Long ago, when the world was young, they roamed the Earth, your ancestors and mine. They trekked far and wide over mountain and desert, grassland and jungle, looking for food and shelter. They navigated by the sun and the stars. They slept out in the open under sheltering skies. They ate when they were hungry, rested when they were tired. For entertainment, they sang songs around the fire and spun a web of stories that was passed on as legend from generation to generation. They knew when the wind brought rain and when it was going to scorch the earth. They knew which plant could be eaten and which could be used to tip their arrows with deadly poison. Life was simpler then. The human being was just one more creature among many who happily ranged the Earth. Today, stuck in that traffic jam, breathing not air but a deadly cocktail of carbon monoxide and suspended particulate matter, this picture of human life may seem completely inaccessible, a frozen tableau in the dim and distant past. But before you give up all hope and submit to the tragic fate of being a citizen of an Indian metro with all its attendant features (diseased lungs, hypertension, obesity), take a hike. It will change your life, I promise. WHY HIKE? Coming down the mountain on the last day of the trek, I am always enveloped in a marvelous sense of well being. My legs feel strong, my backpack no longer weighs down heavily, my stomach muscles have tightened admirably, my skin glows healthily, and I almost feel invincible. This feeling actually lasts well into the third week of my return to the city. When I have managed a 17000 ft pass, forded rivers and successfully navigated my way through unknown terrain, the problems I face in the city are but piffling little setbacks.

The outdoor school Hiking and trekking are not about climbing summits. Each day is a challenge and pleasure as the land unfolds slowly in front of you, revealing its treasures: a waterfall, a magnificent deodar, a bird you’ve only recently learned to identify. Here’s your chance to recover some of that lost wisdom of your ancestors. Learn to predict weather from looking at the sky, tell the difference between a kite and a lammergeir, and learn to live on simple food that you have prepared yourself…. The list of your newly acquired skills can become impressively long.

Know thyself When you are trekking for five to seven hours every day, the walking becomes a kind of meditation as you pace your step and your breath. The mind goes into a relaxed and tranquil state, reflecting the solid mountain beneath you and the vast sky above you. Stopping for a break at the top of a pass, you are overcome by a deep sense of oneness with the whole universe. On a hike you can also learn a lot about yourself and your limitations: how to deal with fears and challenges? Are you someone who gives up easily of do you push yourself to find new strength? How do you cope with emergencies?

Lose those unwanted pounds Admit it, no matter what the variation in routine, the gym is precisely that: routine, which can get quite boring. Hiking is a wonderful and interesting way to knock off at last two-three kilograms a week. Your body becomes incredibly strong, your stamina increases, and you simply radiate good health. If your kids are turning into TV or Internet junkies, cure them with a regular dose of exercise on the trail.

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