To organize a trekking program successfully, there is need of clear and correct thoughts. Just thinking of trekking in Himalayas and getting out from home with a rucksack should not be done. An organized planning is needed for a trekking program. These planning can be divided into two parts – Administrative Planning and Practical Planning.
A: Administrative Planning
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1. Time of the program
2. Choice of the route and route details
3. Route type – conventional, less conventional, un conventional
4. Route grade – very easy, easy, moderate, hard, very hard
5. Capacity, Capability and experience of the team members
6. Collecting information
7. Planning for food
8. Taking equipments or gears
9. Taking medicine
10.Making budget
11.Entry pass, permit etc.
12.Always have a Plan - B
B: Practical Planning
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1. Packing and stuffing of things to be taken
2. Guide, porter, cook selection
3. Planning of walking
4. Planning of camping
5. Use of food and gas/kerosene
6. Do’s and don’ts at campsite
A: Administrative Planning
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1. Determining the time of the program
In Himalayas, time can be divided in three parts pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. To be specific - summer (March - May), monsoon (June - September) and winter (October- February). The southwest monsoon commences after mid-June and continues up to September, characterized by high cloudiness and torrential rainfall. For trekking in Himachal – July to September, in Garhwal and Kumaon – August & September and in Sikkim – May & October is good season. In the month of April, May, June & October trekking can also be done in Himachal, Garhwal and Kumaon region. But if we search the past 15-20 year’s weather statistics of these regions, we will find that places above 4000 meter and upper Himalayan passes are getting fresh snow fall in October, where as in the month of April & May, all the snow does not melts up fully. June is an unpredictable month when weather can be clear and sunny with blue sky or may be foggy and cloudy with lots of rain and snow may also be partly present. So to be safe, in April, May, June and October trekking can be done in lower Himalayan ranges up to 4000 meter. In July and August trekking can be done in Bugiyals and flower Valleys. Trekking in high passes and places above 4000 meter can be done in August and September. But time can also be selected depending upon a team’s overall experience and using of gears.
2. Choice of route and details
Selection of routes depends upon some factors like, team member’s overall capability, time of journey, route type and grade, remoteness of the route etc. It is better not to combine the demands of plains and hills. Often people try to manage office leaves and other factors and then decide the time of program. But priority should be given on the proper time and proper route first.
3. Route type
Normally routes lies for – base camp of a peak, high pass to cross from one valley to another, a high altitude lake, snout point of a glacier, source of a river, a high altitude temple, connecting route between two pilgrimage sites etc. These routes can be divided in three types.
I. Conventional
i) Direction and markings of the route is clear
ii) Information can be collected easily
iii) Guide & porter easily available
iv) Itinerary or Schedule is adjustable
II. Less conventional
i) Direction and markings are not so clear
ii) Less information available
iii) Itinerary is not flexible
iv) Normally used by local peoples
v) Mostly tried by highly equipped foreign trekkers
III. Unconventional
i) Direction and markings are minimum
ii) Contour Map, compass, GPS etc. needed
iii) Trained and expert guide is a must
iv) Average ability level of the group should be very high
v) Abandoned or rarely used by local peoples
4. Route Grade
Generally gradation of routes depends upon the route’s remoteness, actual duration to complete, terrain, steepness, presence of glacier-snow-ice, average weather condition, equipment factor like gaiter-crampon-fixed rope etc. Normally we divide routes in 5 grades. These are –
a) Very Easy – Panch Kedar, Gaumukh, Sandakphu etc.
b) Easy – Tapovan, Goecha La, Kang La etc.
c) Moderate – Nandanvan-Vasukital, Kedartal, Satopanth Tal, Roopkund, Neelkanth Khaal etc.
d) Hard – Homkund-Ronti Saddle, Manirang Pass, Dhumdhar Kandi, Pangtani Dhar-Rudgaira etc.
e) Very Hard – Kalindi Khaal, Pin-Parvati pass, Gangotri-Auden’s Col-Kedarnath etc.
5. Team building
Before building a team or determining a route first of all we have to evaluate the capacity of a team and then the route to be chosen. Route should be determined either considering the team’s average ability and experience level or a team should be build considering the type and grade of the selected route. Beginners shouldn’t be included in a hard trek. Specially while trekking in an unconventional route, team members should be chosen very carefully. While building a team or a group, things should be considered are - is he/she completely new to a trek, on which trails he/she trekked before, terrain details of the negotiated routes, how long (how many days) he/she trekked at a stretch, his/her mental stability-determination level-sustainability etc., his/her physical fitness level, whether he/she has any severe or chronic disease or not etc. In an expedition type trek with 10-12 days span at a stretch, there should be a doctor or paramedic within the team.
6. Collection of information
Try to collect information well before the actual program. Information means – connectivity, map, terrain details, past few years’ and current weather condition, nearby peaks and glaciers, nearby bases etc. of the selected route. Map is an interesting part of information; if one tries to read maps he/she will automatically start loving the routes. It is better to collect information from any recent successful trekker on that route. Information can also be collected from internet, books, travel magazines, trekking club or trekking forum. But be aware of the wrong or incorrect information in those books or magazines. It is also necessary to collect information about guide and porter and get the contact number or address of a local guide, he also can provide you better and most current information about the route.
7. Food planning
Day wise food list is necessary for breakfast, meal and dinner during trekking. So first of all a ration list is to be made. Ration list can be divided into three parts – which can be taken from our own city, which can be taken from the route base city/village and if any ration is available on route. Food should be easily digestible, low weight but of high calorie. In high altitude dehydration is a common problem. So with lots of water intake, a food like soup is also needed. Limited ration should not be taken, one or two days extra ration should be carried with. Dry foods like – nuts, chocolate, juicy chewing gums should be taken while walking.
Use of gas/kerosene should be planned and used as per need. Generally gas/kerosene and stove/burner is used for cooking in the mountains. But fuel can be saved if there is any option of using jungle wood for cooking, but fresh trees should not be cut for it. Also using wood fire should be very careful. Kerosene is a popular media of cooking in Himalayan Mountain. In a group of four, ½ liter kerosene is needed per day.
Using proper utensils for cooking is also necessary. Pressure cooker is a must carry utensil, it saves time as well as fuel too. Biodegradable plates and glasses can be used as these are made of light weight material.
8. Equipments and Gears
Equipments and gears are a must for any kind of trekking program. Buying and using own gear is preferable. Generally these trekking and mountaineering equipments are a bit costly. So many peoples try to complete the program with hired gears. But the fact is that the hired equipments are not of the mark and made of lower quality materials, they often mismatch with the size too. So people often face problem on route with the hired equipments. Gears like good quality tent and feather filled sleeping bag, which are very costly, can be hired. Now in our country, good quality and imported gears are available in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Manali, Derhadun. Kathmandu in Nepal is also a good place for buying equipments, but be aware of cheaters. Here is a list of generally used gears:
For normal trekking program
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Shoe (having rubber sole with good grip and ankle support)
Rucksack
Knapsack
Hollow filled/Feather filled Full sleeve/Half sleeve Jacket
Hollow filled/Feather filled Trouser
Fleece Jacket & Trouser
Wind proof Jacket & Trouser
Water proof Jacket & Trouser/Poncho
Hiking pole
Eye goggles
Tent
Sleeping bag
Carry mattress
Camera bag
Etc.
Additional for expedition type program
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Helmet
Ice Axe
Gaiter
Rope
Harness
Crampons
Snow boot
Etc.
Many people underestimate a gear – shoe, whereas shoe is the most important gear in any kind of trekking. At least a shoe having rubber sole with good grip and ankle support is a must. While trekking in snow or water, good water proof breathable (Gore-Tex) shoe is required. In Indian market normal trekking shoe is available within 1.2K to 2.5K, but shoes which are up to the mark costs near and above 5K.
9. Medicines
Medicine must be carried with the team while trekking. AMS is a common symptom in mountains. Medicines like Coca or Diamox can be used to a certain dose to prevent AMS, but loosing altitude is the best remedy for AMS. Medicines like Derifyline can be used for stabilizing breath and pulse rate. Water purifying medicine (chlorine water purifier like Zeoline) is a must. Besides, medicine for dehydration, indigestion, dysentery, muscle pain, acute headache, acute body pain, cough & cold, septic, cut, vomiting, allergy etc. and crape bandage, leucoplast, cloth bandage, band-aid etc. should be taken. The best procedure is, before going to trek, consult with a general physician and make a list of medicines, their doses and know how to make use of them.
10. Determining budget
Trekking cost is increasing day by day. Generally transport and food cost can’t be cut down so much, so we try to save guide and porter cost. But we should also look after their proper dues. What we should do is to carry our own goods and rucksack, don’t take unnecessary clothing and extra goods, carrying light weight and planned food, then we can decrease number of porters. Budget should be prepared very carefully considering the following matters:
a) Transportation Cost
b) Lodging cost before and after the trek
c) Food cost before and after the trek
d) Staying and food cost on route during the trek
e) Guide & porter hire cost, their food & transportation cost
f) Equipments, gears, utensils, stove etc. hire cost
g) Ration & fuel cost
h) Entry fee if required
11. Permit issues
Entry Pass or Inner-line Permit is required in many places for trekking. Specially to enter in any Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park, Biosphere Reserve or near Border area, Control line area etc. In a last few years, these permit issues are regularized so much to prevent nature imbalance caused by global worming and to prevent calamities in the mountains. So prepare for this permit issues from before commencing the actual program. Getting entry pass or inner-line permit may require one or two extra days. Best method is to collect address and contact details of the permit issuing authority and contact over phone or send letter to them.
12. Plan - B
Always work for a Plan – B. May be your actual program get changed due to any kind of disaster or political issues like strike etc. So be prepared for a plan – b and make this plan also before starting the actual program. This will help on taking decision on route and your program would not be abandoned.
