After all, it’s only a stroll through the woods. There are many different types of walks: short, delightful strolls; strenuous treks; nature walks to see flora and fauna; hikes to reach a peak or fort; photo opportunities, fishing trips, and camping excursions. Everyone can find a walk that is right for them. Your motivation for travelling defines your destination and how you prepare to get there.
Here are some fundamentals that will make your outdoor experience more joyful and gratifying. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it’s a good place to start.
Duration
Begin by determining how much time you want to spend outside. Perhaps you should begin by going out for a day and strolling through fields and forests, up to a hill fort or ancient rock-cut caverns. If you’re a physically active person, you could be willing to spend a week or perhaps two on a simple hike or even something more hard and isolated. The length of your adventure will determine what kind of gear and how much of it you’ll need.
Fitness
The environment transforms from rhododendron to pine forest as you cross the Prek Chu river on your route to the Thansing campground. Neelima Vallangi (photo)
Consider your current level of fitness and familiarity with the outdoors when planning a walking vacation. While anyone with the correct mindset and perseverance may workout and get in shape, you must first examine your own abilities. You can then select how much of a challenge/difficulty you’re willing to take on based on this information. Keep in mind that if you decide to embark on a long walk, there will be little or no transportation available to get you back to civilization along the route. So be honest with yourself and each member of your group, and make good decisions.
Hike or Trek
A hike, in my opinion, is a walk in the outdoors over the course of a day or two on a well-defined path or track. Trekking entails a strenuous walk through terrain that is sometimes devoid of well defined paths, necessitating the use of a map and compass to navigate. Roads, transportation, and medical facilities are frequently inaccessible.
Easy, moderate, and difficult are the most common classifications for treks or hikes, however even these are relative terms. What is simple for one person may be difficult for another, depending on their degree of fitness and willingness to challenge oneself physically. While distance matters, the type of terrain, altitude, and inclines that make a walk tough are more important. Another key influence is the weather. In the summer, a simple hike might become difficult in the winter. And not all hikes are available at all times of the year.
Trekking is simple.
These hikes or treks usually take place on well-worn paths and are not particularly strenuous. They’re usually near to civilization and provide safe havens in the event of an emergency. Basic food and aid from community members are usually readily available.
Examples Trails of this category abound in the Sahyadris, Nilgiris, and Western Ghats. In the Himalayan foothills, you’ll also find plenty of easy grade paths.
Fitness An easy trip is suitable for anyone who routinely walks long distances and is in good physical condition.
Moderate
These hikes will force you to push yourself a little further than you are used to. The trails are thinner and more difficult. Moderate hikes typically entail a large amount of uphill walking, as well as some scrambling but no technical climbing. The daily distance travelled is larger, ranging from 5 to 20 kilometres, putting you further away from society with no simple escape routes. With sufficient preparation and training, as well as the right mentality, even a novice can try a moderate trek. You may need to be self-sufficient in terms of food, water, and other emergency supplies on many modest hikes.
