A Trekker's Essentials
My recent trek to Hampta pass in Himachal Pradesh was quite the adventure, not just for its tough terrain, but also because every essential item that any seasoned trekker generally carries on any trek became a necessity. I did not realize that every trek is different and has different needs, but the trekking gear needs to be complete. I had left behind a few of the items based on my experience at the Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib, and Badrinath trip last August. That was the dumbest thing I could have ever done. The mountains are wicked. They love to mess with you. So you better be prepared. The seasons were such. In the five days that we walked and pushed our feet through cold rivers, sunny days, rain and windy weather and add to that a few landslides, I re-learnt how to pack my trek bag, balance the weight on my back, ascend and descend the pass by applying the right pressure on my toe and heels, walk at a consistent pace, and adapt to every changing con...
