Tips on Trekking in the Shivalik Hills
If you've ever wanted to trek the Himalayas, a good
place to start is in the Shivalik Hills, which is a mountain range of the outer
Himalayas. The treks in this area range
from easy to moderate+ and are a good way to assess if mountain trekking is
right for you. As with any new venture,
it helps to be prepared. With that in
mind, we have a few tips!
Know before
you go – read up on the climate and terrain, and look at a
good map. You’ll want to trek when the
weather is cooperative and you’ll need to know what challenges the terrain
might have in store.
Go with the
best – hire a reliable guide. An experienced guide will make the trek safer
and more enjoyable.
Shape up –
the Shivalik Hills may not be as challenging as Mount Everest, but they still
demand a certain level of physical fitness.
A good way to get in shape is to walk up and down stairs a few times
each day. This will improve your cardiovascular
system, as well as strengthen your legs and back.
Carry what
you need – if you’re going on a short trek, you don’t want to
weigh yourself down with a heavy backpack.
You’ll need plenty of water, of course, a packed lunch, and some granola
bars or dried fruits and nuts. If you’re
going on a longer trek, consider hiring someone to carry your tent, sleeping
bag and cooking utensils.
Be prepared
– have a well stocked First Aid kit. You should carry bandages and/or gauze pads
and adhesive tape; disinfectant cream; insect repellent; pain reliever;
anti-inflammatory; antibiotics and a thermometer. Make sure you've got sun block and a hat, and
wear sunglasses.
Break in
your footwear – whether you prefer hiking boots or sandals, wear
them a few times before you start trekking.
It’s hard to appreciate the beauties of nature when you’re plagued with
blisters. Some experts suggest wearing
two pairs of socks to prevent blisters from forming – a thin liner on the
inside and a thicker sock worn over it.
The thinner socks will absorb sweat and can be rinsed out every night
because they’ll dry more quickly than the thicker ones will.
There you
have it! With a little preparation, you
can happily trek the Shivalik Hills and enjoy the wonders of nature. And who knows – it may inspire you to scale greater
heights!
At Himalayan Hideaway, we’re happy to help organise the perfect trek for
you. For more details, contact our Delhi
office (Phone: +91-11-26852602, 26968169, and
e-mail: info@hhindia.com; info@himalayanriverrunners.com).
Tags: Himalayan Hideaway,
Himalayas, trekking, Shivalik Hills