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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ghosts of Goechala: Part II

The Goechala trek has tested our endurance and fitness levels like no other trek has. But I would do it again without a thought if given the opportunity. if you haven't read Part I of my Goechala trek, click here.

Tansing: Ice Station Zebra

We arrived at Tansing and it was a scene right out of ‘Alistair McClean’s Ice Station Zebra’. Anyone who has read the book and / or seen the movie will recall that Drift ice Station Zebra, a meteorological station built on an ice floe in the Arctic Sea, is actually a highly equipped listening post, keeping watch for nuclear missile launches from the Soviet Union. It suffers a catastrophic oil fire; several of its men die, and their shelter and supplies are destroyed. The survivors hole up in one hut with little food and heat.

Tansing could have served as a film set for the movie of the same name starring Rock Hudson. I woke up in the night to pee and asked Anand to accompany me. As we walked out with a lantern in hand, two lone figures bundled in several layers of clothing, my hands shivering as I fumble with my pant buttons, I’m reminded of the opening scene of the movie – a satellite reenters the atmosphere and ejects a capsule which parachutes to the Arctic with specific coordinates. During an ice storm, a figure soon approaches, guided by a homing beacon, while a second person secretly watches from nearby. This does not seem strange to me , we have a group of Japanese camping nearby.

Our last stretch

As I wait for Anand to finish his absolutions, the feeble light thrown by the lamp barely lights a small circle around my feet. It’s a cloudy night and the night is obsidian. I know that there is nothing in the distance barring Mount Pandim and the Eastern flank of Mount Kanchenjunga, looming like a crouched giant. I am nothing but a mere insignificant being at their mercy and the surrounding darkness and imperceptible noises that go with it hammer home that point. Yet it is not menacing, but strangely comforting as I feel the dark wrapping around me like a cocoon, protecting me from cold reality that I must encounter when I go back to civilisation.

We trek to Samiti Lake at a height of 14900 feet; the peace and stillness that I experience at the Lake convince me that deep within the Lake resides a gentle spirit that must surely shower her blessings on the trekkers and tour guides that reverently pray at her shores and respect her territory. Bhaskar and Upasana decide to go up to the Goechala viewpoint while the rest of us decide to head back. At Samiti Lake 4250 metres at the base of Lake Pandim. The guides pray to seek divine blessings from the Lake deity while we take a breather to absorb the rarified atmosphere of this glacial Lake and rest our tired bodies which are experiencing the effects of high altitude. My breathing is laboured and there are the beginnings of a headache at the base of my skull. Mount Kanchenjunga plays a peekaboo behind the clouds.

The Mighty Sentinel

Kanchenjunga is the world’s third highest mountain, with an elevation of 28,169 feet (8,586 metres). It is situated in the eastern Himalayas on the border between Sikkim state, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal, 46 miles (74 km) north-northwest of Darjiling, Sikkim. The Kanchenjunga massif is in the form of a gigantic cross, the arms of which extend north, south, east, and west. The name Kanchenjunga is derived from four words of Tibetan origin, usually rendered Kang-chen-dzo-nga or Yang-chhen-dzö-nga and interpreted in Sikkim as the “Five Treasuries of the Great Snow.” (Sourced from Wikipedia)

The area around Kangchenjunga is said to be home to a mountain deity, called Dzö-nga or “Kangchenjunga Demon”, a type of yeti or rakshasa. A British geological expedition in 1925 spotted a bipedal creature which they asked the locals about, who referred to it as the “Kangchenjunga Demon”. We didn’t spot any though some of us may have closely resembled one as we went for nine days without a bath. We did spot the Ibex, the Blue Bharaal, Wild Yak herds and plenty of rare birds that are native to this Himalayan region As we head back we see an elderly Japanese Gentleman, in his 70s who proudly gestures to us that he has been to the top. Truly an achievement, at 50 I don’t feel that old and feel that I could do a few more treks before I pack up my boots.

The Deceptive Transverse

Back to Kokcharung and Phedang through a deceptive forest transverse trail that begins with an innocuously simple path, but as we proceed further it’s 11 kilometers of steep inclines and descents, narrow trails with precarious edges that plunge into deep ravines and landslide scarred slopes that have to be crossed with loose mud dribbling onto your path. The path is never ending and we curse our guide Indranil who was never completely truthful about the trails we walked. “You’ll find it boring”” he said but that was the last word that enters my mind to describe the treacherous path that we are walking on. My fellow trekker, Jayanthi and I question our fellow guides Bhanu and Limbu as to how much time it would take and when they respond saying that it would take one more hour of walking, we angrily argue with them and insist that they are talking through their hats. They look at us pityingly and break into Nepali. I interpret it as “God, why do these old women do the trek if they can’t handle it” Jay sets out at a furious pace like a banshee cursing Indraneel and I am on the verge of a breakdown, silently laughing to myself at the sheer audacity of the narrow track as it leads us on on a merry dance. Anand looks at me strangely and gently asks me to take a break and drink some water. Our track finally break into the familiar meadows of Phedang and I totter to the now waiting group exhausted and waiting to pick a fight with anyone who utters those dreadfully pedestrian words “ Welcome, you made it”

The Last Ghost Story

Post a hasty lunch, we walk down to Tsoka through slush. Along the pathway, eager leaches are on the look out to sink their fangs ( do they have those) into our luscious flesh, but we manage to escape them. At Tsoka, it’s time for a celebration. While we feast on many a delectable dishes ( did I mention that our cook is the best in Sikkim) and have a few shots of Sikkimese rum and beer ( we drink Hit beer from the breweries owned by Sikkim’s scion Danny Denzongpa), Indranil regales us with the best story of all, the Naked German. The Naked German was a trekker who died in the 1980’s sans his clothes, ( don’t ask me how, I was too drunk to remember or maybe Indranil omitted the details). Apparently his ghost knocks on door or tent flaps and attempts to steal trekking bags. Indranil at some point in his career as a trek organiser apparently decided to put this story to test by staying all by himself at the Kokcharung trekkers hut that the ghost frequents. He had fortified himself with an entire bottle of rum and was woken up late in the night by repeated knocks on the door of the hut. Convinced that his worst nightmare had come true, he hid in the furtherest corner with a sharp Khukri ( Gurkha dagger) in his hand. No one responded to his entreaties questioning the identity of the knocker. Early next morning, he opens the day to confront a horsemen who was deaf and mute and had been sent by his fellow team members to check on him. Do you believe this story? On hindsight I definitely don’t, but at that moment gathered around a table lit by head lamps and lanterns, and sweetly savouring our triumph over the challenging and treacherous trails and replete with delicious food, dessert ( yes, chocolate cake baked in an earthen oven) and drink, we believed anything and everything was possible, even ghosts.

The Last Day

Our last day was our longest, 16 kms of endless walking back to Yuksom, we walked as if we were automatons, one foot placed before the other, tired in body but never in spirit. At long last as we approached the village on the outskirts that would eventually lead us to the paved road of Yuksom, I turned back and said a final goodbye to the mountains, trees and even the Ghosts and Spirits who had welcomed us into an ethereal and effervescent world that now vanished like Brigadoon into the mists of time.

Hope you enjoyed my reminiscences of the Goechala trek. Please read Part I if you haven't. Ans as always, comment, follow and share.

The Ghosts of Goechala: Part I

 Good treks are about endurance, fitness and strength but also about the camaraderie of fellow trekkers and the stories you share on those dark chilly nights. This is not a faithful retelling of the trek ( there are enough blogs that do that but rather an anecdotal and sometimes humorous and somber account of my experiences and emotions. 

The Goechala Gang

We were eight of us on the Goechala trek – Priti and Raja, super fit trekker couple who had just completed a long difficult trek in Nepal and were rearing to take this on, Upasana – supremely fit yoga trainer and second time trekker ( she did ABC with us last time) and was ahead of all my of us including the guides, my sister Aarti who cribbed before the trek that she would never be able to do it and did it like a pro ( did I mention that she is tall, statuesque and trekking clothes look good on her unlike me who looks like a bit like the Hunch back of Norte Dame); my friend and fellow organiser and conspirator , Jayanthi who kept us entertained and rearing to go despite the challenges, Anand, my better half who was indifferent till the trek started and then waxed eloquent on every aspect of it for weeks to come and is a fount of stats and numbers on altitude, distance and anything in between. 

Bhaskar, the new comer to the group, who had seriously trained ( unlike the rest of us) for this trek , was a bit formal at first and finally loosened up with the help of ‘spirits’ to to sing Kannada gems and oh did I mention the ace photographer of the group and then finally me, the organiser and the slowest trekker, (the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.) I creak and crawl while the others race past, but the trek starts as an idea in my head ( and Jay’s). So I give myself extra brownie points for that. And of course, we had Indranil Kar of Ongoz Escapades whom I contacted on a whim based on a blog post I read. That turned out to be the best thing I did, because he turned out better than warm apple pie with ice cream – guide, DJ, philosopher, story teller and comedian and finally has now become good friend to all in the group.

The Ghosts of Goechala

As we huddled around a warm wood fire oven in the caretakers hut at Dzongri sipping the local millet beer, we heard stories about heroic feats and near death experiences of guides and trekkers and WAIT FOR It spine tingling ghost stories that will strike fear into your hearts. Surely they are exaggerated but make for great listening; anything that takes your mind away from the bone numbing cold and the thought of slipping into an ice cold sleeping bag at the end of the day despite several layers of clothing. A good dose of healthy fear increases your heart rate and your sluggish blood races and thrums through your arteries and veins, inducing a sense of heightened anticipation and brief flashes of heat. And so we heard Ghost stories in instalments. Hearing it at one go may give us a ‘heart burst’ as Indranil puts it.

Our first day

But I am getting ahead of myself. We first heard about the ghosts of the dancing girls at night on the 4th bridge (or was it the 3rd bridge) during our first day to Sachen. This I think was the bridge below which the Prek Chu river was gushing wildly through a steep gorge. The suspension bridge shook as I walked over it. Thump thump thump,and then a sway. I felt slightly nauseous looking at the deep gorge below. Nima Thaju our head guide told us about a guide who went down to the river to have a bath at this very spot and slipped on  a cake of soap he had kept aside and was swept away by the river. The guides said these stories with a certain relish as our faces turned a bit pale and we looked at each other uncertainly. The trek had a fearsome reputation of bringing trekkers to their knees; did we have to also contend with ghosts and the like?

Gory stories at Phedang

Sachen to Tsoka was difficult but the real test was yet to come. After our first night in tents, we opted for the trekker huts in Tsoka, we were afraid that the rain might wash the tents away. From Tsoka, after a difficult ascent, which never seemed to end, we finally arrived at Phedang. Phedang at 12000 feet is a green slushy meadow with an open hut which serves as a dining room. Given a choice, I was all ready to spend the night there; there was a another steady incline of 3 hours to Deorali top and then a slight descent to Dzongri at 13000 feet. But during lunch, Indranil regaled us with the stories of two porters who died in a fire that engulfed the wooden hut they were spending the night. Since that event, most trekking guides and porters are superstitious and bypass Phedang as a place to halt at night. It is believed that those who stay are woken by a (symbolic) knock on their tent flaps and when they open it are witness to the horrifying and terrifying sight of blackened charred faces staring at them. That was enough to get me scampering from there post lunch and do the tough climb to Deorali top where the skies opened up to reveal enchanting Mount Pandim.

A hard descent

After a day’s rest at Dzongri and a near dizzying climb to Dzongri top at 13778 feet ( saying it in feet rather than metres makes our trek seem like a more impossible feat than it already is), where we walked on narrow ledges and steep ascents ( one wrong step and we would have indeed become ghosts who haunted future trekkers to Dzongri) we did a steep descent to Kokchurang. The descent was the scariest part of the trek and even now I get the heebejeebies thinking about it. I held my guide Limbu’s hands 90 percent of the way as I’m notoriously bad at walking downhill. Even Limbu’s wife or significant other wouldn’t have held his hand for that long. Even if a spirit in the surrounding thick forests were to prance around or shout or scream to make its presence felt, I wouldn’t have lifted my head, so fierce was my concentration on the tricky path ahead. I saw colourful birds flit between the trees and tried to make a note of their colour and size to quiz Bhaskar who seemed to be a walking talking encyclopaedia on birds and has even downloaded a pdf on birds on his phone.I breathed a sign of relief as we reached level ground and the Kokcharung trekkers hut came into view. It was a small squalid nut with several suffocatingly small rooms. We had our delicious hot lunch and proceeded to Tansing. The trail from Kokcharung to Tansing was not easy but anything was better than the nightmare descent that I had gone through

I do hope you enjoyed reading about the Goechala trek this far. Read Part 2 of the Ghosts of Goechala next week. And do comment and share my blog post with your family and friends

How should you pack your trekking bag?

Packing your trekking bag is an art that can be learned only through practise. Every trekker has his or her mantras on how to pack a trekking bag and there is no one right way. On my  first trek with my husband, we overestimated the items that we should take on the trek and also our capacity to carry them. After a few kilometres, we were puffing and panting, and were exhausted. We learned our lesson the hard way and since then, we have become extremely careful about weight and most importantly, the utility of each item on the trek and whether it is absolutely necessary or not.

There are a few basic tenets to follow

1. Do your research on what is required by reading my blog and talking to experienced trekkers. Make a checklist of items that you will need.
2. Talk to your trekking company and find out if they will rent out or provide ( usually included in the price of a trek) items such as sleeping bags, tents, trekking poles, cooked food etc. If these are carried by horses or porters, they make your trekking bag that much lighter and can be used to carry other essentials that are required for a trek.
3. Carry only what you need. Every gram matters!
4. Choose gear that is lightweight. These may be expensive.
5. Choose a trekking bag whose size and capacity is in sync with the duration of travel.
6. Do not carry more than 10 to 12 kgs on your back. Only porters can carry heavy loads without harming their back.

‘Must have’ items in your Trekking bag

• Clothing ( Trekking shirts and pants)
• Undergarments
• Winter Jacket with layers that can be detached
• Rain poncho
• Sleeping Bag and liners 
• Accessories such as extra pairs of socks, gloves, summer hat and winter cap , sunglasses etc
• First-Aid cum medicine kit
• Sunscreen and hand sanitizer
• Toilet Paper and Wet Wipes
• Dry energy giving snacks and water
• And masks ( essential during COVID times)

Do read my earlier post on how to choose a good trekking bag 

 Photo credit: Zachary Kyra-Dirksen, upload.com

How should you pack your trekking bag

1. Visually divide your trekking bag into three different sections: Your trekking bag can be roughly divided into three sections, so that you can pack your items accordingly. Never just blindly pack your items in the bag. After making a list, and ranking items in terms of importance, place items in piles according to their size, weight, frequency of utilisation and then decide if they should go into the top, middle or bottom section of the trekking bag.
2. The bottom section : This will contain those items that are bulky but not heavy, and not used during the day. like your sleeping bag, pillow, a bulky heavy winter jacket which may not be needed during the day. Any pockets of air can be eliminated by packing it with clothes you may change into at night. (sweaty stinky day clothes should be changed after a long day of trekking. But that is a topic for  another blog post). 
3. The middle section: The middle space, in all likelihood, will contain the bulk of your clothes. Make sure that you choose light weight clothing that dry easily and divide them into various piles - undergarments, trekking shorts, pants, thermals etc. Put  these items into clear transparent sleeves or zip lock bags so that they can be easily identified easily from the outside. Put aside a separate clear sleeve for used undergarments. Your toiletries packed in a similar sleeve could also be an essential item in this section.
4. The top section: The top section should have essentials such as the medical kit , your rain poncho, and your water bladder should be kept in the separate sleeve which is part of your top section.
5. The top Access: On the outside there is a top access which is a zippered pocket which can store essentials such as  mobiles, batteries, memory cards, dry snacks, hand sanitiser, wipes, sunglasses, gloves, cap/ hat, sunscreen etc.
6. Side and Central Zippered Sleeves : Side and central zippered sleeves can be used to store water bottles (if you are not using a water bladder), bathroom slippers/ sandals, umbrellas etc.
7. Straps: The straps on the side can be used to secure trekking poles to the bags and clips can be used to attach water bottles, caps and the like.
8. Utilisation of space: Space needs to be used efficiently, so that all items that are required will be able to fit into the bag. The larger bulkier items go in first and then the smaller, flexible items that can be rolled or folded can be pushed into spaces between these items.

As I mentioned earlier, it is important to pack only the most essential items on a trek. You may want to reconsider the following Items which can become a ‘deadweight’ on a trek and may impact your trekking experience

Items you may not need to include in your backpack

1. Sleeping bag: Sleeping bag can be rented from or may be provided by the trekking company and in most cases will be carried by the guides/ staff who accompany you on your trek. This is common in both Nepal, Bhutan and India and can definitely save you both weight and space in your bag. These bags for the most part are clean and hygienic and unless you are very particular about not using items previously utilised by others, I would strong suggest that you go with the renting option or utilise ones provided the trekking company.
2. Bulky sweaters or jackets: It  is better to take along a jacket which is lightweight and add several layers under it, so that you can take it off if it gets too hot. Bulky clothes not only take up space and are heavy, they can trap the heat and can make you feel uncomfortable during a trek.
3. Pouches of sleeves made of cloth or leather: Carry all items such as accessories and toiletries in a clear transparent light weight plastic bag that does not add to the weight of the items. These items are not water proof and therefore will not protect essentials from moisture.
4. Frivolous items: Items such as make up, unnecessary hair and skin products, additional scarves or caps to match your outfits will only add weight.
5. Additional clothing: Number of trekking shirts and pants need to be kept to a minimum and should be utilised more than once on a trek. Additional clothing will only add weight and bulk to your bag.
6. Thick towels: Thick towels, especially wet ones, only add weight to your bag and can take a long time to dry. Instead quick dry towels that are especially suited for trekking, can be used 
7. Excessive medications and toiletries: Only carry essential medications, that are important and a few general medications for fever, diarrhoea, cough and cold etc. These can be shared with others and therefore there is no need for every trekker to carry a large cache of medicines. Similarly toiletries too especially toothpaste and face wash can be shared by the group. The trekking guides will also be carrying essential medicines.
8. Extra footwear: Do not carry extra footwear, other than what is required on the trek. You will be wearing your hiking shoes and carrying an extra pair of sandals or chappals in the evenings at camp. This should do. 
9. Leave unessential items at the hotel: All items that are not required for the trek can be left behind at the hotel (starting point) from where you will start your trek.
10. Bulky SLR camera, with heavy lenses and tripod: Unless you are on a photography trek, where the essential focus of a trek is taking photographs, an SLR camera and bulky lenses can become a challenge, if you want to travel light. A mobile phone with a good camera should do. If you are insistent about taking along your expensive camera, make sure it’s well worth the effort.

Hope you found this post useful. For an exhaustive list of items that go into the sleeping bag read my earlier blog posts on www.thesilvertrekker.com. My next week’s post will be on an iconic trek in India, the Goechala trek. 

How to choose a good trekking bag for your trek?

Trekking bags are important accessories while trekking and can make a difference to your trekking experience. The right trekking bag can be like good friend who is always there with you where ever you go, but an uncomfortable and ill fitting one can make you miserable and make your trek a nightmare.

The right Trekking bag can be a boon

Trekking bags are an absolute essential and carry everything that you need for a trek. So do give a lot of thought and research the various types of trekking bags available in the market before you make a choice. 

What are the three key factors you should look for in a trekking bag?

Size

Size is an important factor when one is carrying the trekking bag through the day and for many hours. The size you choose will depend on the duration of your trek. If you intend to do a short 2 -3 day trek then a 20 to 30 litre bag should do. This can comfortably carry approximately 5 to 6 kgs of load. Longer treks of 8 to 12 days will require a capacity of 50 to 60 litres. These bags can carry between 8 to 10 kgs. There are trekking bags for treks that are of a longer duration, but for a beginner, the above mentioned should do.

Durability

Trekking bags are generally built to last, so make sure you buy a well known brand that comes recommended by experienced trekkers. It should be made of a water resistant material such as nylon and polyester, as the bag will be subject to rain, snow and heat. Make sure that the stitching on these bags is reliable to prevent tears and test the zippers on the trekking bag before you buy them to ensure that they are of good quality. Abrasion resistant materials also ensure that the bag is able to withstand rough conditions and will not tear and give way, if the bags gets caught on protruding branches and rocks or accidentally slips off while you are walking on an uneven trail. 

Comfort

The most important thing is to find a trekking bag that rests comfortably on your shoulders and is the right fit for your frame. The adjustable shoulder straps must be broad and cushioned and fit well on your shoulders. There must be a belt which can be fitted and adjusted around the hip. The bag must have a basic internal lightweight frame that essentially keeps the bag in place, and takes weight away from the upper part of your body to your hip. Most trekking bags have padded back panels to provide comfort. To prevent your back from getting soaked with sweat, these bags have ventilation pockets and mesh along the bag to prevent the build up of hot air. 

Also, the following are a must

Top access : Almost all trekking bags have a zippered pocket on top to store vital items such as sunglasses, batteries, gloves, torch light, wipes etc.

Additional Zippered pockets: Besides the central , main space of the trekking bag, the bag needs to have additional pockets to store various items. The side pockets are larger and can be used to store items such as rain ponchos and the hip pockets  are smaller and can be used for mobiles, vital meds, trail snacks etc. 

Sectioned trekking bag: Some trekking bags will allow you to zip open bottom or middle sections of the bag and remove items so that the entire bag does not have to be opened and all items don’t have to be taken out to reach a vital item at  the bottom.

Rain cover: Even though the trekking bag is made of a water resistant material, it is important to buy a rain cover that can be slipped on over the bag when it starts to rain, sleet or snow. This will keep the bag and its contents dry.

Sleeves for water bottles and bladders: Please check to see if there are side sleeves on the trekking bag  for water bottles or an internal secure leakproof pocket for water bladders. These are extremely essential for proper storage of bottles and bladders as they may otherwise leak and damage other vital trekking wear and accessories stored in the trekking bag.

Sleeping bag compartment: Some trekking bags have a secure compartment at the bottom with a separate zipped opening to store sleeping bags. 

Sturdy clasps and zippers: A good trekking bag must have sturdy clasps and zippers to secure and close the bag properly. Most branded trekking bags will ensure that these are of good quality and reliable.

Compression straps, loops and snap hook clips: Compression straps can be used to expand or compress the bag but also to attach foam mats or tenting equipment. Loops can be used to secure trekking poles to the bags and clips can be used to attach water bottles, caps and the like.

If you cannot carry a trekking bag, opt for a Day Pack

As a beginner who may not have the stamina to carry a full trekking bag or a senior trekker who may enjoy his trek without the added weight of the trekking bag, it may be easier to hand it over to a porter for a fee. A day pack with essentials may do the trick. 

A day pack of course is a miniature version of your trekking bag. It has a top access, extra pockets, a sleeve for a water bottle and even a rain cover when the weather changes for the worse. Most day packs can carry upto 3 kgs or so and is used to carry the daily essentials that are a must such as rainwear, trekking lamp, sunglasses, summer hat, winter cap, an extra pair of socks, gloves, trail snacks, water bottle or sleeve, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, sanitary pads and important meds. 

A day pack like a trekking bag must be functional, comfortable, water repellant and durable. 

Hope you enjoyed reading my post. My next will focus on how to pack your trekking bag. Till then adios and remember to subscribe comment and share my blog. 

How trekking poles can enhance your trekking experience?

Trekking poles are an important accessory and I didn’t mention it in my earlier post as it deserves a post all to itself. Trekking poles are an absolute must on a trek and don’t let people tell you otherwise.

Can you make do with a locally available stick or a tree branch? 

You may think that a trekking pole is an expensive investment and a stout disposable stick would do just as well.  A makeshift walking stick is generally bought from a local store or is picked up from the trail. They are free and can be discarded once the trek is done. They are effective and provide balance if the trail is flat and even, but can cause you to lean to one side or put stress on one side on of the body. Also unlike a trekking pole, there are no features that allow you to retain a firm grip on the stick. Also walking sticks cannot be adjusted to suit your height and may be heavy and cumbersome to carry when you don’t use them. 

What are the advantages of trekking poles?

1. Trekking poles are designed to be used in pairs, and are adjustable in terms of height 
2. Trekking poles come with wrist straps that provide additional support to the hands when they grip the poles, but use them with caution, as these can also prove to be a nuisance if one has a fall or slips on rough terrain. It is difficult to untangle your hands from the wrist straps and this can cause a sprain or even a fracture.
3. Trekking poles help with stability and balance and act as extra legs during a trek
4. Trekking poles reduce the strain on your muscles and knees especially when you are manoeuvring tricky terrain and steep prolonged descent
5. Trekking poles are immensely useful while walking on slippery ground and help you retain a better grip on surfaces
6. Trekking poles are most handy when you are descending on a trail and help your body to better manoeuvre the steep incline and uneven paths
7. Trekking poles are very useful when you doing a river crossing or are negotiating fast flowing streams.
8. Trekking poles can be made from a variety of materials, and are lightweight
9. Trekking poles can help increase cardiovascular activity and upper body movement and make you feel less fatigued when you are done with your trekking.
10. Trekking poles can be used to prop up tents and has features with built in LED lights and cameras that can be mounted on the pole.

But they can be expensive ( especially if you are looking for a lightweight model with additional features) and may be difficult to fit into a duffel or a trek bag. You may need to seek special permission from airlines if you include them in your cabin luggage. It may also take a little time to get used to trekking poles  and be comfortable with them on a trek.

Do you need one or two poles?

This is an eternal question that most trekkers have. While some prefer to use just one pole and have a free hand available to grip boulders, rocks on the side for a better balance when walking, most experts recommend the use of two poles. Some trekkers feel that two poles can hamper free movement and can cause difficulty in manoeuvring narrow or difficult paths or when clambering on rocks. Even simple activities like drinking water or taking a photo of the fabulous scenery  with your phone or camera, will require you to rest your poles against a rock face or hand it over to a fellow trekker. At these times an extra pole may feel like an impediment. But these minor inconveniences need to be overlooked as two poles ensure that much of the load and strain is taken off your hips and legs and distributed to your shoulders and muscles of your upper body. 

A single pole can cause imbalance and put strain on the hand and side of the body which is gripping the pole. It is particularly important that people carrying a heavy load on their back, like a trekking bag should use two poles for support and stability. 

What are the parts of a trekking pole?

Grip

First comes the grip which is most important. It’s made of cork or foam which vary in weight and durability. However it depends on individual preference and must feel comfortable when held. Cork grips tend to be better and keep your palms sweat free but are expensive. 

Straps 

Straps ensure that your hands and wrists remain in the correct position . They transfer the load to your forearms from your wrists and make your arms less tired.  But as mentioned earlier use with caution and don’t tangle up your palms and wrists.

Shaft of the pole

The shaft can be conventional or the flexible type which  is made of aluminium or carbon fibre. In India, aluminium poles are mostly available and are quite durable and strong. The flexible pole consists of telescoping poles that can be extended according to the height of the trekker and can be locked in position using either a clamp lock or a twist lock. The clamp lock is more reliable compared to the twist lock as it locks each pole section in place and does not allow slippage and shortening of poles during use. 

Ends/Tips 

The tips of the poles finish in a blunt point which is made of a hard metal/composite material that can withstand shock and is durable over a sustained period of time. Poles also typically come with baskets which are of various types, -which can be used on powder snow or compressed snow/ mud. These can be used or removed depending on the type of activity. 

So, key things to keep in mind before you buy a trekking pole are price, weight, material, durability, adjustable lengths, and ability to fit into a trek or duffelbag, number of trekking poles, choice of additional features such as baskets, fixtures with LED  lights and camera mounts. I am also told that they have trekking poles specifically designed for women, but haven’t seen or used them as yet.

Hope you enjoyed reading this week’s post and it helps you make the right choice with regard to trekking poles. Watch out for next week’s post on trek/ duffel bags and day packs. And as always, comment on the blog and share with friends .