The weather in the mountains can change dramatically. It doesn’t take long for a nice sunny day to turn into a nightmarish thunderstorm. Lightning as a phenomenon is not a household topic, but it claims more lives a year than floods, landslides, and cyclones. Data from the Indian Meteorological Department shows over 49,000 fatalities in the past two decades. The stakes are higher, especially when you are out in the wild, where emergency evacuations might not always be possible. “Planning ahead and preventing being caught in a storm is the best way to be safe from it,” says Arjun Majumdar, founder of IndiaHikes. This guide will help you to do just that.

What is lightning? 

The definition of lightning has stayed the same since we studied it at school. It is a bright flash of electricity produced by thunderclouds. “You can recognise approaching thunderstorms by the dark colour of the clouds, but it is not impossible for a seemingly safe white cloud to discharge lightning too,” says Nithyam Nachappa, a senior Trek Leader at IndiaHikes. You can recognise these clouds from their large, multilayered, and thick size. It is an unpredictable phenomenon that we can do little about in the wild. 

What are the dangers of lightning and aftercare?

I do not wish to scare you in this section. Many a time, we are not serious about this phenomenon because we have not experienced it. Getting directly hit by lightning is not very common. Most lightning-related injuries come as a result of receiving the ground currents as it dissipates from the object that has been hit.

Rare direct strikes are often fatal, and there is not much you can do about it. However, in cases of being struck by ground current, temporary paralysis, rupture of eardrums, confusion, disorientation, amnesia, temporary deafness, or blindness are the possible symptoms. 

Lightning injuries can harm you physically as well as mentally. “The psychological trauma one has in the aftermath of a lightning strike can be far more serious than physical harm,” says Sharwari Brahme, Head of Green Trails at IndiaHikes. Sharwari was struck twice by lightning on her recent trek to Kuari Pass and is currently recovering from it.  She says it is similar to someone fearing deep water after one has experienced drowning. One can take the help of therapy from a sports psychologist to overcome the lingering fear.

How do you prevent getting hit by lightning?

Prevention is better than cure is an overused phrase, but this is one mantra that you have to remember while trekking in adverse conditions. Our trek leaders say getting hit by lightning is not common but it is only so because the team has prepared for any unforeseen scenarios. Here are some ways that you can do this if you are trekking solo or with a group of friends: 

Rules for lightning safety before going out on a trek: 

Plan ahead by checking the local weather forecasts and patterns. The IMD website regularly gives updates about upcoming thunderstorms and areas more prone to lightning strikes. 

If trekking solo or with a group of friends, have an emergency backup plan you can follow. Make sure everyone in the group knows what to do in emergencies. Having a radio on yourself is ideal to get sudden warnings from the base camp. 

What are the safety rules for lightning?

As mentioned above, the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. More so because of climate change. If you are caught in a sudden thunderstorm or see dark clouds approaching, get ready!

The sound of thunder is a clear sign to seek shelter. It can be heard from 15 km away on calm days. Seek shelter immediately. 

Gauge which direction the clouds are coming from. Pay attention to the wind direction and cloud’s buildup. 

Know which structures are more prone to being hit by lightning and quickly get away from them on the first signs of thunder:

A big exposed rock: People often consider big rocks safe because they think the rock will take the brunt of the lightning strike. However, side splash and ground current are equally dangerous. Hence a big rock is a no-go. 

Water bodies: Water is a great conductor of electricity regardless of its volume. Deep waters are dangerous, but you need to move away from small puddles on the trail too, especially if it is raining.

Fences: Metal fences and long metal structures attract lightning.  

Huge trees: This is common knowledge for the shepherds. They never take shelter under the tallest tree. Because of its height, a tall tree is the first to get hit.

Mountain tops, vast meadows, ridges, ledges and summits are dangerous places to be in. Any place that makes your body the highest structure is always dangerous. 

It is more likely that lightning may occur if the weather is very humid or it is raining or snowing. 

In case of thunderstorms, do not huddle with fellow trekkers or your group. The minimum distance you should maintain is 15-20 feet away from each other.

You can roughly calculate how far a lightning storm is from you by counting the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder and then dividing it by 5. Knowing this gives you the time to prepare and run to cover. A 5-second delay means the lightning is 1.6 km away from you. 15 seconds delay means 4.8 km. Any delay of less than 30 seconds means the lightning is close enough to be dangerous. Quickly use this time to find shelter or prepare accordingly.

What to do when lightning strikes near you?

What should you do when lightning strikes near you?

First of all, you must try your best to not put yourself in a situation where you have to practise the drills given below. But in the unprecedented event that you have no choice left, please remember these points:

Run! Run to the nearest forest canopy that you can see. Uniform trees on low grounds are one of the safest places to be in the absence of solid structures. 

Do not take shelter under a tall or a standalone tree. There is a high chance of ground current dissipating from the tree if it gets hit. 

Remember to switch off your electronic devices and put them in your bag. You must be ready to throw them on the ground if lightning strikes near you. 

Try to take shelter in a deep cave. It is not a good idea to be in a small cave or an overhang. 

Remember that the human body is a good conductor of electricity too. 

If your backpack has metal frames, external or internal, put them on the ground. The same goes for trekking poles and anything metallic. This matters if you are at an exposed section like a summit, ridge or meadow. 

If in a group, maintain a 20-foot distance from each other at the least and sit in a circle in a lightning position. After every round of lightning strikes, remember to call each member and check if anyone is hit by it.

Remember to maintain the lightning position for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder. Lightning can strike you even after the storm has seemed to pass.  

Lightning position:

If you cannot get into safer terrain or a structure in time, you have to get into lightning position. The goal is to create the shortest connection that you can with the ground. Put your bag on the ground and squat on top of it. Raise your heels and make yourself as small as possible. Make sure that you place your heels in contact with each other. This is the best course of action that you can take. 

5 lightning Myths Busted 

Myth 1: It is unsafe to touch a lightning victim
Fact: The human body cannot store electricity. It is safe to touch a victim and provide them first-aid. 

Myth 2: Lightning never strikes the same place twice
Fact: Lightning is often observed to strike the same place twice. Especially the structures mentioned in this article, which are more prone to strikes. 

Myth 3: Lying flat on the ground protects you from being struck 
Fact: Lightning position is the only way to go. Lying flat attracts ground current. 

Myth 4: You are safe from lightning if it is not raining and clouds aren’t directly above
Fact: Rain makes lightning strikes more common, but remember that the moisture in the air can act as a medium too. Also, there are cases of dry lightning claiming lives from miles away. 

Myth 5: Lightning cannot hit you if you are in a lightning position

Fact: Lightning position does not guarantee complete safety from lightning. It is the last resort that you have. Before that, try seeking shelter in a structure or in a forest canopy. 

Conclusion

In emergencies like this, your decision-making skills will be tested to their limits. A good amount of planning and precaution, along with your knowledge, experience, and training, are what you will rely on. But do not let your fear of lightning strike stop you from going out. Just make sure you have this knowledge before embarking on an adventure in the outdoors. 

Tips to be safe from lightning, How can we protect ourselves from lightning, safety tips on lightning, dangers of lightning, dangerous objects during lightning storms, 5 (five) myths busted on lightning

Lightning safety practices: How to be safe from lightning strikes? - Everything you need to know about lightning strikes

Lightning safety tips, Lightning strike prevention, How to be safe from lightning? How to predict lightning? 

Lightning safety practices: How to be safe from lightning strikes? 

Winters in the Himalayas are brutal. Yet, it's a magical time to be on a trek.

In this season, the key to enjoying a trek is to prepare well for it. This is important because tiny slip-ups like not layering up on time, not carrying a thermos, can make you suffer. 

"I've suffered on a winter trek for little things. Like forgetting my liner gloves, or my lip balm, or -- and this is a big one -- my sunglasses!" shares Lakshmi Selvakumaran, Head of Experience at Indiahikes. 

Unfortunately, little things slip our minds easily. With our winter treks around the corner, I’m making a comprehensive guide for you on how to prepare for a Himalayan winter trek. These are the topics I’m going to cover: 

How difficult is trekking in winter going to be

How Difficult Is Trekking In Winter Going To Be

Let’s address the biggest worry first. 

How difficult is it to trek in winter in the Himalayas? “Is it too difficult for beginners?” is something we get asked almost everyday.  

The simple answer is no, it is not too difficult for beginners. But it is more difficult than non-winter seasons. 

Trekking becomes at least one grade more difficult in winter because of two added difficulties — (1) The negative temperatures (2) The presence of snow. 

The good news is that it is easy to tackle these two problems, even for beginners.

You'll find some of the great winter treks listed in this video.

The mantra is to carry enough layers. With layers, whether you’re from a sweltering Chennai or a humid Mumbai, you’ll be able to tackle a Himalayan winter. 

Here’s the trick. Carry five warm layers — a pair of thermals for the night, two sweaters, one fleece jacket and one padded jacket. Along with these you need warm accessories — a woollen cap, gloves, woollen socks (for the night) and a neck warmer.

With these, you can deal with the coldest night with no worries. (I’m going to address all of these layers in detail further down)

The infographic depicts how to layer up for a Himalayan winter trek.

At this point, it is also important to know 'when' is the right time to layer up. 

"Many trekkers make this rookie mistake of not layering up immediately after completing their day's trek," points Suhas Saya, Head of DIY Treks at Indiahikes. After the trek your body is warmed up. You are not feeling cold. But that's precisely when you need to start putting on your layers. 

"On a trek your body is exerting, it's generating heat so you don't need the layers. But after the trek, your body starts cooling down. It starts losing heat. To prevent this, you need to layer up, get into something dry quickly after you finish your day's trek. This helps in retaining your core body heat," shares Suhas. 

In most other seasons, when you trek, you walk on bare land, footstep after footstep with no worries. 

In winter though, once you reach a certain altitude (usually above 9,000 ft), there’s no more bare land. All your footsteps are in snow. 

This becomes challenging when the snow is above ankle-deep. Your foot sinks in and it takes effort to pick it up and put your next step forward. There are a few ways to tackle this presence of snow.

The layer of snow is thin during December. But as winter progresses -- in January, February and initial March -- the layer of snow thickens. During these months, it helps to keep the following things in mind. 

1. Start your trek before the sun rises. This is an age-old trick that all mountaineers and trekkers follow. Any walking in snow should be done as early in the day as possible, much before the sun rises. This is because during the night, in the negative temperatures, snow becomes hard and packed. It’s easy to walk on hard, packed snow. Your feet don’t sink.

Note: You do need equipment like microspikes attached to your shoes that help you grip the hard snow. On your Indiahikes trek, this equipment will be issued at the camp.

But as the sun comes out, the snow begins to soften and melt. This is when your foot sinks into the snow.

So ideally, start your summit climb (where the snow is highest) by 5 am. Aim at wrapping up your day before noon.

2. Walk on a trail left behind by previous trekkers: One of the biggest dangers of walking on snow is not knowing how deep the snow is. It’s what makes more trekkers unstable and afraid of walking in snow.

But here’s a tip. Almost always, when you’re trekking in winter, there will be a discernible path ahead of you. This is where trekkers have previously walked on the trail and made a path. It’s easiest to walk on this trail.

Even when you’re trekking in a file, it’s best to step into the footsteps of the previous trekker. Every footstep creates a small niche in the snow, which you can step into knowing the depth and gradient of the slope. This ensures you never lose balance or stability while walking in snow.

Always put your foot in the previous trekker’s footstep. This way, you walk on an already laid-out path, without losing balance or stability. Picture by Vishwas Krishnamurthy

3. Use microspikes and gaiters. If you’re trekking with Indiahikes, we will be providing you with microspikes and gaiters to attach to your shoes. You will get these just before you step into snow. Microspikes give you Spiderman-like grip on snow. Gaiters cover up the opening of your shoes, not allowing snow to enter your shoes. This keeps your feet dry and comfortable.

4. Work extra hard on your fitness. It’s no secret that trekking in snow is going to be more tiring than trekking without snow. Which is why you cannot underestimate your fitness preparation. We’ll address this further down.

On any of Himalayan winter treks, be it Kedarkantha, Brahmatal, Deoriatal – Chandrashila, Dayara Bugyal, the temperatures drop to negative numbers.

They can drop as low as -10 °C after sundown. Just after a rain / snowfall, it’s coldest (although, interestingly, it isn’t as cold during a snowfall). 

But on average, on a winter trek expect daytime temperatures to be roughly between 8 °C and 15 °C. This means during the day, you can usually trek wearing just one, or a maximum of two layers. 

The nighttime temperatures are likely to be between 3°C to -5°C. Any time after sundown, you need all your layers on. That is at least five warm layers.

What gear you need to keep yourself warm

Here is a list of all the gear you need on a winter trek. As a thumb rule, wear a minimum of 5 layers on winter treks. What we’ve mentioned below are the layers we recommend. You could mix and match; you could also carry another extra layer if you’re more prone to feeling cold.

Apart from these prominent gears, it's wise to carry two kinds of gloves -- One water-proof glove and one thick fleece-liner glove. "Trekkers usually make the big mistake of carrying just either of these. But both serve different purposes and save you from cold at different times of the trek," says Akshay Upreti who leads the Rental Division at Indiahikes. 

"You'll need the water-proof glove during the trek, when you are on the trail, where you may encounter snow but also need your hand to be protected against the biting cold. On the other hand, you'll need the fleece-liner glove in the later half of the day, when you are at the campsite. At the campsite, when the sun is setting, the synthetic water-proof glove won't be able to protect you from the cold. That's when fleece liner gloves come to your rescue," Akshay shares. 

Similarly don't forget your warm, thick woollen socks. "They are not an absolute necessity, but they make you feel really comfortable at night on a cold winter trek," Lakshmi offers. 

In the video above, you'll find strong directions on how to go about shopping for winter layers.

How to get fit for a winter trek

One thing to keep in mind is that trekking in winter is one grade tougher than trekking in non-winter. 

For example, a Kedarkantha trek, which is “easy-moderate” in all other seasons, becomes “moderate” in winter. 

You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. You must start your preparation at least 1.5 – 2 months before your trek. Target running a distance of 5 km within 40 minutes. 

Having spoken to many trekkers about this, I notice they are worried about achieving this level of fitness. The worry is usually among beginners, or elderly trekkers or even those trekking with children. 

So I’m going to give you a very simple fitness routine that works. 

Start by running just 1 or 2 km everyday. Concentrate purely on the distance, trying to increase it bit by bit every day. Do this until you hit the 5 km mark. 

Once you are able to run 5 km, start paying attention to the timing. Try to reduce it just by a few seconds every day until you can bring it down to 40 minutes. 

This kind of preparation takes time, which is why you must plan your trek at least 2 months in advance. 

A question you must not ask: What will Indiahikes do if I cannot meet this target? 

Frankly speaking, it doesn’t matter what Indiahikes says about your fitness. It matters how YOU fare on the trek. This is the level of fitness the trek demands. If you’re not able to meet this mark, you’ll struggle through your trek. That will suck out all the fun of a winter trek in snow. 

There are a few other reasons why winter treks demand more fitness compared to other seasons. The section below will show you. 

Some hard realities of trekking in winter 

There are two hard realities of trekking in winter that take trekkers by surprise. But these are realities you need to be prepared for and take in your stride.

Be ready for changes in routes / campsites:

Many a time, we have to change routes and campsites on winter treks. There are quite a few reasons for this — sudden snowfall may make a campsite inaccessible, forcing us to move to another campsite; water sources may freeze up at certain campsites; some sections of trails may get buried under chest-deep snow; Under such circumstances, it is normal to change routes and campsites, moving to a more compatible route.

Possibility of bad weather is part of the sport:

Although bad weather occurs just once or twice a month, it is highly unpredictable. In case of heavy snowfall or rainfall, your Trek Leader may take the decision to stay put at a certain camp as a safety protocol. In such cases, you may skip a certain camp, or cover the extra distance the next day. These are tweaks in your itinerary that you must be prepared for.

Biggest misconceptions about trekking in winter

Given that we have been running winter treks for over ten years, we have heard so many myths that we can fill a book! 

Some of these myths will take you by surprise. Some others, you may empathise with, and some could be dangerous if they are truly believed. If you believe in any of these myths, it’s time to bust them. 

9 Bonus tips about trekking gear in winter

You’ll need a good pair of trekking shoes with ankle support and good grip. Our recommendation is to rent a good pair of trekking shoes from the Indiahikes Rental store. If you wish to buy a trekking shoe, then a regular trekking shoe like the MH100 will do. Note: Sports shoes will not work on a winter trek. They neither offer the ankle support nor the grip.

2. What about sunglasses if you wear Spectacles?

You can get oversized sunglasses that you wear over your regular glasses (available at Decathlon). If that is cumbersome, photochromic lenses work equally well. Here’s a quick guide on managing sunglasses with spectacles.

Read more about using sunglasses with spectacles

If you use contact lenses, you can use them on the trek too. The lens solution will not freeze. You will also not face any problems in changing your lens in your tent. Just carry enough cleaning solution with you to clean your fingers well. Wear your sunglasses over your contact lens.

Read more about contact lenses vs spectacles

As Indians, we love cotton. Down in the plains when the heat is a blistering 40°C it makes sense to wear cotton. But it takes a long time to dry when it gets wet. In the mountains, where it is cold, wear synthetic clothes. They wick sweat rapidly when you’re trekking and keep you dry. (But they do tend to smell sometimes, so carry a roll-on deodorant with you.)

5. Down Jacket or Polyfill Padded Jacket?

We would recommend going for a polyfill padded jacket. It’s more durable, it’s less trouble maintaining it, and it usually comes with a water-resistant layer with a hood. Down jackets rarely come with hoods, and are high-maintenance jackets. Watch this video for more input on these two layers.

Go for pants with zippered pockets. They come in handy to keep your phone, handkerchief or pocket snacks, making sure none of these slip out of your pockets while climbing.

Get the ultimate guide on how to choose the right trekking pants

Stretchable track pants make a good backup and can double up as your thermal bottoms. But track pants are not trek pants — so don’t use them as your main outerwear. Keep them only as a backup.

Here, again, avoid cotton pants in winter. You’re going to be trekking in snow and perhaps sliding in snow. If your pants get wet, they need to dry quickly. So synthetic materials work best.

9. Additional Useful Accessories in Winter

A thermos flask (To keep your water warm) 

Steel and not plastic cutlery (steel is easier to wash)

Petroleum jelly to tackle dry skin and lips

That brings us to the end of this post on how to prepare for a winter trek. At the end of it all, it boils down to two basic things — your fitness and your gear. 

Follow the tips we have shared. Work on your fitness for a minimum of 45 days before your trek. On another note, carry a minimum of 5 warm layers. 

If you can take care of these two areas, you will have a good winter trek without fail.  

If you have any questions, drop in a comment below. 

Preparation plays a crucial role on a winter trek. Even a small slip-up and lead to an extremely uncomfortable experience in the extreme temperatures. This blogs lists all details that are required to help you prepare well for a winter trek

How to Prepare For a Himalayan Winter Trek - All You Need To Know

How to Prepare for a Himalayan Winter Trek - All You Need to Know

For all of you looking to pursue a career in mountaineering or trekking, a mountaineering course is strongly recommended. But there is not much information out there about how to prepare and register for, and eventually complete a mountaineering course.

In this article, I hope to address exactly these aspects.

I completed a Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) early in 2018. I got my certification from NIMAS, one of the more recent mountaineering institutions.

But I did a whole lot of research before my mountaineering course. I’m sharing everything I learnt from my research here.

The artificial climbing wall (75ft) at Camp 0 (NIMAS campus). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

To begin with, there are various courses in mountaineering.

Most institutes require the completion of the Basic Mountaineering Course (with a certain grade) to register for the Advanced Mountaineering Course. After completing the Advanced Mountaineering Course (with a certain grade), one can apply for the Method of Instruction or/and the Search and Rescue course.

Theory classes at Camp 0 (NIMAS campus) are an important part of the course.

There are five nationalized mountaineering institutes in India which are considered to be the best. In the order of establishment date, they are:

1. Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling (founded in 1954)

2. Atal Bihari Vajpai Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali (founded in 1961)

3. Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi (Founded in 1965)

4. Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Pahalgam, J&K (Founded in 1983)

5. National Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Arunachal Pradesh

Most people look for the best institute while registering for the basic mountaineering course. I chose the one which had the least waiting time with an option to register online – NIMAS, Arunachal Pradesh. The waiting time is the most significant difference among the institutes.

The course fee also varies between the institutes but still subsidized greatly, since they are supported by the Ministry of Defense. This fee includes the training fees, food and stay for the duration of the course.

Here are the approximate the waiting times and course fees (as of September 2022):

<table class=" table table-hover" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><th><b>Institute</b></th><th><b>Approx. Wait Time</b></th><th><b>Course Fee for Indians (excluding extra taxes/charges)</b></th><th><b>Course Fee for Foreigners (excluding extra taxes/charges)</b></th></tr><tr><td>NIM, Uttarkashi</td><td>2 Years</td><td>Rs.16,940</td><td>$880</td></tr><tr><td>HMI, Darjeeling</td><td>1.5 Years</td><td>Rs.18,630</td><td>$934</td></tr><tr><td>JIM, Jammu & Kashmir</td><td>6-8 Months</td><td>Rs 18,650 (Rs 12,600 for J&K Residents)</td><td>NA</td></tr><tr><td>NIMAS, Dirang</td><td>No Wait Time</td><td>Rs.24,200</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>ABVIMAS, Manali</td><td>6 months</td><td>Rs.17,160</td><td>Rs 57,200</td></tr></tbody></table>

Note: These are just approximate waiting time which can vary according to circumstances. It can increase or decrease in the coming years.

After doing some research, I learnt that the teaching methodology is quite similar in all the institutes. However, each institute has their own focus area. For example, while HMI and NIM focus more on strength during their physical training, JIM focuses on long distance running and NIMAS focuses on trekking. In fact, most of the physical training at NIMAS involved trekking for long distances(12km-35km) with a heavy backpack. The main reason being the huge distance from the NIMAS Base camp to the glacier training area. It is approximately 80 km away, which is twice as far as that of the other institutes.

Another significant difference that I learnt of was the difference in  the equipment. The thumb rule being, older institutes have older  equipment and the newer institutes have newer equipment. Although this  is second-hand information, it is not hard to believe.

1.  After you choose your preferred institute, click one of the links  mentioned above to enter their website. Click on the “Admissions” or  “Courses” tab.

3. Select “Basic Mountaineering Course” as the  course you want to register for. Usually, the institute mentions the  earliest batch available and the respective batch code.

4. After  selecting your preferred batch, go through the application procedure.  Remember to go through the eligibility criteria carefully.

5. Download the application form and fill it carefully (or fill it online). Check and recheck for mistakes.

6.  Post the application form along with the course fee in the form of a  DD/Cheque (whichever is mentioned in the application procedure).

The  confirmation of your booked seat comes in the form of a post or/and an  e-mail or/and a phone call. Most application forms have a helpline  number which you can contact in case you don’t receive a confirmation.

At most institutes, the Basic Mountaineering Course is intense and requires a decent level of fitness.

The  most important aspect that needs focus is your ability to carry a 20 kg  rucksack for long distances. Even if you are a marathon runner,  practice jogging or at least trekking with a heavy backpack.

River crossing training at Camp 1 (New Malling). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

Going on at least two difficult treks within two months from the start of your course will help a lot. Apart from endurance, also focus on strength and rock climbing techniques. If there is an indoor rock climbing arena in your city, go there regularly for at least a month. This will equip you with the right techniques and confidence for rock climbing.

Rockcraft training at Camp 1 (New Malling). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

Here is a weekly workout regime to train for the course:

Cross training once a week (Climbing/Cycling/Swimming/Sport of your choice)

Run 5 km (with 10 kg backpack) twice a week

Intermediate Strength training twice a week

Trek 10 km (with 10 kg backpack and some altitude gain) twice a week

Run at your own pace and try reducing your time gradually. Your timing is not really important here.

Rockcraft training at Camp 0(NIMAS campus). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

You can go for the two difficult treks by skipping a couple of weeks. When you’re back from the trek, remember to ease into the workout regime rather than start from where you left off. For example, if you were in Phase 2 when you left for the trek. When you return, do a week of Phase 1 training and then restart Phase 2 training.

Please avoid over-training because it increases the risk of an injury. I made this mistake and I was injured for two whole months with minimal training. Luckily, I recovered 15 days before the course and completed the course without any mishaps.

Campsite shifting – on the way to Camp 4 (Merathang). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

Although it differs from institute to institute, the basic assessment criteria is mainly focused on Rockcraft, Icecraft, Endurance and a written test. There is no need to prepare for any of these. Learning rock climbing techniques for Rockcraft is an added advantage, not a requirement.

Here is the complete criteria based on which they assessed us:

<table id="tablepress-6" class="tablepress tablepress-id-6"><thead><tr class="row-1 odd"><th class="column-1">Assessment type</th><th class="column-2">Marks allotted</th></tr></thead><tbody class="row-hover"><tr class="row-2 even"><td class="column-1">Written test</td><td class="column-2">50</td></tr><tr class="row-3 odd"><td class="column-1">Rockcraft</td><td class="column-2">20</td></tr><tr class="row-4 even"><td class="column-1">Icecraft</td><td class="column-2">20</td></tr><tr class="row-5 odd"><td class="column-1">Endurance test</td><td class="column-2">20</td></tr><tr class="row-6 even"><td class="column-1">Trekking</td><td class="column-2">10</td></tr><tr class="row-7 odd"><td class="column-1">Survival test</td><td class="column-2">10</td></tr><tr class="row-8 even"><td class="column-1">Teamwork</td><td class="column-2">5</td></tr><tr class="row-9 odd"><td class="column-1">Mountain manners</td><td class="column-2">5</td></tr><tr class="row-10 even"><td class="column-1">Director's assessment</td><td class="column-2">10</td></tr></tbody></table>

What a day in the basic mountaineering course looks like

Crevasse rescue training at Camp 4 (Merathang). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

Most of our days started early except for a few on the last campsite (when the weather was bad). After freshening up and a quick breakfast, our P.T would involve a long trek with a 15 kg backpack, followed by rockcraft training. In case we were shifting camps that day, we would carry the whole load of 22 kg (approx.) along with packed lunch and trek to the next campsite. After which we would either rest or participate in simple activities like a survival test or knots practice. The evenings were usually filled in with theory classes on various topics including Mountain terminology, Glaciers, Rescue techniques etc.

This is what our time-table usually looked like:

Icecraft training at Merathang glacier. Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

The five days of Icecraft training had a slightly different time-table. We would trek in the morning to the glacier and reach at about 1100 hours. We would have icecraft training till 1230 hours after which we would head back to the campsite. So we used to have a late lunch at around 1500 hours. We had no theory classes on any of these days. In my opinion, these five days were the hardest. This was when we fully realised the importance of mental strength in mountaineering.

Survival test at Camp 3 (Jithang). Picture by Nikshep Trinetra

They say that the strongest bonds are made when you’re on the mountains. Mainly because of all the hardships you go through together. I can say from experience that I will share this special bond with my course-mates and instructors for a long time to come. The Basic Mountaineering course is the first door one opens in the world of mountaineering. The journey beyond that is a long one and you are your own guide. I wish you the best of luck for this journey.

If you have any other questions about the basic mountaineering course, leave a comment below or reach out to me at nikshep@indiahikes.com

A mountaineering course in India is the first step towards making a career in the adventurous world of Himalayas. Read this article to have in-depth knowledge on this topic and ways to apply.

How To Go About A Mountaineering Course In India

To Go About A Mountaineering Course In India BMC Basic Mountaineering Case

How To Go About A Basic Mountaineering Course In India

We’ve noticed that the thought of packing for a trek really harries trekkers — they don’t know what to buy, where to shop, whether to rent, how much to spend. Read this expert guide to learn about the things to take on a Himalayan trek.

Without a proper guide, I notice that trekkers end up overspending and overbuying, which is the opposite of what you should do for a minimal trek. 

What if we told you that a typical trekker spends more on his trekking gears than his flight tickets or his trek fee? It’s no surprise that ‘trekking gear’ is one of the most-searched-for topics on our website. 

So through this guide, we’ll run you through the process of procuring gear for a trek.  

Here's a guide and checklist with all the things to take on a Himalayan trek. Right from essential gear to all mandatory documents. Read more.

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