Page 20 - Seniors Today - May21 Issue

800 meters, with the occasional overnighter body is not great and damage is minimized.
in a tent thrown in.
Now, the idea of hiking or trekking, is to
do increasingly difficult treks and not be
tired at the end of each day, so that one can
enjoy the après hike activities. So, what do
you do? First, you just start hiking on easy,
moderate, or intermediate hikes based on
your personal health and stamina. Going
on these hikes entices you to do more; your
physical condition improves daily. Then, you
institute a daily work out plan. I set up a daily
programme of a two-hour walk, a 45-minute
freehand or Yoga workout and a 70-minute
swimming programme. This allowed me to
graduate from the moderate to intermediate
and then to difficult treks. It is also important
to improve your balance, your reaction
timing, and knowing how to fall without
getting hurt. A few facets that I developed:
1. Walk at a steady pace – ideally it should be
the same pace when you end the hike as the
pace at which you started.
2. Be surefooted, taking care to see where
you put and move your feet on treacherous
ground.
3. Lean slightly forward while going up
and slightly back when going down. On a
mountain trail hug the mountain as much as
possible and always lean into the mountain,
rather than away from it.
4. Keep your eye on the trail, the quality of the
ground you are walking on and what is going
to face you as you move. Develop the ability
to move your head, duck, use your hands to
deflect, all without loosing your balance or
your footing.
5. When falling is inevitable, stop trying to
stop your fall, and go into a controlled fall, so
that you hit the ground as softly as possible,
protecting above all your head. Move your
hands, legs, muscles and body to create a
rolling fall, so that impact on any part of the
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6. Maintain 5-10-feet distance between
yourself and the closest companion unless the
path is such that you can walk side by side.
7. Learn how to brace yourself in order to
assist others
8. Have no bravado, know your limits and do
not attempt to assist another, putting yourself
in jeopardy. The professional accompanying
you, is fitter, more knowledgeable and capable
to deal with untoward incidents, than you are
9. Use good equipment – hiking shoes,
knapsack, walking poles, eyeglasses, sun
cream, and multiple layers of clothing that
you can put on and take off.
10. Keep yourself cool while walking and
warm when not.
11. Keep yourself well-hydrated, eat well – a
tad more protein and drink very moderately if
at all.
12. Trekking in the mountains is a serious
business. Extremely pleasurable but it is no
place to horse around. All mountain paths
are treacherous, the more so as you go higher,
and on the not - so - often trod routes. You
are safe, if you keep your wits about you,
follow the advice of the professional you are
with, take his assistance when needed while
not throwing your weight and desist from
attempting a narrow ledge or path where
adequate traction is not available.
13. In your guides, look for people who
know their job, are pleasant, have some
conversation. Use certified professionals as
far as possible. They are difficult to find in
India on solo trips unless you are doing it with
a well-organised trekking company.
What follows is a glimpse of the hiking
trips undertaken in August 2018–June 2019,
that shows how varied and interesting the
mountains can be
The first hiking trip was to the Carpathian
Mountains and Transylvania in Romania.