Hiking/Trekking – What is it all about?

by Hot Stimulating Treks N Tours (Courtesy) Rumba K

Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. It usually takes place on trails in rural or wilderness areas. [Photo (above): Sun rays striking the peaks of Mount Everest and Makalu as seen from Sandakphu]

The word ‘hiking’ is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are differences in usage. In some places, off-trail hiking is called ‘cross-country hiking’, ‘bushwalking’, or ‘bushbashing’. In the United Kingdom, hiking is a slightly old-fashioned word, with a flavor more of heartiness and exercise than of enjoying the outdoors. Australians use the term ‘bushwalking’ for both on- and off-trail hiking. New Zealanders use ‘tramping’ (particularly for overnight and longer trips), ‘walking’ or ‘bushwalking’. Hiking in the mountainous regions of India and Nepal is called ‘trekking’. Overnight hiking is called ‘backpacking’ in some parts of the world. Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end is referred to as ‘thru-hiking’ in some places. Since we are based in Darjeeling Hills and offer Hiking Packages in Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim henceforth, we will only used the word Trekking.

Trekking is one of the fundamental outdoor activities on which many others are based. Many beautiful places can only be reached overland by trekking, and enthusiasts regard treking as the best way to see nature. It is seen as better than a tour in a vehicle of any kind (or on an animal; see horseback riding) because the trekker’s senses are not intruded upon by distractions such as windows, engine noise, airborne dust and fellow passengers. Trekking over long distances or over difficult terrain does require some degree of physical ability and knowledge. [Inset: Trekkers making their way through the Mist]

Trekkers often seek beautiful natural environments in which to trek. Ironically, these environments are often fragile: trekkers may accidentally destroy the environment that they enjoy. The action of an individual may not strongly affect the environment. However, the mass effect of a large number of trekkers can degrade the environment. For example, gathering wood in an Himalayan Ecological Area to start a fire may be harmless once (except for wildfire risk). Years of gathering wood, however, can strip a Himalayan area of valuable nutrients.

Generally, protected areas such as parks (Singalila Park) have regulations in place to protect the environment. If trekkers follow such regulations, their impact can be minimized. Such regulations include forbidding wood fires, restricting camping to established camp sites, disposing or packing out faecal matter, imposing a quota on the number of trekkers per day.

Many trekkers espouse the philosophy of Leave No Trace: trekkking in a way such that future trekkers cannot detect the presence of previous trekkers. Practitioners of this philosophy obey its strictures, even in the absence of area regulations. Followers of this practice follow strict practices on dealing with food waste, food packaging, and alterations to the surrounding environment.

Human waste is often a major source of environmental impact from trekking. These wastes can contaminate the watershed and make other trekkers ill. Bacterial contamination can be avoided by digging ‘catholes’ 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) deep, depending on local soil composition and covering after use. If these catholes are dug at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails, the risk of contamination is minimized. Many trekkers warn other trekkers about the location of their catholes by marking them with sticks stuck into the ground.

Sometimes, trekkers enjoy viewing rare or endangered species. However, some species (such as martens or bighorn sheep) are very sensitive to the presence of humans, especially around mating season. Trekkers should learn the habits and habitats of the endangered species, in order to avoid adverse impact.

There is one situation where an individual trekker can make a large impact on an ecosystem: inadvertently starting a wildfire. For example, in 2005, a Czech backpacker burned 7% of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile by knocking over an illegal gas portable stove. Obeying area regulations and setting up cooking devices on bare ground will reduce the risk of wildfire.

Etiquette of Trekking

Because Trekking is a recreational experience, Trekkers expect it to be pleasant. Sometimes trekkers can interfere with each others’ enjoyment, or that of other users of the land, but they can minimize this interference by following good etiquette. For example:

• When two groups of trekkers meet on a steep trail, there may be contention for use of the trail. To avoid conflict, a custom has developed in some areas whereby the group moving uphill has the right-of-way. In other situations, the larger of the two groups will usually yield to the smaller.
• Being forced to trek much faster or slower than one’s natural pace can be annoying, and difficult to maintain consistently. More seriously, walking unnaturally fast dramatically increases fatigue and exhaustion, and may cause injury. If a group splits between fast and slow trekkers, the slow trekkers may be left behind or become lost. A common custom is to encourage the slowest trekker to trek in the lead and have everyone match that speed. Another custom is to have an experienced trekker sweep up the rear, to ensure that everyone in the group is safe and nobody straggles.
• Trekkers often enjoy the silence and solitude of their surroundings. Loud sounds, such as shouting or loud conversation, disrupt this enjoyment. Some trekkers purposely avoid loud sounds, out of deference to other trekkers. Staying quiet will also increase the likelihood of encountering wildlife. (This is a hazard if dangerous animals are present; see “Personal safety hazards”.)
• Trekkers sometimes trespass onto private property from public land or rights of way (easements). Such trespass can alienate the property owners and (in countries where rights of way are not protected by law) close down trekking rights-of-way. To maximize trekking opportunities for everyone, most trekkers will either stay on public land and easements, or solicit permission from property owners. Staying on well-marked trails avoids the possibility of trespass.
• Tree branches or other vegetation often hang low across trails. A passing trekker may cause a tree branch to snap back in the face of a trekker behind. While it is courteous to warn following trekkers if a branch is likely to snap back, it is every trekker’s responsibility to allow enough space between himself and the trekker ahead to avoid the hazard.
• When two groups of trekkers meet, it is considered a common courtesy to exchange greetings (either verbal or physical (e.g. smiles and friendly nods)). To pass another group without such acknowledgement is seen as rude.

Personal Safety Hazards

Trekking may produce threats to personal safety. These threats can be dangerous circumstances while trekking and/or specific accidents or ailments. Dangerous treing circumstances include losing the way, inclement weather, hazardous terrain, or exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions. Specific accidents include metabolic imbalances (such as dehydration or hypothermia), topical injuries (such as frostbite or sunburn), attacks by animals, or internal injuries (such as ankle sprain).

Trekkers often propose a set of behavioral prescriptions to minimize these threats. A well-known example of such a set of prescription is the Ten Essentials.