Gear up for a day trek


GEAR UP FOR A DAY TREK

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Visit us at www.trichytrekkers.com  


Essential Backpack Checklist:

  • Cap

  • Sunglasses

  • Sunscreen

  • Water bottles 3-4 liters of which 1 liter could be a Tang mix or Lemon juice with sugar + salt

  • Snacks - one snack will be provided by us. But you can also have chocolate bar / mixed dry fruit&nuts

  • Packed Lunch will be provided by us

  • Light Rain Jacket or Plastic Poncho

  • Dress T.shirt/Track suit bottom or shorts (Avoid Jeans / Salwars)

  • Trekking shoes (No slippers or sandals)

  • LED Headlight or Torchlight

  • Hiking pole or stick



A first Timer's guide to basic requirements for a light ONE DAY TREK

This guide is specially for those of you who have never been on a trek and you need some basic information as what you will need to have on a Light day Trek.This write-up is a general purpose guide so that you are aware of the basic requirements for a Trek


Fitness

There is no sure-shot method for us to know if you are fit enough for the trek or not. If you have an active lifestyle and have good mental strength, a light day trek should not be difficult. Most of our trek dates are fixed atleast one month in advance, so if you do intend to come, you should at the least start going for a 5km walk daily in 45minutes, walk up and down steps wherever possible, do light exercises, cut back on your food and other sedentary habits. This will improve your fitness and help you do the trek more easily. Housewifes, children and even Senior Citizens regularly come for treks, so age is not really a factor.  


Good shoes

For Light treks normal sport shoes used for walking, running are ok. The tread on the soles should NOT be the non-marking type (used for tennis,shuttle,Gym use,casual wear type etc), they have no grip over rough terrain and you can easily slip and fall. Common mistakes that people do is using new shoes (not worn before) results in nasty Shoe-bites. By using old shoes or rarely used shoes the soles come off quickly. The adhesive in the shoe (between the sole and upper) deteriorates if you haven't used the shoe for quite sometime. Though the shoe looks good when you check it, the adhesive gives up easily on the trek and the soles come off, then you might have to go barefoot. So even if your shoe ooks new or if you have not worn it for quite some time, it quite risky. Its best that your shoes are worn daily for walk for at least 2 weeks so that you can spot a problem in advance. If you intend to trek regularly you can buy a proper Trekking shoe. Good trekking shoes like Quecha are available with www.decathlon.in.


Good back-pack

A good, back pack to carry your water, food and snacks. For one day treks best size is medium or small+, and buy the LIGHTEST bag in that size.  Laptop bags and college students bags are not suited but you can compromise with it. . Any backpack which has side mesh to hold water bottles and 2 adjustable shoulder straps is a good buy.        



Sun cap ,Sun screen, Sunglasses

We will need to trek in the open sun during the hot hours of the day. At that time a sun cap and some sun cream are indispensable. The cap should not be dark color (absorbs heat), and a round-brim type (like a Cricket cap) is best. Alternately a sports cap could substitute but with a lesser protection from the sun. A dark sunglasses with UV Protection is essential. Since you are out in the sun the whole day, a good sunscreen lotion is recommended.


Clothes

Wear a light sports t-shirt or loose shirt in earthy shades (light brown,leaf green etc) which blends in with the forest. Prefer light, quick dry and airy t-shirt/shirt (polyester). For pants -loose cargo pants, Track suit bottom, Bermudas or half pants.Avoid Jeans and thick pants. Salwars not the best suited for treks.   Caution to jeans fans - in treks you can get wet (from streams ,sweat or from rains) and there is nothing heavier and uncomfortable than a soggy jeans pant, and you also run the risk of abrading your skin of your inner thighs.  In the rainy season, you should carry a raincoat too.


Snacks

Look at the Power-to-weight ratio any snack food that is light & compact to carry but packs in more energy. Take healthy stuff. Energy bars, dates, nuts, dry fruits, or even fresh fruits is what most experienced trekkers prefer. It's suggested that you bring atleast one liter of  ready-mix items like Tang, Fruit Juice, or any drink that has a balance of Salts & Sugar to replace the body salts lost due to sweating. Avoid fried, oily or spicy snack foods. Breakfast and a basic lunch packet  and snacks will be given to you at the start, which you will have to carry too.  Dehydration from sweating is the biggest problem and it could give you leg muscle cramps. The best solution for this is Oral rehydration sachet or some table salt.


Water

The most essential item and the most heavy item which you will carry.  Two liters water is the minimum. But considering the fitness level and the heat, 2 to 3 liters (including the ready-mix juice) per person is suggested. On extremely hot days having a total of 4 liters is safe. Load your bags prior to the trek and check the weight, and decide how much you can carry.  Never carry less water, and NEVER ask others for water.


Some tips on the trek

  • Do not throw away any plastic bags/wrappers and litter. Whatever litter you have should be retained by you, and brought back for disposal.

  • Dont carry too much snacks. Carry only for you and not for distribution to everyone

  • No smoking or drinking before/during/ or till we reach back trichy.

  • Avoid non-veg foods

  • Its not a running race, so everybody goes in a group and paced to accommodate the slower guys.

  • No exploration or trying out new routes. Follow the Group leader or guide

  • Avoid talking and making noises. Let everybody enjoy nature in peace, and listen to the sounds of nature.

  • Avoid using cell phones, we can live without it for 1 day.

  • Trekking just like any Sport is not without its hazards. Every person comes at his own will and risk. Follow safety instructions of the Group leader. Carelessness, stupidity and bravado can endanger you and others.