This is one of the most underrated sections of the trek. In less than five minutes of starting your trek, you find yourself on an undulating trail right beside the Thamsa river. You are constantly under a canopy of fresh green.

Quaint old wooden bridges across the river appear out of nowhere giving you great picture opportunities. You cover miles on this trail without breaking a sweat.

You’ll notice that the coniferous forest gets denser as you go further. The narrow trail snakes through this dense dark forest for a good hour before opening up to the traces of civilization — the ancient village of Gangad.

I am not used to such leafy starts on treks. It was almost like a walk in a picture-perfect pine tree park. I cherished every minute of it.

You never hear trekkers talk about any campsite on the Har Ki Dun trek. Like everyone else, I assumed Kalkatiyadhar to either be a small settlement or just beside it.

Quite contrary to my expectations, Kalkatiyadhar turned out to be a vast green meadow. What blew me away was the expanse of the valley. We were in the middle of multi-level cricket-field-sized meadows, set at a vantage height.

To my distant left, the trail climbed towards Swargarohini peaks, which were just peeking on the horizon. To my far right were dense jungles with mountains rising behind them. This was the trail to Ruinsara.

To my right across the river was a meadow set amidst a boundary of pine trees. Behind me, I could trace the trail down to Seema and even see the Kedarkantha summit miles away behind Kotgaon.

Such open settings above 10,000 ft in the mountains with trees, meadows, rivers, and big mountains together in a single frame are not settings you experience in every trek.

A lot has been said everywhere about the ancient villages of Har Ki Dun. You spot these villages from a distance, spread out on the mountainside, with houses almost hanging in the air. I could not wait to climb up to them and see what the interiors looked like.

Spending a night in the village home takes you back hundreds of years. The stories of the village elders and the smiles of the youngsters are something that you want to capture and take back with you.

The villages complete the famed Har Ki Dun experience. On our trek, you get to stay in at least two different villages – Gangad and Osla.

Devsu Thatch turned out to be the best-kept secret of the entire Har Ki Dun – Ruinsara trail. You hardly see much of this meadow from anywhere else but when inside it. The secret is indeed well wrapped around by pine trees!

I loved the meadows because they flow down from top to bottom for 600 meters and stretch for almost 2 km in length. Flowering bushes border the meadows throughout while tiny colourful flowers grow from the ground almost everywhere in spring.

Being higher than its counterpart Kalkatiyadhar on the other side of the valley, you get the best views of the triangular valley here.

I remember running from one end of the meadow to another in the evening to capture my sunset shots as every corner seemed to offer a different view.

Har Ki Dun valley and Ruinsara are the two valleys that this trek celebrates. Very rightfully, these are amongst the most beautiful sections of the trek.

I loved the expanse of the Har Ki Dun valley. The valley has everything going for it. Big snow-clad mountains towering right in front of you. A big river flowing right in the middle. Lovely green meadows stretched far and wide. I could sit there and just take in this scene the whole day.

Ruinsara Valley on the other hand feels like a faraway world. The isolation grips you. It’s just you, the mountains and the lake. Looking at the mountains reflecting in the clear blue lake had a big calming effect on me.

For me, trekking through the picturesque Ruinsara valley was like reaching the pinnacle of a trek even though there was no real summit.

The first principle of the spirit of trekking is to be open to adventure. This mindset encourages you to embrace the challenge of the trek. It allows you to immerse yourself fully in the trek. 

I’ve learned that trekking will not always be easy. Sometimes things may not go as planned. But that's the beauty of it. It means preparing for whatever may come your way and learning to take the good with the bad.

By accepting the ups and downs of the trek, I could push myself outside of my comfort zone. I was able to experience things that I never thought were possible. 

Once, the wind blew so hard that we couldn't pitch our tents. We were at 12,000 feet. We had to walk for another six hours to find shelter. We had to spend the freezing night in a dilapidated shepherd’s hut. The same night, unable to sleep, I saw one of the best sights of the Milky Way. 

I could enjoy a trek even in less favourable weather conditions — rain, snow, or sunshine. This allowed me to have an unforgettable experience. It helped me to understand the true meaning of adventure.

The mindset of embracing challenges helped me become more resilient. It taught me that I am capable of more than I ever imagined.

Being open to adventure means being open to new perspectives and ways of thinking. It encourages a mindset of flexibility and adaptability.

The second principle of the spirit of trekking is to blend in with nature. Being noisy while trekking can not only be disruptive to other trekkers but also harm the natural environment. 

The mountains are a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity. We must strive to preserve that by being mindful of our noise. 

Earlier, I often saw monals, one of the most exquisite birds in our Himalayas. Nowadays, they have almost vanished. It is the noise that is driving them away. I have spotted martens and foxes on my treks. They are rarely seen among noisy trekkers. This loss makes me extremely sad.

At campsites, I frequently see trekkers who insist on singing loudly or listening to music through Bluetooth speakers. Antakshari is the go-to entertainment for trekkers.  

I find it disrespectful and disruptive to the peacefulness of nature when someone shouts, yells, or listens to loud music in the mountains. I choose to avoid that.

Being a quiet trekker has added to my overall experience in the mountains. The sounds of birds singing, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the sound of a gentle stream all contribute to the peaceful ambience of the mountains. Being quiet, I can truly take it all in. 

At Indiahikes, we blend in with nature. We are part of nature, not just visitors. It is in this spirit that we trek.

The third principle of the spirit of trekking is to protect the environment. This means being mindful when using resources such as water and fuel. It also means properly disposing of waste. As trekkers, we are responsible for minimising our impact and leaving the mountains better than we found them. 

Very early in my trekking life, a fellow trekker forced me to carry back all my trash. It made me realise the impact of human activities on nature. It made me more aware of my actions and their environmental effects. It made me want to do better and be more responsible.

I see our trekking trails getting impacted by trekking. Wrappers, aluminium foil, alcohol bottles, and sanitary napkins strew trails. I anguish every day about the amount of litter left behind. 

At Indiahikes, we want to be sustainable trekkers. We carry an eco-bag around our waists to pick up litter from the trail. We segregate this waste. We undo the damage others have done. It is our way of preserving our environment. 

Being sustainable on our treks has impacted my personal life as well. At home, we have significantly reduced buying packaged goods. We take our dabbas to restaurants. I have consciously moved towards leading a very minimalistic lifestyle. We focus on reducing our consumption. It feels more fulfilling. It allows me to actively contribute towards preserving our environment. 

Sustainable trekking helps reduce the impact on the environment. It promotes conservation efforts. By doing this, we make sure that future generations can also appreciate the natural beauty of our treks.

The fourth principle of the spirit of trekking is self-sufficiency. This means being prepared for the trek. It means packing efficiently and taking care of yourself without relying on others. 

Recently, on exploration, we had to carry everything, including tents and cooking gear. I felt a sense of accomplishment when I completed the trek on my terms. I realised that by being self-sufficient, we could tackle every emergency. I enjoyed the trek to the fullest and took pride in my abilities.

Self-reliance is an essential aspect of trekking. 

We demonstrate self-reliance by carrying our backpacks. We pack well and light, taking only what we need and leaving behind anything unnecessary. Our backpacks weigh, at most, 8 or 9 kg. The advantage is that with a lighter backpack, we can better handle the trek's challenges. 

Self-sufficiency is knowing how to read trail maps on mobile devices (like Gaia or GeoTracker). We learn basic navigation skills before we get on the trek. On the trek, we hone our skills further. It makes us independent. We don't have to ask the trek leader how far the camp is or how long it will take.

Being self-sufficient is when we can take care of ourselves without needing help from others. Some trekkers expect others to do things for them, like clean their dishes after meals or set up their tents. But this is not fair to the people who are helping them. It's like treating our helpers like they are not important or valuable. 

I do not find it respectful to expect others to do our work for us. It's better to be able to do things ourselves and not treat others like they are there to serve us.

Being self-sufficient is a powerful reminder that we can do much more than we often give ourselves credit for. 

It also applies to my everyday life. Being self-sufficient makes me feel more confident. It helps me tackle challenges and take risks. It is a valuable life lesson that I carry with me everywhere.

The fifth principle of the spirit of trekking is being supportive. 

Being supportive entails being willing to share, whether it's lunch, water, or equipment. It's also about helping fellow trekkers when they need it. It is about putting the team first. 

Sometimes it comes with a sacrifice. On one winter trek, I had to wait more than an hour for a slower team member to catch up. It was bitingly cold. Yet, this gesture went a long way in helping my team member complete the trek. 

By being willing to share, we can build a sense of camaraderie and teamwork that helps us overcome any challenges we may face. It allows us to make lasting connections with our fellow trekkers. 

On the other recent exploration, a team member quietly took out the heavy jackets from my backpack. They were weighing me down. This support made the trek easier for me. It made me feel grateful and inspired me to trek with my fellow trekkers more frequently. 

Being supportive helps us look beyond our needs and focus on the group's well-being. This spirit reinforces the idea that trekking is not just about individual achievement. It allows us to create an unforgettable experience together as a team.

The sixth principle of the spirit of trekking is to be fit and prepared. This means building up stamina and endurance, strengthening the body, and developing the necessary skills to trek long distances. 

Kugti Pass was a trek that went above 16,000 feet. On the day we crossed the pass, we started at 5 in the morning. It was a long day. We didn't set up our tents until around 5 p.m. We trekked for 12 hours at extremely high altitudes. By preparing well for the trek, I had enough energy to complete the day’s trek without tiring. I was able to truly enjoy the trek. 

Preparing well for a trek requires commitment. But it is crucial for the success of the trek. You become an equal member of the team, not a burden or hindrance. You can keep up with the group and not rely on extra resources, such as the trek leader or guide. You can be of help to the team.

On another trek, one of our trekkers developed acute AMS at the last campsite. Two fit trekkers immediately offered to help. With the help of the trek leader, they evacuated her in the middle of the night. Preparing well allows you to jump in to help in an emergency. 

On the other hand, by taking the time to prepare, you're less likely to experience injuries or discomfort, which can make for an unpleasant experience. People ask me how I descend quickly off the mountains without straining my knees. It is my preparation. 

Preparing for a trek can be both rewarding and enjoyable. Trekkers have shared how preparing for a trek has influenced their journey to becoming fitter. It is a great way to set and achieve fitness goals. Training can be a big motivation for you to lead an active lifestyle.