Is a boom in trekking
an uphill
task for conservation?

Take for instance the June 2024 incident, when nine trekkers from Karnataka lost their lives after being stranded while descending the Sahastra Tal trek in Uttarakhand. Tour operators reportedly failed to conduct proper health and fitness checks on participants — some of whom were senior citizens. One reason why the group suffered high casualties, is a low ratio of guides to trekkers.

The Uttarakhand trekking guidelines mandate the presence of experienced guides with every group during high-altitude expeditions. However, local tour operators claim that such guidelines are just on paper.

“The biggest challenge in the Himalayas is to keep the flock together with compromised eyesight and changing weather,” says Aritra Mahapatra, a flock leader and certified mountaineer.

He says in the high altitudes of the Himalayas, the weather is unpredictable. Conditions are bound to change after 12 noon. Waking people early to ensure that time is not lost and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are among the major issues that trek operators face.

“The key to success is proper acclimatisation. If that is done, the rest falls in place,” he adds.

He recalls how a man twisted his leg and could not even stand during the Kedarkantha trek. “Thanks to the time and resources we had spent on emergency planning and backup, we could rescue him,” he says.

Zirpe’s decision also highlights the need to undertake such adventures only under the guidance of those who have experience. Reports suggest that a majority of tragedies that occurred during trekking or mountaineering expeditions are due to compromised safety.

The craze for selfies and reels at such sites is also resulting in casualties. Every year, the waterfalls of Uttara Kannada and Belagavi report deaths after visitors cross the danger line.

Swathi Chatrapathy of Indiahikes, a leading trekking organisation, says given the length and breadth of trekking spots in India, it is difficult for the governments to develop policies and rules that fit all. The onus of making trekking safe also lies with individuals. “It is always advisable, especially for the beginners, to start trekking with a recognised organisation that does not compromise on safety,” she says.

Trekking and mountaineering are not leisure sports. They require rigorous physical training and mental conditioning. “Be aware of the route that you are trekking. Read about it. Equip yourself with the necessary safety instruments, lifesaving medicines and others. Most importantly, check if you are physically fit enough to complete the task,” she says.

Selecting the right organiser is vital, say experts. Rakesh Pant, a co-founder of Trek The Himalayas, a leading trekking organisation, says, “A cursory Google search throws up a list of several unregistered and unauthorised individuals offering cheap packages. Often, such organisations cut corners and compromise on safety measures,” he says.

He urges that the government monitor the sector and stresses the need to impose safety measures in order to make trekking sustainable. Another area that requires intervention is trekking routes and camping sites.

In Karnataka, preferred trek routes in the Western Ghats loop around waterfalls or involve reaching a height to watch the sunset or sunrise. Most treks also involve walking through dense thickets. Some of these water cascades are in protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries where entrance is denied. “Given porous boundaries, some venture into protected forest areas to make merry. There have been several incidents when people have fallen into waterfalls and died,” says wildlife activist Giridhar Kulkarni. He supports banning entry to such places.

“We need people to understand and appreciate nature’s beauty and that can be achieved only when they go near it. When banned, people tend to find alternative routes to reach the place resulting in more casualties. Instead, regulate the number of people visiting these places, and put in place safety measures. Instead of tourism or forest department managing it, allow gram panchayats and village development committees to monitor the sites. The revenue thus generated can be used for the development of the village,” he says.

Unfortunately, not all states have strong regulations and guidelines in place. Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh are exceptions and have formulated rules on how to conduct treks and ensure the safety of humans. However, most states have yet to put in place a mechanism to protect the ecology and serenity of the place. Littering and open defecation remain the biggest challenges on the trekking routes.

Leave No Trace is a crucial principle that can remedy the situation. Arjun Majumdar, co-founder of IndiaHikes, says that both the central and state governments are bringing in measures to regulate the industry. Some are visible and some are not, but the journey has already begun and governments are slowly bringing in changes.

Officially, the Karnataka Tourism Development Board (KEDB) has identified 19 trekking routes that can be accessed only through online booking. While Skandagiri, Savandurga, Anthargange, Ramadevara Betta, Devarayanadurga, Kudremukh, Kodachadri and Kumaraparvata are open for trekkers, adventure seekers continue to sneak into the thick jungles of Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Belagavi in search of waterfalls. Such trekking is illegal.

Karnataka Eco Tourism Development Board (KEDB) CEO and additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Kumar Pushkar says the forest department has become more vigilant and is not allowing unauthorised trekking into the protected areas.

Action is being taken to stop such incidents. He said that all the trekking routes of KEDB are well regulated with a fixed maximum number of trekkers for each of the routes. The booking is done through KEDB's online portal. Pushkar says the Karnataka Forest Department will streamline the online registration process for specific trekking routes by the end of next week. 

A study is being conducted to understand the maximum carrying capacity of each trek route and based on this study, we will allow a limited number of trekkers to climb the peaks," he says.

Production by: Shobhana Sachidanand
Data compiled by: Sweekruthi K & Varsha Gowda
Data source: Thrillophilia, Thomas Cook
Images: DH File Photos/ Wikipedia/Unsplash/Pexels/iStock