My family and I have travelled all over India. My parents made it a point not to go to their respective hometowns too often because it would just be a point of contention between them later, seeing as they came from different states altogether. So we went to other places, slowly covering every state. We each have our favourite states or places we would like to visit or to go back to. We even have activities that we are particularly partial to. However, the one thing we make sure to plan for no matter what is a trek. No matter where we are, we will always go for a trek.

Why you might ask? Well, for one thing, we are nature buffs. We don’t travel to just get away from our hectic lives; we need the reminder that the world is bigger than we make it out to be. As children, my siblings and I were taught to respect nature and to marvel at the degree of creativity taken to create such a wonderful and dangerous world. For those of you who do not know what the big deal about trekking is, here’s the lowdown: trekking is good for the soul. Forget everything else; trekking gets you right at the soul. Now, most people would ask, “What is the difference between walking and trekking, if you are going to be doing the same thing?” The answer is that you are plucked from your everyday life, your everyday scene, and thrust into an environment completely different, if not completely unnatural to you. You are not in a car, you are not in an airplane, and you aren’t even strapped to a boat. When you trek, you are the closest you can get to Mother Nature in all her glory.

Now, everyone will agree with me when I say that familiarity breeds contempt (why do you think there is only so much you can take before you start feeling uncomfortable with that guest who refuses to take a hint and just leave?) So after a few days of our vacation, we will start to get on each other’s nerves and that’s when the trek is planned for. It’s all in the details, you see. Strategic planning on the part of my mother, I’m sure. You see, there is a reason why corporations are now starting to organize outdoor trust and team-building exercises; to survive in the great outdoors as a group you need to trust your fellow companions to have your back at all times. And nature is sure to test your boundaries. It is not limited by the thresholds we put in place for ourselves nor does it play fair as per our standards.

The second reason we go on treks is that it is fun and more importantly, we are now thrill-seekers. As a family, we have come across many people who have asked us why we would deliberately risk our lives like that. Some have even dared to scold my parents about how irresponsible they were, taking their children on such trips. For questions like this, we always have one answer: trekking refreshes us, it takes the silt of our drudge–filled lives and deposits them on the side, letting us get on with our lives in the best way possible. For some reason, we like to sort our differences with each other at some point during the trek.  On one particular trip, my brother and I got into an argument. I tried to storm off, but had to double back because all of a sudden I didn’t have a clue where I was! Ironically, it was my brother who found me first. Before you think that these little tête-à-têtes are just for clearing our insecurities, let me assure you that it’s not. We talk about the little details we don’t bother within our daily conversations, we confess the little mistakes we made (sorry Mom, I might have broken yet another saucer), we laugh over the smallest things and we commiserate with each other. We’re like the smaller, less glamourous version of The Sound of Music, without the constant singing and persecution of course!

Nature has this odd way of making you marvel at your unique place in the universe even as it makes your plans seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. If you stop to think of it, it’s terrifying to imagine yourself out there in the wild. But therein lies the rub: if something is terrifying, you cannot run from it, because you are now aware of that fear, and it's going to rear its ugly head when you least expect it. If you face it head-on, you are going to come out stronger for it. Either way, the experience is life–changing. It’s like being in a season of Big Boss, only bigger and scarier because of its unpredictability; you’re being watched and you’re going to be tested. Now before you conjure some image of a creepy guy stalking you in the woods, allow me to assure you it's more than all this life–changing stuff.

Trekking is like the Step One of adventure sports. It gave me a taste of what else is out there just waiting for me to discover. Not everyone begins their tryst with outdoor activities like I did. Some go straight for the hair–raising, goose-bump-inducing sports like bungee jumping or paragliding. Now I’m not saying you can’t do that, but for someone like me who actually detests things like sports, or even walking for that matter, taking baby steps with something like a relatively simple trek was a boon. The ironic thing is, as much as I now love adventure sports, I still hate sports of any other kind! Now that spring season has hit Mumbai, I’ve already started to unpack my gear. Even as I’m writing this, I’m mentally rubbing my hands in glee. Ah Karjat, here I come!

How can we help?

For those who are novices to this kind of stuff, or if you are being dragged out of your cosy nook by your more adventurous friends, do not fear. No matter what season you are planning your trip for, you must remember to stay warm. Trails can get cold, especially at night, even during summer. You also want to stay dry. You have a range of clothing you can choose from. If you tend to get cold fast, perhaps you might want to invest in a thin thermal top instead of carrying a bulky sweatshirt. You could also pair a quick–drying t-shirt with a lightweight jacket. If you are a little picky about walking about with wet pants or shorts, invest in a complete rain suit. Ensure that the shell (outermost) layer is made of breathable fabric; you don’t want to get too heated. Make sure the gear you use is sturdy and of good quality material; you don’t want to deal with torn fabrics in the middle of your trip.

We at Kosha are not just India’s premier winter and outdoor clothing store; we are passionate about travel ourselves.

This article is written by Simone Almeida

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