Journalism of Courage
Monsoon creates some of the most beautiful trekking destinations around the city but trekkers need to take a lot of precautions when venturing out for some fun. Incessant rain could lead to hazardous conditions like slippery slopes,deep,water-filled pits or risky waterfalls. Here are a few precautionary measures experienced trekkers in the city advise one to take.
Many inexperienced trekkers do not carry even basic equipment,for instance a rope. However,besides decent trekking gear,appropriate leadership is important. There are numerous trekking groups in the city,and some of them may have trek leaders who do not know the routes well. A few days ago,when we were climbing the Dukes Nose,I stumbled upon a group of about 20 who were lost, said Nitin Bodas who organises trekking trips around the city.
According to Abhijeet Shirsekar,an IT professional and a trekking enthusiast,timing is important. During monsoon it gets dark fast. I remember when we went to Rajmachi,there was a 13-km trail before the actual climb,and we got late. By 5.30 pm,we were just starting the return journey. Midway,it got pitch dark and we could not find the return route. Our mobiles did not work. We had a tough time before we found the Mumbai-Pune highway near Khandala around midnight. One must ensure its still day when the the group returns. Members of the group should not scatter.
