How Rohan Chose the Path of Sustainability Inspired by His Trek Leader

“I have always been a nature lover but the connection wasn’t really emotional until I went on a trek with Indiahikes. Now that I am back, I can say I have developed a deep love for nature.

It’s not that I have not travelled before. However, I have never been introspective of my actions like I was on this trek.

My Trek Leader Ayushi has a huge role to play in bringing this change within me.

It’s been almost a month since I came back from the trek and I haven’t consumed even one piece of single used plastic.

I have also decided to start the three-sink system (which Indiahikes uses at each of its campsites to wash utensils and conserve water) at my own home.

This trek made me realise that implementing these changes in my life is not as tough as I used to think!

Before the trek, I never really had any habit of littering so I didn’t really bother about the issue of waste. However, after coming back, I see this urge to become more responsible towards it. So, I have started picking up waste around my vicinity whenever I find the time.

A few days back an incident happened that I never thought would happen. There was a red signal on the traffic light and one person just threw a plastic wrapper sitting very conveniently in his car. I walked towards his car, picked up the wrapper, smiled back at him and walked away.

I don’t know if it would bring any change in his behaviour but somehow I was reminded of Ayushi’s actions.

Every day, when we used to reach our campsites despite being tired or drenched, she used to have the energy to gather all of us so that we could segregate the waste we had collected on the way. There was a constant smile on her face seeing all of us taking responsibility for the environment.

She was the heart and soul of our group.

I now feel responsible to carry her energy and pass it on to others around me in the hope that they would feel the same love for mother earth just like she does.”

- Rohan, Indiahikes Trekker | Hampta Pass Trek