Single or mingle : Should you share a tent on a trek?

 If you are setting out on a trek in India, be prepared to stay in a tent. India, unlike Nepal, does not have tea houses with comfortable beds and attached beds (unless you are doing the Sandakphu trek).  Most trekkers in India who go with a trekking company or guide, give little thought to tents. After all, that is the organizers responsibility. If you are on a low budget hike, you may be instructed on how to set up your own tent and that can be a fun learning process for a twenty something year old who has walked for over eight to nine hours and still has the energy to fix the poles and stake the tent to the ground. If you are keen on doing this, check out this blog post on how to pitch a tent like a pro. But if you are like me, in your fifties and just want to laze around in the camp with a hot cup of chai and garam pakoras, then do go with a trekking company, whose staff would have set up the campground, even before you get there.

To share or not to share a tent is the question

Tents come in all shapes and sizes and can fit anywhere between one to eight persons depending on the size. A vast majority of trekking companies prefer to offer two or three person tents. It definitely, brings down the costs associated with the trek both for the organizer and the client, reduces the burden on pack animals and porters who carry the equipment, is definitely more eco-friendly and reduces the carbon footprint. Besides the very essence of trekking is to rough it out, so a bit of a squeeze and adjustment is the norm. 

But sharing a tent with a fellow trekker has its pros and cons

Building a bond with your tent mates

It can help you build a bond with your fellow tent mates. If you are sharing your tent with your soul mate or partner, then it could be romantic and intimate. If you are an extrovert who connects to people easily, then sharing can be fun. If you are the kind of person who hates sleeping alone in a strange, lonely isolated place, and wants a friend or acquaintance around you, then by all means share a tent.

Do share a tent with a fellow trekker with whom you have a good equation. Giggling and gossiping in the dark before you fall into a deep exhausted exercise induced sleep can be fun.  During my Markha Valley trek, I stayed with a friend who was much taller than me. Neither of us were slim and the tent was small. The tent was a tight fit with both of us in it. We frequently bumped into each other and jostled for space. We fought over space for our trekking bags. Yet we had a great time, laughing about the most trivial things. Two warm bodies also help the tent retain heat and makes you feel safer when you hear strange noises at night.

Claustrophobia and lack of space can be a mood spoiler for tent mates

But if you are the kind of person, who becomes grouchy and cranky after a hard day of trekking and  not in the mood for conversation, then it is not a good idea to share. The tent has to accommodate not just two or three people but their trek bags, sleeping bags and shoes. The atmosphere could quickly become claustrophobic and uncomfortable especially if your tent mate is a new acquaintance and not a friend.  There is barely elbow room as it has and try opening up a trek bag and laying out your items when you have to share space with another person doing the same thing. 

Cost can be a deciding factor

And of course, it also has to do with economics. Are you willing to pay extra to go solo or are you traveling on a budget? Opting for a single tent will definitely cost more and burn a hole in your pocket. Older trekkers who want a more comfortable trekking experience may choose to opt for a single tent, especially if they are solo travelers. It also gives them time away from noisy young trekkers whose energy levels continue to be high even at the end of the day.

Alone in a tent

As you get older, space matters.  For an older trekker, comfort is of utmost importance. I have opted for a single tent on a few treks and have enjoyed the experience. I am happy to get some alone time after I am done with trekking for the day.  It gives me time to reflect on the day’s experiences and make a few notes in a notebook I carry with me. After dinner in the dining tent, I walk back to the cozy environs of my tent and slide into my sleeping bag. I arrange my torch, and my water around me and watch the play of light on the roof of my tent and eventually drift to sleep.

A few years ago, I experienced the pleasure of having a tent all to myself during an all women trek (Druk Path) in Bhutan. Oh, the ecstasy of tossing stuff all around your tent with space to spare, of withdrawing into your own private cocoon with the gentle muffled sounds of the outdoors as your companion, no more elbow jostling or worse with your tent mate, or spending sleepless nights listening to their snores (it’s another matter that snores permeate tent walls but at least they are weakened by the distance they have to travel and barriers they encounter and are sans the booming surround sound experience of a double tent).

A trekking company, that particularly cares for the comforts of the trekkers is a God send. Mr. Wangchuk of Hiking Bhutan Travels made our trek as comfortable as possible.  My tent had the look of a Persian boudoir – a private crawl space that beckons you to put head to pillow (I had a heart shaped one with the words ‘I luv u ‘printed on it which induces a soporific effect.)

The only time I wished for a companion was when the tent quivered and quaked in the wake of a powerful cloud burst, deluged by heavy rain and fierce gusts of wind. I huddled inside invoking the names of all Gods that I remembered. My prayers went unanswered for almost an hour or so; the tent, a refuge that held well against the fury and might of nature. Perhaps the proximity of the Jele Dzong (Buddhist temple) was a saving grace.

I say “Single tent Zindabad” but there are many others who prefer to sleep with a warm body of another trekker by their side. Irrespective of your choice, the experience of staying in a tent is like no other. Now, if they could only do something about the toilet tent. But that’s a story for another day.

 

 

 

How do you pace yourself on a trek?

This is a question that all beginner trekkers have. Setting a pace is very important as it reduces stress and exertion on a trek. Muscles are utilized in a coordinated manner and do not get overtired on a trek. A proper pace will also prevent the need the for unscheduled breaks and will ensure that you walk at a pace that is comfortable yet demanding. Setting a pace can vary from person to person and is dependent on various factors such as your fitness level, your lung capacity, and the length of your stride. Here are a few pointers that a trekker needs to follow when starting on a trek.

Research your trail

Read up on your trek and talk to your guide or other trekkers who have previously done the trek. Understand the elevations attained and the duration of trekking each day before you start on a trek. There will be some easy days and some difficult ones. Have a mental road map as to how you would handle each day. Think about distances that need to be covered on an hourly basis and work on your exercise regimen accordingly. These maps need not be etched in stone as you may find that it is difficult to stick to a plan due to unforeseen challenges, but it definitely allows you to be prepared for the difficult journey ahead.

Set a sustainable pace

When you start a trek, your heart rate is at a resting pace. As you begin to climb (and most trails get into an uphill incline, very quickly) your heart begins to beat faster. Soon your pace begin to slacken as you are not able to walk as fast as when you started. At this stage it is important to decide what your pace is. Slow down and walk at a pace that is comfortable and sustainable.

What is a sustainable pace?

Choose a pace that is comfortable. This varies from person to person.

Choose a pace that allows you to walk continuously for at least two hours (water breaks are fine)

Make sure your overall speed is slow but steady

Give yourself a little extra time when your path is uneven and rocky

Make sure you are not breathless and you can walk and talk

Walk with the group and not ahead of it or lag behind

Many young trekkers have an initial burst of energy and will start off with an overriding enthusiasm to be ahead of the group. But soon their energy flags and they start to falter and get tired easily. Larger groups often break into smaller ones and it is best to be part of one of them depending on your stamina and fitness level. The fitter, more experienced trekkers will often lead the group and sometimes set the pace. If you are a new trekker or have lesser experience, do let the group know. Most groups will be accommodating and ensure that they (or at least some of them) will slow down their pace to ensure that you are able to keep up with them. For the group to stay together, a key rule is to set the pace based on the capacity of the person with the least stamina and fitness level. It is best that beginner hikers walk somewhere in the middle or be the penultimate hiker and not at the end. Strong trekkers before and after the inexperienced trekkers can help set an appropriate pace and ensure that the focus for the beginner is to focus on matching the rhythm of the trekker in front of them.

Align your steps to your breathing

This may be difficult initially, but it is important to match your breathing to each step that you take. The best way to do this is to count each step that you take and attempt to match it with your breath. Initially start with three counts or steps with each breath that you take. With time, you can reduce it to two counts or steps with each breath and finally one count or step with each breath. Your stride can be shortened or lengthened depending on the terrain. But be sure to follow this mantra as it helps set a certain rhythm and cadence to your trekking.

Set a pace by using a technique that sets a rhythm

Use a device such as singing a song or chanting a mantra or a marching cadence to set the pace for trekking.  Sometimes people align their steps and set a pace with the group by singing a song together. This helps you to walk along with a group, ensuring that a similar pace is set and is followed over a duration of time. Swinging your arms back and forth in rhythm will also keep your upper and lower body in sync and in step. Hiking poles are very important and can help enhance rhythm and also help set the pace.

Take short breaks

It is important that the trekker takes breaks at regular intervals but these need to be kept short. A long break or sitting down for an extending period of time can disrupt your trekking routine and cause your muscles to tighten up. Make sure you have a water bladder with a pipe that will enable you to take a sip of water at regular intervals. This will ensure that you do not stop for water breaks on a regular basis.

Slow down with elevation gain or loss

As you move to higher elevations, the air gets thinner and the oxygen levels are low. It is important, even if you are an experienced trekker to slow down your pace and take frequent breaks. In general, an experienced trekker will be able to cover at least 3 to 4.5 kilometers on a fairly well laid out even trail. If you are a beginner, you may be a bit slow, as you make take frequent breaks. It is generally estimated that for each thousand feet of elevation gain you need to add about 50 minutes. Walking downhill can slow you down too and force you to adopt a slower pace as it puts tremendous pressure on your knees and calves and impacts your balance. An additional half hour is estimated for a loss of a thousand feet and even more if the incline is steep and slushy.

Hope you found this blog post on ‘Setting the right pace for a trek’ useful. Do comment on the blog and share with your friends.