trekking with Indiahikes, we’ll take care of this. Care is one of our core values. So when you are on a trek with Indiahikes, we will take care of you and everything you need for a safe trekking experience. 

We have all the safety equipment you need to tackle any difficult terrain. All you need to do is learn about the terrain and then focus on Point 3, which I’ll get to in a bit.

This photo is from Pangarchulla Trek. Photo by Jothiranjan

Weather

The weather in the Himalayas could be your best mate or your worst enemy. The toughest part is that it’s almost completely unpredictable. Our co-founder, Sandhya UC, who has been trekking in the Himalayas for over 15 years now shares some insight here - 

“The weather actually defines whether your trek is going to be easy or difficult. Even an easy trek like Dayara Bugyal can become very dangerous in the middle of a thunderstorm. If there’s lightning in such an open meadow, it has the potential to take lives. Similarly, if there’s a sudden bout of dense mist, you can get utterly lost -- whether you’re in a forest or an open setting.

But it’s not just the danger that weather poses. It could also lead to an incomplete trek. We’ve had so many experiences where we’ve had to turn around in the middle of heavy snow or rain. Or sometimes, even if you go ahead and complete a trek in bad weather, the experience might turn sour. When we once went to the Kashmir Great Lakes, we trekked through rain for 6 whole days. It was cloudy and grey. We saw none of the colours and grandeur of Kashmir. So the weather really has the potential to change your trek altogether.”

The wisest thing to do to ensure good weather is to time your trek correctly. This is the most crucial part.

Every trek has a very specific window during which it is open (for many 15,000+ ft treks, this window lasts only a few months in a year). We open dates only going by the seasons, weather patterns, and the best time to do the treks. 

I’ve already shared a ready-reckoner table of the best treks to do throughout the year earlier with you. If you missed that you’ll find it here

Having said that, always carry rainwear with you -- summer, winter, autumn. It could rain any time, and your rainwear is your mandatory partner on a Himalayan trek.

This picture is from Kedartal Trek. The unpredictable weather brought snowstorms. Photo by Sushma Honnappa

Altitude

On a high-altitude trek, altitude sickness is another big risk. I’d like to start by sharing what the head of our Learning & Development team, Lakshmi Selvakumaran, has observed. She says & I quote - 

“On any given trek, we see at least 2-3 cases of mild Acute Mountain Sickness. These symptoms are usually headaches or lack of sleep. They are usually managed quickly and efficiently by our Trek Leaders. 

There are, however, some serious cases that require turning around from the trek. And we see these cases around once every week” 

Altitude sickness is one of the most underestimated and less understood risks of high-altitude trekking. And this lack of understanding is usually what takes lives.

If you’re trekking with Indiahikes, you don’t have to worry. Our Trek Leaders are repeatedly trained on handling altitude sickness, and they are equipped with extensive high-altitude medical kits and oxygen cylinders. They rarely have to use them though, because they are trained to treat the mildest symptoms and nip it in the bud, which they always do. 

If you are trekking on your own, however, it’s imperative that you know about treating altitude sickness. You will find relevant information here.

For now, let’s move on to the next risk. 

Trekker's Behaviour

This might seem a bit surprising, but often, under-prepared trekkers are the biggest risk to themselves. Underprepared in terms of fitness, trekking gear, and knowledge about the trek. The head of our Learning & Development team, Lakshmi Selvakumaran observes:

“Not being fit slows trekkers down. It doesn’t allow them to maintain the required mountain timings. They reach the next camp late and don’t have enough time to acclimatise. On the other hand, if they have no knowledge about high altitude, they might wave off a headache as dehydration, not thinking about it as altitude sickness. 

They draw a lot of attention and care from the Trek Leaders and guides, leaving the other trekkers unattended. Not only do they pose a risk to themselves, but they pose a risk to the entire team.”

Why do you think I am informing you about the risks of Himalayan treks?

We have always said and believed that a knowledgeable trekker is a safe trekker. And our vision is to ensure every trekker going into the Himalayas is well-informed. 

While there are many other risks on Himalayan treks, they usually tend to fall under one of these categories. And they differ from trek to trek. 

At Indiahikes, we’ve been documenting the terrain, weather, altitude sickness and trekker behaviour for over a decade and we’ve been able to master the art of tackling each of these risks. 

We work with a vision to solve the problems of the trekking world. With all the information, resources, and technology, we try & make trekking an accessible & minimalist sport.

I’d say it’s still a work in progress, as we’re constantly defining the future of trekking, but if you’re trekking with Indiahikes, or using our information, consider yourself well-informed, well-prepared and safe on a trek. 

We've listed four of the biggest risks we see on our treks. We have always believed that a knowledgeable trekker is a safe trekker. And our vision is to ensure every trekker going into the Himalayas is well-informed.

4 Biggest Risks While Trekking The Himalayas

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Over the years, I notice that trekkers have developed a deep love for Dayara Bugyal in winter. 

Ever since we first opened it in winter 2017, trekkers have fallen in love with the wintry charm of this trek — the lovely snow-draped oaks and maples, the soft glow of early morning sun on the white meadows, the icy lakes and ponds, the towering Gangotri ranges that accompany trekkers like sentinels from the first day to the last… 

Today, I thought I'd chat with some of our team members on what they love about the Dayara Bugyal trek in winter. They all put forth some compelling reasons to do this trek in winter. Let me take you through them.

Why we love the Dayara Bugyal trek in winter: 

1. The snow-laden forests on Day 1 and Day 2

“The first thing that comes to my mind are the forests of Dayara Bugyal,” begins Dhaval Jajal, a Senior Trek Leader and Filmmaker at Indiahikes, who spent two winters leading the Dayara Bugyal trek in 2019 and 2020. 

“The forests become extremely beautiful in winter. Especially in peak winter months of January and February, the boughs of the trees are heavily laden with snow. Every time you shake a branch, you’ll feel soft powder snow drizzle over you. It’s an incredibly romantic setting,” says Dhaval. 

Peak winter settings in the forests of Dayara Bugyal. Picture by Dhaval Jajal.

“Even if there is no snow in early winter, the angle at which light falls through, especially in the mornings, is extremely charming. Since you’re headed in an easterly direction from Raithal to Gui, you’re directly in the path of the slanting rays of the sun. It lights up the maple and oak leaves around you with tremendous colours,” adds Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes, who has been to Dayara Bugyal in winter multiple times.

The initial forest walk from Raithal to Gui in the early morning light. Picture by Sudheer Hegde

But that’s not all. “This is not a continuous forest walk like you see at Deoriatal-Chandrashila or Brahmatal. There are multiple openings throughout the forest, which make for nice breaks in scenery. It’s very similar to the celebrated clearings of the Kedarkantha trek. We even camp in these clearings,” adds Dhaval. 

The Indiahikes campsite at Chilapada. Picture by Akshay Aralikatti

Not many treks allow you to experience walking on a frozen lake. Kedarkantha has Juda Ka Talab on the Sankri route, but it’s too crowded in winter, often losing its charm. The Brahmatal trek has Bekaltal and Brahmatal. Bekaltal is rarely frozen, since it lies at a relatively lower altitude. Brahmatal is perhaps the only lake that you get to see in a frozen form. 

On the Dayara Bugyal trek, though, you have two lakes that are frozen — the Gui tal (which you camp very close to) and the Barnala tal, which you come across while trekking from Barnala to Chilapada. 

“Gui is literally like a skating rink in the middle of nowhere. In peak winter months of Jan and Feb, it’s frozen with a thick, almost unbreakable layer of ice. Even though it isn’t very big, it’s a very thrilling experience to walk on it,” shares Izzat. 

When it isn’t frozen, it's like a piece of sky on earth. It’s a cool blue surrounded by snow.

The half-frozen Gui tal in winter. Picture by Sudheer Hedge

Barnala is extremely picturesque too, especially when it is frozen. Trekkers love to spend time by this lake, just reflecting on their experience. “There’s a Nag Devta temple by the bank of the lake, which adds a certain spiritual charm to it,” shares Izzat.

The frozen Barnala tal in winter. Picture by Deep Thakkar

3. The biggest expanse of snow you have seen 

Once you exit the treeline, you come to the much-awaited alpine meadows of Dayara. “I have been to at least 5 different winter treks. But I have never seen such a vast expanse of snow,” shares Dhaval, who has led trekkers to Brahmatal, Kedarkantha and Deoriatal in winter. 

“When I first stepped in the meadows of Dayara in peak winter, I was wowed by the view. It was miles and miles of undulating snow. It looked like a field of vanilla ice cream! There’s not a single tree or a plant or a rock that obstructs the snow. It’s just velvety snow for as far as your eyes can see,” he adds.

Ant-like trekkers in the vast meadows of Dayara Bugyal in winter. Picture by Dhaval Jajal

You’re not likely to see this much snow on any other winter trek. “This is the kind of snow that brings the child in you alive,” adds Izzat. “Every time I have been there, I have made all my team members just close their eyes and fall backwards in the snow. The kind of weightlessness and glee you feel when you sink into soft snow is amazing,” she smiles. 

“The number of snow slides on this trek while descending is a lot! You don’t get to see or experience that many snow slides on any other winter trek, not even on higher altitude treks like Rupin Pass and Buran Ghati,” she adds. “I admit these are not big slides, but just short fun slides that are such a joy!”

4. An expedition-like summit climb in snow

The climb to Dayara top in winter gives you an almost expedition-like feel. First comes the overwhelming rush of emotions upon seeing the snow-blanketed meadows; then comes the adrenaline surge of climbing to a Himalayan mountain top! 

“From upper Chilapada all the way to the summit is extremely beautiful. I remember, we started our summit climb in the early hours, when it was still dark. We could only see the snow at our feet, under the gleam of our headlamps,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, head of the Experience team at Indiahikes, who trekked to Dayara Bugyal in winter 2019.

Trekkers making it to Dayara Top under the light of their headlamps. Picture by Munendra Rana

“At the break of dawn, we started seeing snowflakes glistening like diamonds all around us. As we climbed higher, the vast expanse of snow opened up around us, getting grander and grander every minute. The enormity of the snow covered landscape really hit me when the sun came out fully.

“Added to that, we started seeing the big peaks that Dayara Bugyal is known for. Mt Bandarpoonch was right in front of me, almost at a touching distance. The Gangotri ranges were glowing in the morning light. It felt very surreal to walk in these settings, feeling the warmth of the sun and seeing the alpenglow on the mountains,” shares Lakshmi.

Izzat, here, shares another perspective. “In peak winter, the climb becomes quite a challenge. I remember that we had to use ropes to secure the trail. The technical guides were cutting steps in snow, while we waited to climb with the ropes. It felt like we were climbing Everest, full with a queue at the Hillary Step and everything,” she laughs. 

This is indeed a reality of trekking to Dayara Bugyal in winter. The difficulty becomes a notch higher, and requires you to be fit and agile to deal with high snow.

“Several times, the snow is so deep that you cannot proceed beyond a point. But the good thing with Dayara Bugyal is that even if you just reach the meadows and return, you have a wonderful sense of accomplishment. That doesn’t happen on most other winter treks if you are forced to leave halfway,” he says.

5. The easiest winter trek for beginners 

Despite the winter challenges, we have always maintained that the Dayara Bugyal trek is too rewarding for the least amount of effort put in. That makes it the best trekkers for beginners in winter.

“You hardly cover 5-6 km everyday. The ascents and descents are gentle. The rewards come to you quickly. Yet, you climb to a high point of around 12,000 ft. You experience snow. You see some of the best views reserved for very few people in our country. It spoils trekkers too much, if you ask me,” admits Izzat. 

No other winter trek gives you such views and rewards with such ease.

Dayara Bugyal has always been a favourite at Indiahikes. Be it among beginners, or among the most seasoned team members. Many of us have done the trek multiple times, and still never tire of it. Which is why we even built our own campus at the start of the trek in Raithal. It is our home in the mountains that we always wanted.

True, it has always been a heart-melter in summer. But in a winter setting, you have one of the best snow and mountain experiences in the Himalayas. The snowscapes are unmatched and the trek is truly the biggest expanse of snow in winter. 

So if you’re a beginner looking to trek in January or February, my top recommendation would be Dayara Bugyal.

Dayara Bugyal trek is a delight in winters! Indiahikes experts share 5 insightful reasons why

5 Compelling Reasons To Do the Dayara Bugyal in Winter

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No one tells you this

Like every year, trekkers are again making a rookie mistake this winter. 

They are completely missing out on trekking in early December and choosing the peak holiday season (late December) for a winter experience. They are under the impression that late December is what makes for the best winter experience. 

Not many trekkers know this, but early December offers one of the most unique winter experiences.

I understand that many are concerned about the lack of snow and not getting leaves from office. 

While you cannot do much about the leaves, for other issues, you have your answers. Read on. 

It’s a myth that you do not find snow in early December. 

"Though not much, we start getting the first bouts of snow in mid-November. In early December there is a good deposit of snow, especially in the upper reaches above 10,000 feet, but not the thick heavy blanket. In these settings it is better to go on a trek in early December," shares Akshay Upreti, who has been a slope manager in many of our winter expeditions.

Explaining the thought he adds, "Waiting for peak winters means risking instances of heavy snowfall which could disrupt your trek. If you ask me, I would prefer to trek in a period where there has been a basic amount of snowfall and chances of getting a clearer sky are higher. And for me, late-November and early-December is that period."

Last year, the Kuari Pass trek received its first snowfall as early as October. The frequency of snowfall gradually increases by December. By early December, most treks have a good dusting of snow in the higher reaches.

But this snow is not deep. Between snowfalls the snow melts quickly exposing the vibrant colours of autumn. And that makes for some of the most beautiful and unique sights in the Himalayas.

Winter treks are popular for sprawling white landscapes. But on the flip slide, too much snow makes it difficult to complete the trek.

Heavy snowfall can disrupt the trek. And it could take days to open the route again. Unfortunately, chances of a heavy snowfall increase post-mid-December. This is because the Western Disturbances start to take a more defined shape in the later part of December. 

Under circumstances when it snows heavily, it is normal to change routes and campsites, moving to a more compatible route. Sometimes trekkers even have to return to the base camp without completing the trek. 

But the situation is not so in early December when winter is just beginning to set in.

A slight dusting of snow in early December at the Khorurai campsite of Brahmatal. Photo by Nitesh Kumar

“The probability that you would complete the trek in early December is much higher. You don’t get big amounts of snow on the ground. This doesn’t hamper your trek,” says Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO, Indiahikes. 

In fact, early December offers a perfect introduction to winters in the Himalayas if you are new to trekking. 

Reason 3: The weather is drier, more comfortable

Another aspect that works in favour of early December is the precipitation. “There is almost no, or very low precipitation in early December. This means no overcast skies or wet terrain. This is much more comfortable for someone who is just starting to trek in the Himalayas,” shares Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO, Indiahikes. 

“Late November and early December is my favourite time to lead a trek. At this time, you can see a transition between seasons on the same trek. At the lower campsites you see the orangish hues. The last touch of autumn is still there. But as you climb higher, you also get the feeling of winter,” shares Shachi Tripathi, Trainer and Slope Manager at Indiahikes.

Treks become much more challenging during peak winters. There's deep snow everywhere around, often seeping into your shoes. Shoes become wet and a nightmare to trek in. 

It’s also more comfortable to trek in early December because temperatures are still manageable. “In early December, the minimum temperature you encounter is around -2 degree Celsius. There is a sharp, delicious chill in the air which you enjoy in early December.

A star-lit sky captured during the Collaborative Leadership Program that took place in early December 2021 at Dayara Bugyal. Photo by Izzat Yaganagi. 

Later in December the temperature drops to -8. And many trekkers don’t realise that this difference is huge. It’s four times colder,” shares Arjun. 

"In early December the cold is not as annoying. It’s just the right amount of cold, which is very refreshing!" says Shachi remembering the days she had spend on treks in early December.

6 Himalayan Treks you must experience in early December

If you are planning a trek in early December, these six treks should be on top of your list

Truth is, this is a very narrow window -- between autumn and peak winter -- and very few trekkers get a chance to see it this way. 

During this time, you have higher chances of experiencing the first snowfall, and that too in comfortable weather. Lesser snow on the trail also increases your chances of having a successful winter trek. That's the beauty of trekking in early December. 

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Why Early December is better than Late December for Trekking

UPDATE: Many trekkers wrote to us after reading the mail/blog. I have updated this blog with some of their responses.

I am writing this blog as a concerned trekker. 

You see, too many trekkers are offloading their backpacks on treks. 

This season, one out of three trekkers offloaded their backpacks on an easy-moderate trek like Beas Kund. The case was similar on the Bhrigu Lake trek. Thankfully on the difficult treks, like Kedartal, less than 25% of trekkers offloaded.

If you’re wondering what is ‘offloading’, it is the act of letting a mule or porter carry your backpack, instead of you carrying your own load on a trek.

This trend is worrying because the social and environmental impact of offloading doesn't seem to bother anyone. 

And today, I want to share why offloading your backpack is not okay. 

To understand the core of the concern, it is important to look at various aspects of offloading. The reason behind offloading, its consequences, what happens when you don’t offload. I’ll touch upon all these aspects. 

Some insights and observations shared in the blog about offloading will surprise you. I'll get to them in a bit. 

But first, let’s begin with the ‘why’.

15 years ago, it was a norm to carry your own equipment, ration, tent and personal gear while trekking. Porters or mules came along only to carry bare essentials that couldn’t be carried by the team. 

But things changed when organised trekking grew in our country. 

“Modern trekking changed the concept of service. People expect more comfort while trekking. They don't want to carry their backpack if they can pay someone else to do it for them,” says Arjun Majumdar, Founder-CEO of Indiahikes.

This is the case even when their backpacks are light, devoid of any camping equipment. 

“In modern trekking, you don’t carry the full load of 15-20 kg that you carried while trekking on your own. You are only carrying your clothes. They don’t weigh more than 8-9 kilos,” points Arjun.

Despite the light weight of the backpack, offloading is becoming a trend because of a false belief.

“Trekkers, especially those who are new to trekking, assume that they’d be more comfortable if they’re not lugging their backpacks on the trek. They look at the backpack as luggage, not something that’s integral to their trek,” points Shefali Joshi, Experience Coordinator. 

This situation can be credited to a big myth circulating among trekkers, especially among those who are new to trekking. 

Big Myth - Carrying Your Backpack on a Trek is Difficult

Many people who are considerably new to trekking assume that carrying a backpack is cumbersome. This is a false notion. 

Carrying your backpack on a trek is not difficult. In fact, even on our most difficult trek — Kedartal (highest altitude: 15,500 ft) — trekkers carry their backpacks.

Trekkers crossing the treacherous Spider Wall section on the Kedartal trek while wearing their backpacks. Photo by Sudheer Hegde

Carrying your backpack on a trek is doable. In fact, it is an integral part of trekking. 

Many trekkers who opt for offloading overlook the fact that backpacks are designed to be carried on a trek. 

If you wear your backpack well, you'll notice it is engineered to distribute the weight across your hips and shoulders (especially if you are carrying an internal frame backpack, as most of you will). It is the hip that is actually doing most of the lifting. Hips are the strongest bones of your body and can carry a lot more than the 8 – 9 kg of your backpack.

Due to the design of the backpack, carrying it on a trek is not difficult. 

A trekker, Rashmi Suresh, who recently trekked to Nafran Valley trek shares her experience here. Nafran Valley is not an easy trek. But Rashmi carried her backpack throughout the trek.


But many trekkers, who are just starting to trek, look at offloading differently. Quite a few times, they do not even consider carrying their backpack as they view offloading as an add-on service. Something that can be availed because the option exists. 

Offloading has grim consequences — socially and environmentally


1. Offloading creates very low level employment

When you offload your backpack, a muleman or porter takes up the job of carrying it on the trek. But it’s not a happy situation. 

No one wants to be a porter or a muleman. People living in the remote Himalayan villages have limited employment opportunities. They carry your personal belongings for a meager fee simply because of lack of better opportunities. This generates a very low level of employment.

This morally disturbs us at Indiahikes. 

“Just because it is affordable, especially in countries like India and Nepal, trekkers feel it is okay to handover their belongings to someone else — a person or a mule. That’s morally wrong. By making someone else — a person or mule — carry your personal belongings you are degrading more and more humans to do the lowest form of work,” points Arjun.

Unfortunately trekkers feel that by offloading their backpack they are helping to generate work for the locals. 

In reality while work is being generated, we must look to grow ‘skill level’ work and not low level work that does not help society. Skill based work has a future.

Skill based work opens up opportunities for the local people in the organised sector. Upskilling can help an assistant camp manager become a camp manager, then trek coordinator and so on and so forth. It happens all the time at Indiahikes. This is the true form of upskilling. 

We have stellar examples of how some of our local staff, who started as porters, got out of the role to grow professionally and become Trek Coordinators. 

We have also designed training programs to upskill our guides and cooks. These certified programs are aimed at honing the guiding and cooking skills of our staff in the mountains. Upskilling in these areas not only helps them to grow within Indiahikes, but also opens opportunities for them in the booming trekking industry. 

Unfortunately, mulemen and porters come under the category of daily-wage workers. Their association with us is limited to just one trek. This leaves them with almost zero opportunities to upskill or engage with any organisation.  

With this background in place I want to pose this question to you: As trekkers, are you okay engaging people in an employment — one devoid of personal growth and security — just to be more comfortable on the trek?

Offloading also negatively impacts the environment, especially when you have mules to carry your backpack. 

“Each mule weighs around 300-350 kilos. It carries around 45 kilos of weight. When such heavy pack animals go on trails, there’s a big trampling effect on the trails. They have metal hooves that damage the earth. The more the number of mules, the more the trample effect,” says Lakshmi Selvakumaran, says Head of Green Trails, Indiahikes.

It isn’t just the number of mules. The mules feed on the grasslands as fodder. This harms the grasslands the most. It also increases the number of muleteers on trails as well — who need to be fed and taken care of. They in turn add to the human pressure on the trail, including adding to the human waste. It is a vicious circle. The entire offloading ecosystem becomes heavier rather than minimal on the environment.

And then it’s not just about ‘one backpack’.

Mules carrying backpacks on the Kuari Pass trek. Photo by Sudipto

“Offloading has a cascading effect. You need a mule to carry your backpack, the mule needs a muleman who is also carrying his own resources on the trek. So in the end, it ceases to be just-a-backpack.

From a larger perspective, if every trekker carried his/her own backpack, there would be at least 3 less mules for every team of trekkers. If this becomes a practice in Indian trekking, it would go a long way in protecting these fragile ecosystems, reducing the overall carbon footprint,” says Sandhya UC, Co-Founder and COO, Indiahikes

On the other hand, carrying your backpack makes you a better trekker

Carrying your own backpack helps you connect better with the trek. We saw a beautiful example of this on the Tamenglong Trek in Manipur. On this trek, apart from their personal belongings, trekkers had to carry their own gears and camping equipment. This did not weigh them down. Instead, carrying all their load liberated them. They tasted their freedom as a trekker. 

“As we were carrying our own equipment, we could stop anywhere! So one afternoon we simply decided to cook food by the Alangta waterfall. It was an incredible experience to have the freedom to do it as we were carrying our own kitchen equipment, ration, gears,” shares Dhaval Jajal, Senior Trek Leader and Filmmaker who led the trek.

Trekkers enjoying the kadhi-khichdi they cooked by the Alangta waterfall on the Tamenglong trek. Photo by Dhaval Jajal.

Even on the usual trek, carrying your backpack gives you the freedom to access all your gear at any point on the trek. 

For example, a backpack gives you access to your warm clothes. Often there is a burst of rain or a long cloud cover that sweeps over the trail. The temperature plummets. Access to your warm clothes and rain gear is of utmost importance in such circumstances.  

The thought of carrying your backpack instantly makes you more mindful about what you put into your backpack. “I’ve noticed that trekkers who carry their own backpack ask better questions. They are more thoughtful about what they put in the backpack, how they pack,” shares Shefali. “Invariably they carry lighter backpacks.” 

These are essential skills for a trekker. If you are not carrying your backpack, you miss out on honing these skills. 

Carrying your backpack has a direct effect on your pace. 

“Many don’t know about this, but a backpack helps you to maintain pace on a trek. You cannot rush ahead if you are carrying your backpack. This compels you trek at a steady speed,” shares Arjun.

 Trekking at a steady pace has its benefits. It makes you more observant. You take in the trail, notice the turns, the mountain views. 

Carrying your backpack also builds your core strength. This in turn has a direct impact on your balance. Good core strength helps you balance on steep descends.  

When you miss out on carrying your backpack for one trek, you miss out on these essential stepping stones that make you a better trekker.

At Indiahikes we discourage offloading even when it is a source of revenue for the company. We do this because offloading does not align with the true spirit of trekking. 

Offloading is not a service. It’s not an add-on.

Many trekkers wrote back to us sharing how they felt about carrying their own backpack. 

"I carried my own backpack on Rupin Pass trek for two reasons. First, for a sense of achievement. It gives a different feeling that if I am completing the trek, I will do it with my backpack. I don't want to achieve it in an easy way. It's a matter of pride. Second, I can't imagine human being or a mule carrying my load. Especially I can't look at mules, I really feel guilty as a human being when we make harmless souls work for us. Anyway, humans and mules end up carrying equipment and rations which is unavoidable. Let's not make them carry more," shared Shantanu Javdekar. 

Quite a few even suggested, 'If offloading has such dire consequences, why not do away with the option altogether?'

In a country where the culture of trekking is just setting in. Many people across all ages are getting introduced to trekking. And some have genuine concerns. 

58-year-old trekker Mr JS wrote back sharing his concern. 

"Over the past couple of treks with IndiaHikes, some friends in my age group have joined me and I have actually been thrilled at their enthusiasm and willingness to trek - for several of them it's been a novel and exhilarating experience, and the sheer joy on their faces at accomplishing a stretch goal is something that perhaps those with the benefit of youth will never be able to comprehend or appreciate (at the moment).  

Some of them battled through physical pain - back and knee issues - without any complaints, and with a singular focus on the end goal. I feel their enthusiasm and resolve should be lauded and encouraged. The question is whether we encourage such participants with the offloading option, or demotivate them by insisting everyone carries their own packs," he wrote. 

Trekking is growing in our country. People from various age groups are getting introduced to trekking for the first time. And in light of such concerns, the option of offloading works as a safety net. Not to be accepted as a norm, but as an exception in genuine cases.  

Having said that, the trend for us to set must be to carry one's own backpack. Not as a choice, but as a norm.

Here's an in-depth blog on why offloading goes against the spirit of trekking

Why You Should Not Offload Your Backpack

offloading backpack carrying mules porter offload 

It's a rainy day in Bangalore. Our office balcony has taken on a green glow from all the lushness around. The beech tree in our garden is heavy with the weight of rain. Tiny raindrops are glistening at the tip of every leaf. The smell of wet earth is intoxicating. 

Our office team is getting ready to head out this weekend on a lovely trek near Bangalore.

I can't help but think about what the hillsides must be like right now. Cool and misty forests, tree trunks laden with velvety moss, lush grasslands teeming with flowers and tiny critters, rolling green hills in the distance. It's such a wonderful time of the year to trek. 

That's why I thought that today, I'd talk about some offbeat treks you can do on your own. Not in the Himalayas, like I usually share. But somewhere close to your home, where you could trek to a hill, a lake, a river or a forest.

Of course, I cannot cover all states across the country, so today, I'm going to talk about some off-beat trails around popular regions -- Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Calcutta. I’ll share three treks around each of these regions, so that you have options. I hope this fills up your upcoming weekend. :)

Top 3 Offbeat Monsoon Treks In Karnataka 

This is an all time Western Ghats favourite at Indiahikes. The grasslands on this trek are other worldly. Once you step into them, you’ll never want to leave. Yet, as you carry on, the trail gets better and better, because within hours, you reach the Bandajje waterfall, not the base of the waterfall, but the very snout of the waterfall! 

It takes a weekend to do this trek. You will need to camp at the base and have cooking gear with you. Typically you take an overnight bus on a Friday to Mudigere, trek on a Saturday and get back home by Sunday. 

Starting point of the trek: Kalabhyraveshwara Temple, Durgadahalli, Mudigere
How far is it from Bangalore: 280 km
Best route to get there: https://goo.gl/maps/CG8Fg6yiD49yf834A

Here are some great offbeat treks to do during monsoon around your city. You can easily do these on your own over a weekend or in a single day.

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