THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: How do you picture a trekker? Many conjure up the image of a person who eats, breathes and talks mountains. Certainly not someone who is anxious about mountain sickness! Participants of ‘National Himalayan Trekking Expedition’ through Sar Pass at Kasaul in Himachal are sure to change that perception.
One of them, Anzal K S spends a good deal of his time in the lab, studying flies. ‘Dorsophila,” says IISER BS-MS (Biology) student.
Every semester of the course is more packed than an average semester in any other college, he says. “We get four months of classes in a six-month semester. That leaves little time for any other activity. We can take up sports, but none of us are really into hardcore sports,” he says.
The route they are going to take has been rated moderate to tough. Sar Pass Trek has a combination of pine forests, snow peaks and lush green meadows. “This route is meant for regular trekkers. However, it won’t be so rough for the first time trekkers,” says Ajitha Baburaj, a volunteer at Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI) which organises the trek.
“I know little about the route. I wanted to go with a group. I think I will be able to handle this trek,” says Sandra
Aravind, another IISER BS-MS student.
However, very few Malayalis sign up for it, according to Ajitha. “Is it fear? They should try it at least once,” she says. It could be the cost factor, says Indus Cycling Embassy founder Prakash Gopinath. “Trekking trips cost at least Rs 6,000 every day. In this case, the eleven day and ten night trek costs a little over Rs 5,000. Maybe not many know that such options exist,” he says.
He will be volunteering as a camp leader at the base camp at Kasaul. The reason why it costs so less is because experienced trekkers offer their service for free. “I have been associated with YHAI for more than 20 years. I was in college when I did my first YHAI trek in Ladakh. I would like to give back what I learnt,” says Ajitha.
Five students from IISER-Thiruvananthapuram are participating in the trek. Though most of them are first-time trekkers, they cycle regularly. “We have a cycling club. We have cycled up to 30 kilometres,” says Athulya Ram, a BS-MS student.
Physical fitness should not be such a worry, says Ajitha. “Those who are acquainted to the mountains know that climbing needs 70 per cent mental fitness and 30 per cent physical fitness. Up there you live in the present. There is no past nor future. You understand how miniscule you are in God’s scheme of things,” she says.
Maybe you are a trekker too. And you are yet to identify it.
