Trekking/Hiking 101 with Entwined_Paths 

Hi Guys!

A lot of us must be dying to go out on treks or trips the first thing once everything goes back to normal and with Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand slowly opening up, its time to unleash the explorer in us.

But before all the excitement and rush kicks in, there needs to be planning for a great and safe trek. So, here are a few tips that We think might help you in your next trip.

1.PLAN AHEAD

Planning ahead is a critical first step for beginning and experienced hikers! By taking the necessary precautions and preparations before starting your hike, you are setting yourself up for success (and potentially saving your life if you find yourself in trouble while out on a hike).

Some things to plan ahead for are learning the logistics and layout of your intended trek, packing appropriately for the weather and emergencies, and having a plan in place for potential obstacles.

BOTTOM LINE: PREPARE AN ITINERARY

2.TRAVEL LIGHT

Often we think about carrying all the necessary things that we might require which ends up us carrying things way more then we actually require. Pack according to the trek. For example:

A.If its a day trip into the valley (easy trek): Carry the essentials in a 20l rucksack.

B.If its a moderate trek: Carry the essentials in a larger (say 50l) rucksack and carry a smaller bag, so that you can only carry the essentials for the trek and leave the rest in the base camp.

C.If its a week long difficult trek: Carry extra layers and all the trekking gears (do not compromise on the equipments).

Here are top 3 rucksacks you can consider:

3.Carry all the necessary equipments:

By equipments we mean:

A.Shoes according to the trek

B.Camping gear

C.GPS

D.Maps

E.Repair Kit

F.Fire starter

G.Pocket knife

H.Rope

This seems simple and obvious. Having a topographical map of the area is helpful in case you get lost, and also to aide in your planning ahead. Knowing how to use a compass and the map are essential if you happen to get lost while out on a hike.

Even if you are familiar with the area you are hiking in, it is still a good idea to bring a map, compass, or GPS for those “just in case” moments.

Here are some of the reliable shoes and camping gears available on the internet:

For everything else not depicted visit your nearest Decathlon Store.

4.BLISTER PROOF YOUR FEET

You will bless me for this heads up. Getting blisters on your feet is a quick way to cut a hiking trip short. It’s excruciating trying to push through that. This issue can be easily avoided by taking preventative action and adding moleskin to your feet ahead of time. Another way to avoid blisters is to make sure your shoes fit properly and are broken in.

5.Waterproofing the whole pack

Matches and a pair of dry socks are pretty useless if they aren’t dry. Or a cell phone or GPS. Showers can pop up at anytime. Always carry dry pouches. You can easily get it from anywhere under a 100 rupees.

6.Learn Basic First Aid/Bring a First Aid Kit

No one wants to bleed out from an easily treated puncture wound. Or walk on a broken leg that isn’t stabilized. Or asphyxiate from an allergic reaction that could have been treated with benadryl. Or… you get the idea.

7.Hydration is the key

Staying hydrated is essential for existence. If you want to live, drink up! Not alcohol or caffeine though. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, it’s a good idea to drink every 10 to 20 minutes. But, always remember to drink in small gulps.

8.Start Early Morning

Starting early in the morning for any trek is the mantra to avoid any variables. Moreover, If you start early, you will have great photography light. If it’s a warmer day, you will get a good amount of hiking in before it gets hot. You might see more wildlife, as they are more active at dawn.

You can avoid some traffic on the road and at the parking lot of the trailhead (popular destinations can fill up quickly and usually have small parking lots). You can also avoid more people on the trail and at your destination.

9.Get Fit before you go

Now this the hard part. It might be a shock to the system if you go on a 13km trek trip after spending the last 6 months eating cheetos and watching TV all day. Get your body and heart ready for rigorous hiking by working up to it with daily exercise.

10.Let someone know where you’re going

This is the most important step before you go on a trek. Letting someone know where you are going is the simplest precaution that could save your life.

These are few of the highlighting point we thought that might help you before your small adventure.

Stay Safe and Godspeed!!