TREKKING - WHERE YOU CAN GO WRONG?

For many, a trek in the forest implies picnic or some other activity of that sort. And, in the end return homewards utterly disappointed by the animals, for not showing up. But here's something every aspiring trekker should know.

The first mistake

The first mistake most tourists make is in calculation of the weather. Even a child knows that it is a dumb idea to visit Kerala during the monsoons, but it has its benefits - there are fewer tourists this season, reduced costs, and your chances of animal sighting increases along its long, mighty rain shadow regions. And moreover, since most of India's sanctuaries are located on mountainous regions, the effect of the weather doesn't add up much. Well, that's what experienced naturalists say!

Drop questions about your lodging and never go alone!

Almost all the lodging quarters in the sanctuaries are owned by the government and are usually well maintained. A casual acquaintance with the foresters lounging nearby can help you in finding a good accommodation. He may even inform you about the places where the animals frequent and the lodges where there are watering holes nearby.

It is important to find yourself a good guide. Usually, the forester doubles up as a guide when off duty, but there are also native men who have a deal with the foresters for this purpose. Keep your distance with them, they can be over friendly at times when they see that you are a prosperous bet. Do you know that sherpas, along the Himalayan terai, expect you to invite them to your hometown? Or find them better jobs? Reports blamed the over generous American tourists for bringing this corrupt trend.

Frequent trekkers have commented that the best guides are men who talk less and have good physique. The seedy ones are those who walk to a distance and wait for you to turn up. Always bear in mind to take a guide because the long treks can induce loneliness and a little conversation would certainly help avoid the boredom.

The Rest Step

It is the mountaineers' technique to avoid tiredness. While you are climbing a gentle hill or if your ascent is getting steeper, follow this method: Raise your right leg, swing, and place it on the ground. Repeat the process with the other one. Though many call it the old man's step, because of the slow procedure, it is a sure way to combat tiredness while climbing. By following this method, men, many years senior than others in the group, can be comfortable while climbing even formidable mountains.

Practise! Practise!

It requires a little bit of stamina to exert yourself. It is always best to prepare yourself , physically and mentally, to acclimatise yourself. A simple way is to carry a rucksack and start biking in the mornings. This helps, because during a trek, most of the strain develops along the calf muscles.

The Leeches!

The scourge of India's forests lies in terrains above 3500 metres. It is not until you feel nausea and giddiness that you begin to realise that you have been feeding the leeches. And what's more, a leech bite refuses to clot over, long after the leech has burped and gone. The only brighter side is that they do not feed often and can survive for months after a single meal. In fact, some leeches are known to feed only once a year; but then again the larger ones can make one meal out of a large turtle. You cannot tell whether you are bitten by this blood sucker, because the saliva in it acts as an anaesthetic. However, tiredness is the first symptom when you begin to lose blood.

Brushing them away:

Most leeches are nocturnal and avoid bright light. This has prompted many to carry matches to stifle the leech away from the skin. Some may even use the burning end of a cigarette butt to deter them. If you are on a trek, ask your guide for the local remedy. People living in the foothills of Himalayas use a salt and lime mixture to smear over the exposed parts of the body. This, however, varies in different regions. Remember, even after you whooped the leech and squashed its parts, your blood continues to ooze out - stick a lighted match on the affected part- this will induce a blood clot.

Learn the jungle lore

Do you know that in the Himalayas, a Khalege peasant signals the arrival of a tiger? The langur betrays the presence of a leopard? Or, when and why the Kakkar barks? These sounds are a language in itself, the jungle lore...and are well observed by many experienced naturalists. Decipher the bird notes; the silence of the trees; the flurried activity, and you'll then know the jungle lore. Though it may sound a little superstitious, it is certainly helpful!

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