How to Plan an Exciting Climbing Expedition in India?
Royal Enfield said in one of their ads – Mountains call us all. The difference is what we say back. There is something about the mountains. Whether it is the mystery that the clouds created by surrounding the peak or the view of the world from the top of the echo in your voice or just the feel of having conquered something when you reach the hilltop – the journey of finding what you want to say back, is probably one of the most fulfilling emotions mankind can experience.
India, thankfully, is blessed with beautiful geography enriched with those tall, magnificent peaks almost making the sky feel shy. If you are inspired by any Bollywood references to mountaineering, don’t think about it anymore. Climbing peaks in India is much more than that! Nothing – video, virtual reality, not even teleportation can give you that feeling of having conquered a peak, the feeling you get when you climb your way up there.
So, if you are planning to have a climbing expedition – congratulations. You are already in the winners’ club. Won’t you call someone who climbs through the tough mountains and does not give up till he reaches the peaks, a winner? And every winner deserves a plan. Here’s to the crazy ones who want to reach the top of the world and want to have a lot of fun on their way up:
- It is a trip for your physique, your mind and your soul. The idea of just putting a dart on the map and setting out to conquer is alluring but not for mountaineering. Every mountain range has its own set of challenges depending on the weather, the level of expertise of the climbers and the physical requirements. In short, do not plan to climb Mt. Everest on your first expedition. In fact, when going for your first expedition start with preparing your physique. You should be fit enough to be able to enjoy the challenges of the expedition. Consult your physician once, before setting out. Once you have planned to embark on the journey, start preparing your mind and your soul that you will do this. Reason? The view from the top will always be worth it!
- Always go with a bunch of professionals. It’s really simple math – you can choose to climb a hundred peaks over a few years and get the expertise of mountaineering, or, you can simply go with professionals who have climbed hundreds of peaks and learn it all in one expedition. Most tour guides will provide you with professional instructors who will accompany you on your trip. Remember how you took your first steps? Even the brightest of minds needed some hand-holding. Climbing a mountain is almost like learning to walk – your legs should be well positioned, you should know how to maintain your balance, your eyes should be up and so on. Good instructors, like your guardians, will do the handholding whenever required and teach you how to enjoy the expedition!
- Get the equipment. All of it. Have you heard about that bike which can run without an engine? Or that horse cart without the horse? That is exactly how mountaineering works – without all the pieces in places, you will never get the full picture. Your tour guide will give you a list of equipment to be acquired before you set out. The pro tip here is – buy it, even if you have an option to rent it. That is because once you reach that one peak, you will want to do it again. Mountaineering is not a one-time thing. It’s highly addictive in all the good ways and that is why you should invest in quality gear like – Ice axe, rope, flash light, pulley, climbing pack, harness, signalling mirror, shovel and everything else. Your tour instructor will give you a list of tools and the ideal sellers as well; that one is easy. The essentials, hardly anyone will tell you – spare batteries, waterproof cases for your phone, binoculars, first aid kit, toilet paper, swiss-knife and a lighter.
- Research and Plan. Before setting your heart and soul on that one peak, research about it. Different peaks are for people having different experiences in mountaineering. Peaks at and around the Indian Himalayas are definitely most popular peaks in India but Satopanth, Stok Kangri, Hanuman Tibba, Nun, Kun, Shivling and Friendship are also great options.
Happy climbing to the top of the world!