Trekking and Outdoors: Why is Safety a Critical Factor

Trekking and outdoors is a fast growing interest in the country and India with its diverse geographical spread is on the top five Go-To destinations in the world. Hence, numerous trek locations and offbeat outdoor vacation destinations are attracting a lot of travellers from not only India, but from around the world. 

Wilderness travel is as exotic and attracting, as it is challenging. Though trekking is a hit in a lot of locations in the country, The Himalayas are the unbeaten king in the category, because of the magical experience and the dream-like terrain. Every season, The Himalayas witness huge number of trekkers and hikers – both, first timers as well as experienced adventurers.

While the Himalayas are attracting more and more trek enthusiasts every season, the safety, however, still remains an issue. The high altitudes, tough & remote terrains and extreme & unpredictable weather conditions – everything is a potential problem that is known to halt treks, leaving people stranded or trapped. Hence, Safety is probably the biggest concern in the current outdoor adventure travel scene.

Recently, the Chadar Trek of Ladakh was put on a hold by Leh Govt because of a potential natural mishap. The various groups of trekkers that were already starting this popular trek, were hence, stranded. Last season, the Valley of Flowers trek was in news because of a broken bridge that closed down commute. 

Himalayan treks are often faced with landslides blocking the roads, snow fall covering ever surface, strong winds making it impossible to camp outside and the simplest to deal with – rains. All this is what a travellers’ nightmares are made of, not to mention, the travel company’s too. To combat all the above, this is what is required:

1. An extremely well thought of trek plan. The trek has to be well thought through, including the trail, the time of travel and the group strength. It is best to travel in small groups because it ensures more safety and attention. 
2. Expertise, experience and leadership quality of the guides. To lead the trekkers expertly under unpredictable weather conditions, to have the kind of experience that helps you foresee the nature conditions, and to act quickly and cleverly in times of need. 
3. A strong back up for safe stay, that has to be a part of the main plan. The backup planning need to count for every possible What-If situation, with the safety of trekkers in mind.

At GIO Adventures, safety of our trek groups is our first concern. When you go outdoors for an offbeat or adventure activity such a trekking and camping, along with your physical well being, your mental state is equally important. One tiny detail, like a smelly sleeping bag can make you feel unsafe or uncared for. In India, especially for first timers, mental and emotional fitness is often overlooked, which is a pity. A trip should never make you want to change your mind about outdoors and head back home instead. This is something we at GIO Adventures treat as a priority. 

We believe that a trek is successful only when every possible crisis condition is thought about, tended to and prepared for. When you are in the Himalayas, anything less that fully prepared is not acceptable, and we follow it like our Bible. From small trek groups, minimum of two professionally trained mountain guides per group, and a strong backup from our Himalayan Eco Lodges – GIO Adventures is the safest outdoor offbeat and adventure firm in India. And take it from us – Safety is the MOST crucial factor in outdoors.

At GIO Adventures we pride ourselves on well trained, safety savvy and an extremely experienced team of guides and experts for all our activities. GIO Adventures has a team over a hundred highly experienced and motivated Outdoor Specialists. All our guides are professionally trained and the team is led by the legendary Mohan Singh Gunjiyal. Mohan Singh is a Padam Shree awardee and a mountaineer par excellence and is GIO Adventures’ Chief Instructor.

When it comes to safe practices, small groups come on top. Operating in small groups of never more than 12 people at a time, is our mantra. Each group has a minimum of 2 guides who have proven their capability over the years – from leading treks efficiently in the wilderness, to even carrying trekkers on their backs in cases of emergencies. The commitment and compassion are the driving force in the team, that has been our pride since 1999. Safety is crucial and critical when it comes to outdoors.

The nature is wonderful and exhilarating, and there is immense joy in exploring new places, but remember – safety first! Adventure is out there, go explore. But start after making sure it is as safe as it is thrilling. In short, what we want to say is, please put safety first when planning a trek.

The Ultimate Himalayan Adventure Calendar 2015

Adventure is quickly overtaking ‘Facebook-ing’ as an hobby and we’re euphoric! If you are the kind that likes their travels and trips to thrill and give you an adrenalin rush, here is the ultimate Himalayan Adventure Calendar for 2015.  From trekking and mountaineering to rafting, cliff jumping, bridge slithering, body surfing, abseiling & rope course – all combined with natural backdrops and conditions, these destinations have just about anything an adventure traveller could ask for. Keep the list handy for 2015, so that your months are never dull. See what tempts you the most, and make the most of this year. Because, adventure as they say, is out there! 

1. January: Chadar Trek of Ladakh. Every travel magazine and every adventure seeker is talking about it this season. The Chadar Trek on the frozen river Zanskar in Ladakh is an adventure that’s bringing international tourism to India, and rightly so. The landscape is beyond beautiful, and the Chadar Trek which comes in two varieties, a 9 day extensive trek or a 5 day Chadar experience, is an adventure seekers paradise. Ladakh is famed for its high passes, brackish water lakes, a stunning lunar landscape, a Buddhist culture warped in time, deep blue endless skies, and a landscape that is larger than life. So in January 2015, go walk on a frozen river bed, live in caves along the way and fight the twin difficulties of cold and altitude to conquer all!
   
   
   
2. February: Skiing in Auli. Auli is a favorite snow-destination of the country, because of its easy access from Delhi, and the pristine white sheet of snow in the winters that comes second to nothing. The slopes of Auli are perched high at an average altitude of 3000 mts (10000 ft) and face the high & majestic mountain giants like Nanda Devi, Kamet, Dronagiri, Trishul & Hathigodi peaks giving it a spectacular feel, making it the best Skiing Destination in India. It has a 4 kms long cable car (Asia's longest) and along with it has chair lifts and ski lifts for skiers. Ski here once, and come back every year because that’s how addictive it is. 
   
3. March: Trek to Nagtibba. This is an extremely popular weekend trek that is just 3 day long but offers amazing camping experience along with the terrain. This trek starts and ends at Dehradun, which in turn is very well connected with other parts of the country. So close, yet one can reach an altitude of more than 3000 mts and hike in an absolutely remote region with almost no habitation. So, come here for a weekend and start your adventure. 
4. April: Har ki Dun Trek. If you are a 'Lord of the Rings' fan, and are in awe of the landscape in it, then Har ki Dun will blow your mind with the  smorgasbord it has to offer. There are endless lush meadows, wild alpine flower gardens, scraggy mountains, towering snow-capped peaks, glaciers and gushing streams & waterfalls that seem to spring from nowhere. This 7 day trek is a week of adventure that will bring you closer to the healing and fulfilling nature. What’s not to love?
5. May: Trek to Indrahar Pass. Come experienced trekkers, come newbie, come all! This Himalayan trek has something unique to offer to everyone. Set in the beautiful and unique Kangra valley, it is filled to the brim with hiking pleasures. On this trail one gets fabulous views of the Dhauladhar range. The trek starts from Dharamsala/McLeodganj, has magical camping locations, and the hike towards the 4420m high Indrahar pass is a thing every adventure lover dreams of. And oh, there are chances you’ll find snow here even in May and June. Perfect, isn't it?
   
6. June: Trek  to Roopkund – the mystery lake of Himalayas. For many years, Roopkund, the beautiful and mysterious lake has held the attention of trekkers not only because of the enchanting landscape surrounding it but also because of the presence of several bones and skeletons that can be seen in its waters. The mystery has now been solved, obviously, but go there to witness it and you’ll see the appeal. The Roopkund trail is a classic case of experiencing both, the beauty and the beast. Only here the beast is equally if not more enchanting.
7. July: Spiti. Do we need to say more? The landscape of this valley is stark and spectacular and challenges one’s idea of beauty at all stages. Spiti has captured the hearts of travellers and adventurers alike for years, and the region is flooding with breathtaking beauty and too-good-to-be-true landscapes. Spiti valley is often compared to its famous neighbor, Ladakh, in terms of beauty. Only, Spiti is still untouched by the impact of tourism and is hence more thrilling. This valley is open only for a few months every year as the high passes leading to it get blocked by snowfall. Along the trip, as you drive and hike through the wonderful vistas of this valley you come across small settlements with ancient monasteries, chortens, mane walls, fluttering flags, prayer wheels & Buddhist monks, leaving an image which is sure to last a lifetime. Half of 2015 is already over, what are you waiting for? 
   
8. August: Valley of Flowers. Ah, here comes the MOST famous adventure destination of all times – and if have already been here, we know you’re now nodding in agreement. Nestled in the Himalayan Valley, this is a World Heritage Site long acknowledged by renowned mountaineers, botanists, and in literature. From no-fuss travellers to adventure seekers Valley of Flowers is visited by people from all over the world. The valley is open only for a couple of months, generally, so you have to plan ahead and book in advance. This is also famous for its celebrity spotting but that’s not the point, the point is – millions of flowers spreading far and wide till the eye can see. The bloom starts immediately after the melting of snow. Different flowers bloom in different months but the peak blooming period is from mid July to mid August. Almost 300 species of wild flowers bloom here unhindered by mankind. But the valley has much more than just flowers: waterfalls, glaciers, towering mountains, big rivers and quaint villages. We clearly can’t shut up about it, so you better better visit it once and see it for yourself. Go book!
   
9. September:  Hampta Pass. Wake me up when September ends, really? Not anymore because - Hampta is going to take your breath away. This is another Himalayan Trek for when the humidity is still hurting you in the cities and the winters seem far away, and you want an adventure to break free of the routine. So take 4 days off your city life, and head to the Lahaul-Spiti region for some serious fun. Enjoy the views - On one side is the absolutely lush green valleys of Kullu & Manali and on the other is the semi-arid region of the Lahaul valley. Hike, trek or camp, everything is possible here. All this is obviously dependent on weather conditions, but getting held up in a lodge that overlooks Himalayan peaks, is exactly the kind of unplanned adventure we crave for, and you? Not that it’s going to happen very often. September is magical in the Himalayas!
   
10.  October:  White Water Rafting. Rafting is a rage these days because of the adventure-high it gives. White water, rapids, rafts and a lot of energy : perfect recipe for adventure. In 2015, plan a rafting trip to not just the well known and often crowded Haridwar-Rishikesh route, but also to the amazing rapids of Yamuna, Alaknanda, Upper Alaknanda, Tons, Kali, Spiti, Pin, Zanskar & Bhramaputra river in India. Our favourite is the White Water Fiesta! But if you are new to the world of wicked rapids, try a short trip of 2 or 3 days, and if you consider yourself the tamer of white waters, definitely go for the Rafting Expedition. If you are a fun family, the rafting with deluxe camping should be your pick. Co anything, but don’t miss the thrill of wading your rafts through the young rivers and feisty rapids. You’ve got to Raft in October!
    
11. November:  Chopta. It has a beautiful Himalayan lake, minimal sights of civilization and a background story that goes back to Mahabharata. Interesting, right? This is a tempting region to explore in November, because Chopta is famous as the Mini-Switzerland of India because of its undulating green meadows – think Yash Chopra movies! The breath taking view of the majestic Himalayan peaks is an added bonus. Camping here is a totally enjoyable experience. One can also trek up to the Tungnath temple, which at an altitude of 3680m is the highest Shiva shrine in the world. Or just stay at a comfortable place in Kund where you can reflect on life, looking over the Mandakini river or the Kedar Peak, and trek high altitudes the next day.  Options, option.
12. December - What? December 2015 already! It is now time for the most talked about White Chirstmas and New Year Bonanza. Spend Christmas amidst the pristine snow, and ring in the New Year surrounded with white Himalayas. There’s a lot you can do – from skiing to snow trekking, from multi-sport vacations to just chilling around the campfire, and from some kickass Snow Adventures to relaxing stays in the quiet mountains. Take your pick.
    

So you see, the Himalayas have a lot of adventure potential, along with the famous magic and majestic beauty. Have you made up your mind yet? So go, take off on the ultimate escapade in 2015. Take an adventure, live it up!

Trek To Nagtibba : A Guest Post

Tushar  Agarwal went with us to the beautiful Nagtibba trek, and this is his account of the trek. We'd love to have Tushar back for anaother trek, and we hope every travel addict enjoys the amazing post. Read up!

Nagtibba – The Serpent’s Peak

Dates: 2^nd Oct – 4^th Oct

Tour Manager: Dinesh

Ever since the trek ended everyone was sad about leaving back to their respective place and getting consumed in their day to day lives again, but I was really excited for I had to cover the entire trek in blog and pictures for GIO. I was fortunate that I was chosen to cover this trek because of two reasons – Firstly, I think I will never be short of fathomless beauty and abyssal tranquil that this trek had to offer. Secondly, I will get to revisit the entire trek during my committal to writing. 

From the time we met our tour manager Dinesh and till the time we saw Dinesh off, we were royally treated by the staff, the porters, and the chefs. There was a great sense of comfort and never for a moment it appeared that we were away from our home between the valleys and the mountains. There was not a moment on the entire trek when GIO did not pamper us. There was a plan to everything and professionalism was evident. It could be seen that the company was into this business from past 15 years and jaunts 30k nature lovers each year. From medicines to the first aid, chocolates to juices, lunch to dinner, porters to mules, everything was at the helm. 

The Nagtibba trek is pretty safe and enjoyable. This can be understood from the fact that the age group on this trek varied from 8yr to 45yr- most diversified group I have ever trekked with The patients with bronchial problems can also do with this trek because of the trek falling in lesser Himalayan region. The trek passes through beautiful oak trees – used in the creation of furniture and colorful Chaulai(Amaranthus) plantations which is a popular green leafy vegetable. It is called Chua in Kumaun area of Uttarakhand, where it is a popular red-green vegetable.  The trek only got better as it aged offering us different eye shots through and through. Also I find October as one of the best time to trek for it provides clear skies (at least what I thought) and a perfect weather to cater to every age group, not cold and not warm but only zephyr. However we did not encounter clear skies at the summit but can only envisage on how mystifying the view must have been which leaves us with a want to come to this place again. 

What I really liked about GIO was the fact that they believe in creating memories rather than having just-an-affair. Best example was the decision to descend from a different route rather than taking the same route which we took to ascend. We would have missed a great deal if we had not seen the other side of this trek which ended at Tewa. The flora, the view, and the beauty on this trail was a lot different from what we had been seeing before.

Action as it happened

Day1 :

8:00 – Left Dehradun

12:00 – Reached Pantwari

15:00 – Lunch

18:00 - Base Camp at 2495m

20:30 – Dinner

Day2 :

Breakfast

7:30 – Woke up

9:00 - Left for Summit – 3022m

11:00 – Reached Summit

12:00 – Snacks near the summit

13:00 – Descend to the base camp

14:30 - Lunch

18:00 – Evening Tea

19:00 - Bonfire

20:00 - Dinner

Day3 :

7:30 – Woke up

8:00 – Breakfast

9:00 - Descend all the way but through Tewa

12:00 – Lunch

13:30 - End of the trek

14:00 - Left for GIO’s office

18:00 - Reached GIO’s office

Day1:

At 9,915 ft, Nagtibba offers one peaceful and serene weekend getaway from the great unwashed. There are numerous buses, from sleeper to seater, plying each hour for Dehradun, so don’t be bothered if you haven’t been able to book your train tickets in advance. However for this particular trek, the best way to reach Dehradun is via New Delhi - Dehradun AC Express Train which leaves Delhi at 23:50hrs and reaches Dehradun station at 5:40 hrs. Take a good night sleep in the train and after reaching Dehradun Railway Station take an auto to reach GIO’s office in Vasant Vihar, freshen yourself up, take a quick shower, sip a hot tea, meet fellow trekkers, before the bunch of 12-15 enthusiasts leave for the tourney accompanied with tour manager. I was surprised to see my fellow travelers because I could see a kid of 8years and at the same time I could see couple of seasonal trekkers in thorough trekking gear. Besides 4 solo travelers on the trek there were 3 complete families ready to sweat it out. The batch left in two separate tempo travelers of 6 each– look at the luxury - befitting a supreme ruler – hyperbole but yes quite royal. 

We reached Pantwari, the starting point of our trek, at 12:00hrs having taken two stops on the way – one for the breakfast and other for buying water bottles, chocolates and other sort of munchies as per one’s penchant. The moment we reached Pantwari, we were greeted by our trek leader and porters along with mules. After dumping our luggage over the mules which could carry 100kgs of load at one go, we readied ourselves with the trekking gear and carried only water bottles, walking sticks, mobile phones and cameras with us.

The ascend started at 12:30hrs after all of us wished each other for a happy mount clicking a group photograph to mark the start of what would be one of the scrumptious trek for all kinds of age groups. The 11km trek to the base camp started with a concrete pavement which turned into a muddy, rocky and leaves stricken path only 500m into the trek. In no time we could see that we had ascended a lot because the terrain was too steep. The first break came at 15:00hrs, exactly on the midway, near the water stream when we were given the food supplies which we received from both the hands. The food was tasteful and homelike which was followed by a burger, apple juice and chocolates. After we filled our stomach appositely, we carried on to complete the remainder of the trek. 

We continued through the dense jungle which convoluted in an open ground at various places. There was a constant cloud cover which hindered our views on the way but ensured we were smitten by mist always. Our base camp was at 2495m and I could hear voices echoing from the forest ‘bhaiya kitna aur’ time and again. Everybody was exhausted and tired to the extent of rolling down back to Pantwari. But our trek leader Madan was professional enough to keep us going by saying ‘bas aa gaya’ each and every time. Madan’s professionalism and the thought of what beauty lies ahead of us kept us moving. We finally touched the base camp at 18:00hrs.

We probed the beautiful campsite properly, kept the luggage in camps, freshened up, changed our clothes and were quickly back with the monkey spunk. We were greeted with a hot coffee/ tea along with Aloo Gobi Pakoda’s which seemed like a potion to bump off all the tiredness we had amassed during the trek.  Nobody could tell that there was a point in the trek when we almost succumbed ourselves to the course. Quickly all the stash came out from the camps and we were set for ‘Cheers’ in no time. Some just boomed. Two friends/bikers/enthusiasts traveling with our group had even got Hookah along. Merci !

Temperature in the night dropped down to 10-12degrees for which bonfire was already set aflame.  However the actual warmth was in the Rum. Dinesh after taking everybody’s consent agreed upon for a 20:30hrs dinner. In dinner we had Manchurian, Fried Rice and Noodles. After having our dinner and long discussions with the fellow travelers (love this bit) , we called it a day and headed to sleep.

Day2:

We were woken up by manager Dinesh at 7:00hrs. The best part about the trip was that we weren’t forced for anything and there were no fixed deadlines that we had to meet. It wasn’t a military training regime that we had to be scared of. The timings were flexible and were according to the mutual concord of every traveler. At the same time we also compromised a bit and ensured not much delay at any point of time also because we became too greedy after seeing the startling beauty of this trek. 

The highlight of the day was to reach the summit which was 4kms from our base camp. After having our breakfast at 8:00 hrs, we left for the summit at 9:00 hrs. Everybody was quite pumped up and filled with pride for we had already trekked 11kms the day before, so 4kms looked like a cakewalk. The trek began and all our vanity was seen dripping off in the sweat and our sorry walk. The terrain to the summit could be coined as ‘Constant 75’ for the trek was inclined at 75 degrees for the most part of it. 

It took us 2 hrs to reach to the summit leaving us accomplished and content filled at the end. Everybody patted each other for a brilliant walk till the summit and congratulated for discovering the enormous potential engrained within each one of us. We took our blessings from the Serpent God, lit Agarbatti and spread positive energy around. We took a moment out in calmness to enjoy the tranquil and capture the beautiful panoramas in our memories forever. We relaxed, cajoled for a while before having our snacks and leaving back for our base camp where we would be greeted with Rajma Chawal (happiness), , Vegetable Subzi, Chapati’s and heavenly custard. 

After reaching back to the base camp at 14:00 and having delectable lunch, we were given time for ourselves, time to relax in our own preferred manner. Some people read, some slept in the camp and some went to the nearby ground with their sleeping bags only to wake up to the reinvigorating Garhwali tea. The evening had wonderfully set in and we were prepared for the bonfire night once again, this time with everyone in the camp including porters, chefs etc. The localites danced and sang the melodious Garhwali and Himachali songs with their heart out. While some sang and some danced, some of them even played music through utensils. 

It was overwhelming and moments later all of us joined in with kids singing Summer of 69 & Another Brick in The Wall, bachelors singing Chappa Chappa Charkha Jale  while the elderly singing the legends of Kishore Kumar. The night had something in store for everyone and was a perfect gift to the wondrous tale. Later while having dinner, we saw Hyena passing by too demonstrating the vast flora and fauna on this trail. 

Day 3:

We were woken up at 7:00hrs. After sipping our tea, we bid adieu to our camp and the lovely local people who had been taking care of us since the last 2 days. We were sad to leave but happy for we had to descend now. We were in for a big shock when our trek leader asked us to ascend because we were going to take a different route which will end up on the different side of the mountain, at village Tewa. Anguished yet excited we accepted the orders from the leader and marched on. The entire circuit between Tewa and Pantwari was 70kms via road which was only 25kms via mountains. 

We continued downwards and stopped midway for lunch. This time we had boiled eggs for our palate too.  This trail was marked at various places with arrows so adventure seekers can explore this trail on their own too which all the solo travelers of the group decided to do post lunch. We reached Tewa at 13:30 hrs which marked the end of one of the finest weekend trek of this country. 

We hugged and shared numbers with each other and left for GIO’s office thereafter.  We reached Dehradun at 18:00hrs and left for respective places.

3. A short note on the arrangements and hospitality

Everything was taken care of and no stone was left unturned. GIO was always ready with their Plan B in case of any problem. A girl on the trek faced sickness few kilometers into the stretch and GIO was quick enough to respond with an extra mule for her to finish the trek. Similarly somebody needed an allergic and the leader was ready with it. 

The tents were good and well maintained. The sleeping bags were warm only if you slept with jeans and jacket on. What I seriously missed was a pillow which could have stopped my sliding down a wee bit. The food throughout the trail was alike home, scrumptious and just like you expect it to be, light and befitting. 

After being associated with GIO from quite some time now, I can assure that comfort and good customer experience is their top priority. I sometimes wondered that how did GIO made profits after providing such luxury but then ultimately I realized not everybody is a part of Congress and that money is not the only thing in the world. Their profits it seems were in the happy and content filled faces at the end of the trek, closed-knit-ever-lasting memories that they had been able to impart and of course in the praiseworthy oration at the end by each of the traveling member.

My association with GIO was amazing and I highly recommend their services to everyone.