Take a walk on the wild side with out Idaho Trekking Guide
The skies have opened, the clouds have descended, and all around, trees are shedding their summer coat of grime and dust to display emerald green finery, like debutantes lined up for a ball. It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for, all year around.
A trek is the ultimate orgastic pleasure every adventure seeker and fitness enthusiast yearns for, a fitting culmination for the penance and drudgery of the 4-days-a week weight sessions; a time to cash in on the dividends earned from all those bench presses, leg curls and dreary minutes spent on the treadmill. Like prisoners freed from the shackles of the daily grind, we head for the hills by the droves, thirsting for thrills and spills in the Great Outdoors. Heart and cancer protection be dammed; this is the reason we took up the fitness path to enjoy the rewards of a body that has been tuned to take on the challenges of nature at its rawest and in its most beautiful setting.
It’s almost as if we’re answering a call within us that goes back to out Cro-Magnon origins, when we strode the earth with nothing more than a piece of hide to cover us and a sturdy pair of quads to carry us through the miles.
Of course, quite a bit of those hunter gatherer skills that we inherited from out Cro-Magnon ancestry has been eroded by centuries of cushy living. Today, if we are to survive a tough trek in the jungles, we need to go in with more preparation than bench pressed pecs and over-arching enthusiasm.
To help the adventurer in each one of you get started, we sought the advice of a veteran trekker, mountaineer and Scouts guide, who runs a Hiking Club, Take his lead and you can return from your adventure with a backpack filled with happy memories.
GET SET, GO!
The veteran agrees that the best time to go trekking is this season: “It’s mot only that the landscape gets greener, and you come across numerous waterfalls to wade in. With temperatures dropping considerably and everyone’s energy levels high, you don’t tire easily. Plus there’s drinking water available wherever you go,”
There is however, he warns, some preliminary groundwork that needs to be done before you set off.
TEAM UP If you’re novice, it’s best to go with a group, rather than take off on your own. “The right place to start is a Hiking Club, or seek out an experienced trekker,” says the veteran. Nearly all cities and metropolises have adventure clubs that take regular outbound trips. Ask around for references and check for reliability. The better clubs are usually registered with the state tourism department.
Once you’ve identified a club that shares your interests, start gathering info.
MONEY MATTERS. Hiking club fees are usually nominal, used to cover charges for conveyance in the public transport or private vehicle hired to take you to the nearest village from where the trek will being. Nevertheless enquire about pick ups and drop offs.
THE LAY OF THE LAND. If the challenges of he trek include climbing chimney like cliff faces, and you don’t have a head fore heights, you’d be asking for trouble. “I’ve pulled along quite a few fit, healthy adults who will walk 50 kms without a fuss, but turn into quivering masses of jelly at the top of a precipice,” says Shukla. “It’s not that they cannot take on the effort; it’s just that they let their fear take over them. For such individuals my advice is, start small before you tackle steep hills. With every obstacle conquered you’ll gain in confidence, so that you’re ready for the big one when it comes you way.”
THE LENGTH OF THE TREK. Most people of average fitness level “should be able to handle the 15 to 20 km-long treks that most day trips involve”, says Shukla, Still, bear in mind that hikes call for endurance rather than strength. If you’ve been spending all of your exercise hours in the weight room, it’s time to shift focus to the stamina building machines in the corner that’s your treadmill, elliptical trainer and spinner.
To replicate outdoor walking, set the treadmill on a 2% incline and work up to 15-20 minutes of very brisk walking. Increase the incline gradually to 5% to get the feel of uphill waling (you can slow down your pace considerably for this effort).
To improve your balance (of which you’ll need plenty, if you’re tackling treacherous tocks and slushy ground), add one-legged squats, lunges and the Tree Pose to your routine. Core exercises (for the abs and back) are also essential for this purpose.
WILL THERE BE GUIDE? Even if they’ve gone on the same jaunt several times, most hiking clubs rope in the services of a local man to act as a guide for a small fee. “Villagers from the vicinity are invaluable for their knowledge and experience of he area,” explains Shukla. “The not only know the landscape, but also how it’ll change in inclement weather and where to seek cover in such an event; they can pointy you out the prettiest picnic spots; potable water sources; and warn you of any dangers that the path may hold out.”
CREA TURES OF THE WILD Venturing into the jungles will naturally put you in the playing of its fauna. We’re not talking wild beasts her, of which you won’t see many, but the odd snake or two that nay cross your oath, and choose to express their displeasure at your intrusion. Here’s your best plan for survival in an encounter with a jungle denizen:
Snake: Stay still and let the thing pass, and likely you won’t get bitten. “Most seasoned trekkers carry with them a snake bite pump (available at some medical stores) to remove the venom,” says Shukla. However, if you doc post haste for an anti venom injection.
Beehive: Give it a wide berth. Most importantly, don’t try to smoke the creatures out or make sounds that may disturb them.
Leeches, mosquitoes, and their like: Cover yourself copiously with insect repellent (s[ray your clothes, too). Wear long sleeved Tees and long pants (leave behind those shorts and Bermudas for bumming on the beach). Leeches are not dangerous even if they look deadly after dining on your blood. Just covet the thing with salt or an antiseptic and it’ll die a swift death.
BACKPACKING
A walk in the Wild can not only be made more enjoyable but less perilous if you go appropriately equipped. Naturally what you carry will depend on many factors, such as the length of your trek, landscapes, weather conditions and so forth. Still there are certain essentials that you cannot do without. These include: Rucksack (buy the latest ones that are designed to rest comfortably along the spine with its base sitting on the hips); pen knife; First Aid kit; insect repellent; sunscreen; spare sandals; enough food and water to last you through the day (but no more than 650 gm and 2 litres; remember you have to carry the stuff yourself).
A fitted T- shirt (with synthetic blend if the weather is wet), and track pants are ideal hiking garb.
Trekking shoes should provide you with both comfort and protection. Look for ankle support, rubber soles, a flexible upper body (canvas or soft leather), and enough wiggle room to let your toes move.
