The New TripNaksha Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Making adventure travel easy

Vinit — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:04:34 -0000

I read about your venture and its really great. Wish you good luck and I'll definitely contribute after my next trek.

Re: Making adventure travel easy

Arun — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:48:26 -0000

I do tend to agree about not popularizing the places. And I also can't help but accept that it is selfish. I have long since been happy about Karnataka not having gone the Kerala or Rajasthan way. But at the same time I would be unhappy if I don't get sufficient information in a remote place I travel to. Can't really take sides easily :)

Re: Making adventure travel easy

kanchuki — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:13:25 -0000

Of course as travellers we are all looking for the "unspoilt" experiences. Many times I have been hesitant with sharing details of a new place I have discovered, for fear that it will be run over.
At the same time, unfortunately, I think it is inevitable. People are talking about Everest getting littered, so what's left? Funnily just yesterday I was reading a book of interviews with travel writers, and in Tim Cahill's interview he says that these days for adventure travel he has to go to the places with guns, because those are the only truly "remote" and adventurous places where no tour company will take you!

Re: Making adventure travel easy

TripNaksha — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:10:06 -0000

W.R.T #3, what about organized treks then? Isn't the spirit of exploration lost already? I agree knowing the entire route before hand would not be a great thing if you are in the mood for an impromptu adventure. But I think that every traveler tries to prepare him/herself beforehand and this is when trails will be useful.

Re: Making adventure travel easy

shalabh — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:58:57 -0000

I agree with you Srikanth. Mapping trails is just one part. On the organizers part though, speaking only for Himachal, organizers are mostly aware of all the trek routes and I have met some people trying to find new ones as well to earn during winter. Maps, as I write this, dont really exist in the public domain. So, no one uses them.

As for the trekker's point about making trekking easier and risking jungles, the positive I see in all this is sharing this wealth with a lot more people. The true value lies in educating people about what the jungles have, rather than deny them the pleasure of seeing them by keeping maps secret.

Re: Making adventure travel easy

shalabh — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:03:52 -0000

I disagree with points 1 and 2. Believe me when I say this, people who are not inherently comfortable with a jungle or a mountain dont even try. Could not agree more with the 3rd one though. The true value of trekking is in exploration.

Re: Making adventure travel easy

Sri — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:01:53 -0000

I guess we have two stake holders here
1) People who Organise treks.
2) Folks who take part in treks organised by someone.

The former are always on the lookout for new details, routes, other related logistics and probably maps. if the trek is a low/medium grade trek, in most cases, details of the place would already be available just a click away. If the trek turns out to be on the tougher grade, probably more explicit planning would be required in terms of maps, alternate routes, rations etc.

The latter on the other hand, more or less just follow the guidelines and are least bothered about the intricate details. A few probably document their travel while the majority choose to rely on just photographs and/or their memory.

My take would be that maps are probably only a part of the whole scenario and 'Making' trekking easier would be a tough task unless mutual sharing of routes, more so experiences; happen among a wide range of people who have passion for outdoor activities.

Re: Making adventure travel easy

TripNaksha — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:52:47 -0000

True. I believe there is an inherent barrier - getting out and the willingness to rough it out, which puts of many a lazy sleeper. However, I'll put across Trekker's views on this matter.
- Marking trails, etc and generally making treks easier will reduce this inherent barrier
- the physical discomfort is reduced and a trek will reduce to just another tourist outing
- the element of surprise is removed which will make treks soulless.

Your thoughts?

Re: Making adventure travel easy

shalabh — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:53:25 -0000

The way I see this is trekking is not a joke, at least not in the state I come from. I am from Himachal and maps or no maps, trekking the himalayas needs serious will and effort to do it. I have seen many a pass time trekker give it up on day 1. So, I dont think this will make a difference. If anything, people who are avid trekkers will get enough options. Let the trails themselves weed out the passtimers. Another reason I say this is I use a GPS to map the treks I go to. The GPS error in some places is so high that it would be foolish to use that trail on a map alone for trekking. So, while the trails can be used as indications, just having them on the map is not going to get any serious interest going. Anyway, who in this 'fast paced' world has the time to trek except the ones who actually love doing it.