I have been trekking around for almost 17-18 years now but dont belong to any specific group. I plan treks for my friend, office colleagues, family friends so on. sometimes even go out for trek all alone.
Have been to the Himalayas and many of the Sahyadri forts. All these years have seen no of cases of mismanaged and unplanned treks. So just thot of putting a checklist many of you people can make use of. At this point in time I will only put a checklist for Treks in Sahyadri as generally most of you won't go for the Himalayas on your own(just like me, I went with a group to the Himalayas).
Most of engineering students, like I was before, go out for trekking in their leaves after exams so here is the list of items which you should and which you must carry… I'm putting this list for all who are going for overnight treks.
Just have a look at the bottom for some good tips.
MUST CARRY ITEMS:
· Torch (with fewer exhaust batteries if not new), Candles, matchbox in the zip bag or plastic bag.
· Bedding (in plastic bag if its Monsoon season)
· Extra trousers / Shirts (its advised to wear full trousers rather than shorts as you will be traveling in jungles and bushes, thus protection is best as far as your legs are concerned). Tshirt will be good as after reaching your destination, you will feel cold and you must change at that point else there is a risk of you getting sick.
· Extra pair of Socks (this will help you if in case you sleep in caves with rats around you.) It is also advised to wear socks at a night if your legs are not covered as in most of the caves, the rats are used to cut your feet. Why have socks? Its because the teeth of rats get stuck and they won't continue after trying
· 1 towel
· Couple of hankies, if you are on summer trek, the hankies will help you in staying away from the heat of sun as you can wrap around your cap or on your neck
· Knife if it’s a jungle trek
· Sewing kit (will help you in case of failure of your sacks)
· One water bottle (plastic), minimum 1 Ltr
· Medical kit including Crocin, Painkiller like combiflame, band aids and any personal medication as needed
WILL BE GOOD TO CARRY ITEMS:
· Wind cheater/Sweater/raincoat as needed in seasons
· News paper which will be useful to light up fire as it catches fire easily. Also, it can be made use for placing your food items which will be useful if you plan to sleep there.
· Pen / diary
· Sling (small length rope approx 10-15 feet), which will be handy incase you / anyone is unable to carry sack during climbing some rock patch etc.
· Toilet tissue (if not then an extra bottle half LTR ), Soap, Toothbrush, Tooth pest
· Mug, Plate its good to carry the plate with 4 compartments which eliminate necessity to carry the bowl for the vegetable. It's good to carry food for first-night dinner which could comprise of dry vegetables like mashed potatoes/ Bhindi and so on. Also, one can use plastic bags to carry chapatis (poli) and vegetables.
· Spoon will help in stirring if you plan to prepare as simple as a ready made soup of Knorr or Maggie
· Slippers for roaming around after reaching top
· Some sweet is good to carry as you can have desert which will give you good strength as it will have sugar, You can prepare a good desert if you wish to which is Custard. Its easy to prepare also.
Optional Items:
· Camera to capture the moments
· Extra cells
· Area Map
Some tips which will help you.
1 For filtering water you can use handkerchief
2 Glucose powder can be a very good energy provider as needed during dehydration
3 When you are almost reaching top, start collecting sticks and few big chopped tree stems. Small sticks will help you to lighten fire.
4 Directions, to find directions you have simple trick.
USING THE SUN AND SHADOWS
a)Place the stick or branch into the ground at a level spot where it will east a distinctive shadow. Mark the shadow’s tip with a stone, twig, or other means. This first shadow mark is always west —everywhere on earth.
b)Wait 10 to 15 minutes until the shadow tip moves a few centimeters. Mark the shadow tip’s new position in the same way as the first.
c) Draw a straight line through the two marks to obtain an approximate east-west line.
d) Stand with the first mark (west) to your left and the second mark to your right-you are now facing north. This fact is true everywhere on earth.
An alternate method is more accurate but requires more time.
Set up your shadow stick and mark the first shadow in the morning.
Use a piece of string to draw a clean arc through this mark and around the stick.
At midday, the shadow will shrink and disappear. In the afternoon, it will lengthen again and at the point where it touches the arc, make a second mark.
Draw a line through the two marks to get an accurate east-west line
5 If you are preparing the food on fire (chool), then it’s a good practice to apply some wet clay (chikkhal), wet clay helps protect the utensil from darkening thus you don’t have to worry about your mom shouting at you for blackening the utensil.
6 Its good sometimes to carry Solid fuel rather than carrying all stove and Gasoline. Solid fuel is just like camphor and is available in small utensil shops in Budhwar peth near Kaka Halwai or Dagadusheth Ganpati in Pune. For using this solid fuel you need to carry simple frame which will hold your utensil. This frame is also available for Appr 100 Rs. One time investment. The time required is little more as compared to gasoline stove but is good for Monsoon treks and if you are tired of carrying the heavy load. Solid fuel will be good if you are 3 to 5 people not more as calorific value of this fuel is less…
Some things which one need NOT do !
Don’t carry valuables like jewelry.
Don’t throw plastic, and don’t burn it too. Carry it and dispose of in dustbin.
Drinking / Smoking, you are playing with life if you indulge in this and may get hurt as well as hurt anyone else
Taking shortcuts
Don’t put hand in mouth before washing properly
Do not clean utensils / and clean yourself, litter near water storage
Some treks which you can start with if you haven’t been for treks around Pune in Sahydari!
Rajgad (all time favorite)
Rajgad to Torna
Kothaligad, Peth cha killa
Jivadhan, Naneghat
Chavand
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