What is the spirit of trekking? 

When I started Indiahikes, I wanted trekking to be a transformative experience—one that would affect our mind, body, and spirit. 

I always returned from a trek feeling refreshed, re-energised, and ready to take on the world. For me, trekking was about more than just the landscape.

I noticed that the spirit of trekking I believed in played a big role in how I felt after a trek. 

I wanted our trekkers to inculcate the same spirit of trekking when they trekked with us.

What is the Indiahikes Spirit of Trekking?

The spirit of trekking is a set of simple values and principles that makes me trek more mindfully. It is a map that guides my behaviour on a trek. 

On a trek, I am often at a crossroads. I sometimes want to quit because I find it difficult to carry on. At times, I become irritated with my teammates. In these moments, the spirit of trekking has helped guide my behaviour on a trek. 

Here they are, in brief, the six principles of our Indiahikes’ Spirit of Trekking.

1. Being ready for adventure

The first principle of the trekking spirit is to be ready for adventure. 

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 our way. We learn to take the good with the bad.

Knowing that a trek will have ups and downs, I have often pushed myself outside my comfort zone. I have experienced beauty that I never thought was possible. 

Once, on the Roopkund trek, 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 stepped out. I saw one of the most beautiful sights of the Milky Way. 

Accepting a trek for what it is, even when it is raining, snowing, or windy, has helped me understand adventure. Over time, I have realised that I am capable of more than I ever imagined. 

At Indiahikes, we face organisational challenges almost every day. Trekking has given me the capability to be resilient. It helps me overcome difficulties and guide the organisation forward.

What bothers me is that trekkers nowadays are constantly griping about the weather, the terrain or the difficulties of the trek. They get worried when it starts to rain or snow. They cannot accept that the summit may not be possible. They start to complain about small things. This is not the right spirit of trekking. 

Being ready for adventure means being open to the ups and downs of a trek. It makes you mentally stronger, developing a resilience you never thought existed. 

2. We create minimum noise

One of the best ways to blend in with nature is to be less noisy. Being noisy while trekking is very disruptive to other trekkers. It also harms the environment. 

Earlier, I often saw monals, one of the most exquisite birds in our Himalayas. I also used to see martens and foxes. Nowadays, I rarely see them. It is the noise of trekking that is driving them away. This loss makes me extremely sad.

I see trekkers singing loudly or listening to music through Bluetooth speakers. Antakshari is the go-to entertainment for trekkers.  

I don't like it when trekkers shout across the camp or listen to loud music. It's disrespectful and ruins the peace of nature. I avoid such trekkers.

I am looking for birds singing, the rustling of leaves in the wind, the sound of a gentle stream on a trek, or simply the silence of a trek. Being quiet allows me to take it all in. 

At Indiahikes, we blend in with nature. We are part of nature, not just visitors. When we create minimum noise, we develop the right spirit of trekking.

3. We protect the environment

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. 

Very early in my trekking life, a fellow trekker forced me to carry back all my trash. I used to burn them earlier. I imagined that burning was taking care of the trash. I was wrong. I was polluting the atmosphere and leaving a lot of unburnt debris behind. It made me more aware of my actions. 

Modern trekking is changing our trails. Wrappers, aluminium foil, alcohol bottles, and sanitary napkins are all over our treks. I am angry every day about the amount of litter left behind. 

A few years ago, I was on the Deoriatal Chandrashila trek. Around a bend, where no one could see, there was a hillside full of trash. It was like a landfill. It horrified me.  

A few months ago, the Khullara campsite on the Kuari Pass trek was shut down because of excessive litter. For no fault of ours, a beautiful camp was inaccessible. I was angry and upset.

At Indiahikes, we want to be sustainable trekkers. That’s why 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. 

This has impacted my personal life as well. At home, we have reduced our consumption of packaged goods. When we want takeout food from a restaurant, we do that in our stainless steel containers. I have consciously moved towards leading a very minimalistic lifestyle. It feels very fulfilling. 

Sustainable trekking helps reduce the impact on the environment. I am very concerned that our future generations must experience the same beauty we have on our treks today. Trekking sustainably is the only way to trek. It promotes conservation.

4. Being self-sufficient

The fourth principle of the spirit of trekking is self-sufficiency. 

Recently, we explored a new trail to the Gidara Bugyal. We had to carry everything, including tents and cooking gear. At one of the camps, the water source had dried up. We had to melt snow for our cooking and drinking water. Being self-sufficient as trekkers, this unpredictability did not bother us. As the trek progressed, I noticed we often had to deal with trek emergencies. This seemed regular to us. I realise now that we could handle most emergencies because we had everything we needed. We completed the trek on our terms. All of us felt a sense of accomplishment.

Even on an Indiahikes trek, I pack light, taking only what I need. My backpack weighs, at most, 8 or 9 kg. I don’t offload it to the support team. I do not need another human or animal to carry my load. I find it very demeaning when I ask someone else to take my load. 

Self-sufficiency means that we do not expect others to do our work. Some trekkers expect our helpers to clean their dishes or set up their tents. It bothers me greatly. Is it okay for our helper to wash the dishes of twenty trekkers in cold water so that you do not have to? 

It's better to be able to do things ourselves and not treat others like they are there to serve us. We may have the money, but that does not mean we buy services on a trek at the cost of another human being.

We must learn how to read trail map apps like Gaia or GeoTracker. With these apps, I don't have to ask the trek leader how far the camp is or how long it will take. I can figure out the distance and time needed. I don’t feel lost. On the trek, it makes me independent. 

Self-reliance is an essential mindset required for trekking. 

5. Being supportive

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

Being supportive is about putting the team first. Often, this comes with sacrifice.

One winter on the Kedarkantha trek, I had to wait more than an hour for a slower team member to catch up. It was bitterly cold. Yet my teammate was very grateful for this gesture. I knew it went a long way toward helping him complete the trek. Not so strangely, it set the foundation for a long-lasting friendship.

By being willing to share, we can build a sense of teamwork that helps us overcome the challenges of the trek together. It also allows us to make lasting connections with our fellow trekkers. 

Sandhya, one of my trekking partners on the Gidara Bugyal trek, saw that my backpack was slowing me down. At one of the resting spots, she quietly took out a heavy jacket from my backpack and put it in hers. This made the trek easier for me. I felt very grateful. These gestures make me want to trek with her again and again. 

Being supportive helps us look beyond our needs and focus on the group's or fellow trekkers' well-being. Trekking is not just about individual achievement. 

6. Being fit and prepared

The sixth principle of the spirit of trekking is to be fit and prepared. It means building stamina and endurance and getting stronger. It also means learning to walk long distances. 

Kugti Pass was a trek above 16,000 feet. On the day we crossed the pass, we started at 5 a.m. It was a long day. By the time we ended the day's trek, it was 5 p.m. We had trekked for 12 hours at extremely high altitudes. By preparing well for the trek, even after a long day, I had enough energy to help set up camp, cook dinner, and finish my journal. 

Preparing well for a trek requires commitment. Most trekkers do not want to make this commitment. They always have an excuse—mainly that they are busy at work. By making these excuses, trekkers show selfishness and disrespect towards others.

By preparing well, you become an equal member of the team, not a burden or hindrance. You can keep up with the group and not rely on the trek leader or guide. You can help the team. I have noticed that well-prepared trekkers always help others. 

A few weeks ago, I was on the Chhattisgarh Jungle Trek. One of the seniors, who was 59, was the fittest of the group. He would help with serving lunch or dinner even after a tiring trek. The service area was always a long walk from the kitchen tent, but he would be the first person carrying the heavy dishes to the serving zone. During meals, he would first serve others before helping himself. Being well-prepared and fit helped him become a valuable member of the team.

On the Hampta Pass trek, one of our trekkers developed acute mountain sickness at Shea Goru. It was a cold and desolate camp at around 12,000 feet, just after crossing the pass. The moment the emergency struck, two fit trekkers immediately offered to help. With their help, we safely evacuated the trekker to Manali. It saved his life. Preparing well allows you to jump in to help in an emergency. 

By taking the time to prepare, you're less likely to experience injuries or discomfort. Such things can make for an unpleasant experience. People ask me how I descend quickly off the mountains without straining my knees. It is my everyday preparation that helps me. 

Frankly, as a side benefit, preparing for a trek is a great way to set and achieve fitness goals. Training for a trek has been a big motivation for many trekkers to continue to lead an active lifestyle.

So, there you have it—the six principles of the spirit of trekking.

Trekking is growing in our country. But sadly, I find more and more trekkers being mindless about their treks. This worries me. If we want everyone to benefit from the transformative powers of trekking, we must set the right example. 

Trekking is an unforgettable experience. But to truly enjoy it, it is important to follow the spirit of trekking.