A Beginner's Guide to Trekking

Your first summit should feel exciting, not intimidating. Most of the anxiety people bring to a first trek comes from not knowing the shape of the day. So here it is.

The shape of a one-day trek

1. An early meet in the city — often between 4:30 and 6:30 in the morning. Group travels together.
2. Breakfast at a stop near the base village.
3. A briefing at the trailhead: the route, the halts, the hazards, and what to do if you fall behind.
4. The ascent, with regular regroup points. Nobody is racing.
5. Time at the top, and a packed lunch.
6. The descent, which is usually slower than people expect.
7. Travel back, arriving in the city in the evening or later.

How fit do I need to be?

For an easy route: if you can walk continuously for about two hours on flat ground without difficulty, you can finish. For moderate routes, add stairs to your week for a month beforehand — that is the closest common approximation of what a Sahyadri climb asks of your legs.

Be honest with the organiser about your fitness. The answer is never a judgement; it just changes which route we suggest.

On being slow

Groups move at the pace of the slowest walker, and a well-run trek plans for that from the start. There is a leader at the front and a leader at the back, and the person at the back is not being punished — that is the job. If you need to stop, say so. Stopping early is far better than stopping late.

Coming alone

Many participants join alone. It is genuinely common and it is not awkward — the walk itself does the introducing for you. Most people leave with a handful of new contacts.

What to do the night before

• Pack, and then take out anything you added 'just in case'.
• Sleep. This has more effect on your day than fitness does.
• Eat a normal dinner.
• Charge your phone and power bank.
• Set two alarms.