The road less travelled is often the road most littered. Some of you may have noticed your favourite trekking trails or lakefronts scattered with plastic, broken liquor bottles, and other waste that are usually non-biodegradable or take years to biodegrade. It’s a heart-breaking sight, for sure. We’re not trying to scare you — but in 2018, when India Hikes’ Green Trails conducted a cleaning campaign on the Sandakphu trail, around 1,330 kg of waste was collected in about six months. Around 56.8% of the waste was non-recyclable landfill waste.
So, you get the drift — the onus is on us! Every time we’re heading out to camp or trek, it’s best if we leave no trace behind. That way, we can reduce massive amounts of human wastage and allow our precious outdoors to breathe free too.
Are you wondering how to be sustainable while trekking? Fret not, we’ve got plenty of tips to get you started.
If you find steel or brass cutlery heavy, you may explore alternatives like bamboo cutlery. We’ve reused bamboo cutlery and wooden chopsticks, and we did just fine.
Avoid packaged food: The majority of waste found on trekking trails is packaged food. From packets of chips and biscuits to cold drinks and protein bars — snacks wrapped in plastic are the evils we unkowingly embrace. One way to avoid this is by carrying snacks from home; you can pack nuts and seeds in reusable boxes. If you’re keen on carrying chips or biscuits, go to your local snacks store (hot chips, anyone?) and get them packed in your boxes. Also, when you stop at tea shops or food joints on the trail, avoid packaged drinks and snacks. You can consume their cooked meals, which are nutritious and satiate you for a long time. Plus, meals whipped from the local produce are a great excuse to devour the local cuisine.
Carry your water bottle: Basic yet the most important thing to do when you head out — carry and refill your water bottles. You can refill your water bottles at tea shops/food joints on your way; if there are plenty of streams or rivers on your trail, you can fill your bottles and purify using Ef-Chlor water tablets found in any medical store. Since you’ll bring back your water bottle, you’ll extend its lifetime and not litter the trail with plastic bottles.
Rent as much as you can: It doesn’t make sense to buy new equipment or outfits every time you head outdoors unless you plan on using them during every trek. We’d recommend renting gear such as trekking poles, camping tents, and sleeping bags, which reduces overconsumption and helps the local economy. Check with your friends if they have gear, including down jackets, torches, etc., that you can borrow before renting or investing in new products. And you’ll save money too. What’s not to love?
Avoid water contamination: People who live around the trekking trails depend on the water sources that flow through the mountains or forests. So, please do your best not to pollute them. For instance, wash and pee far away from water sources like rivers, streams, or waterfalls. If you have to wash your utensils, we’d recommend fetching a pail of water to a safe distance. You can also find out how the locals recycle their water from your trek leader or the locals themselves.
Carry your own reusable cutlery and plates: Rather than depending on plastic cutlery and discarding them after every use, carry your plates, tiffin boxes, and spoons. If you find steel or brass cutlery heavy, you may explore alternatives like bamboo cutlery. We’ve reused bamboo cutlery and wooden chopsticks, and we did just fine.
Bring your trash back: No matter how responsible you are, you’re still bound to produce some waste. To reduce trash piling, pack your garbage in ziplock pouches and bring them back. Whether it’s aluminium foils, empty lotion tubes, or sanitary products — discard them once you reach the city.
Avoid campfires or lighting a fire: Several campsites don’t permit campfires because the forests are often vulnerable. However, even if your campsite permits fire, use your discretion — especially, if it’s a dry jungle or landscape, you may want to steer clear from a campfire.
Consider your trails or paths responsibly: Some trekking trails are more beautiful than others and may make your Instagram feed lit, but here’s the thing — they are the ones that unfortunately suffer from over tourism. Be the responsible individual, instead. Explore the less-visited trails to protect the habitats of the local species of animals or birds that are known to flee their regular habitat when they’re crowded. So, pick the less-visited paths and enjoy a quiet time with fewer travellers around.
You’re sorted now! All you’ve got to do is pick a lovely trail, pack responsibly, and carpool with your fellow travellers. Another pro-tip: try not to bring any speakers that may disturb the jungle dwellers. Enjoy the sound of birds and gurgling streams; it’s not every day you’ll experience these symphonies in the city.
