5 lessons to learn from a high-altitude mountain trek

Edmund Hillary said, “It is not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves”. Whoever understood the real meaning of this quote indeed has also experienced the phenomenal sense of enlightenment that a high-altitude mountain trek brings.

When I joined UXReactor a year and a half back, I came across the company’s “Adventure Activities Policy”. Naturally, the explorer inside me nudged to know more about it, and I asked around. What I found out was fascinating!

The Himalayan foothills © LifeofHoi

At UXReactor, each one of the teammates are regarded as a reflection of their background and life experiences. In the spirit of ensuring that UXReactor is constantly helping the teammates to push their own physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries, an Adventure Activities Policy was established. In this policy, the organization allocated a certain fund to reimburse not only those explorers who choose to take such challenging and revitalizing adventure trips but also to instil a spirit of adventure in those who have never done any adventure activities before. For me, this was one of the most unconventional and enabling perks that I have ever come across in my entire career, and I thought “I am all in”.

Earlier this year, motivated by this Adventure Policy, I went for a high-altitude Himalayan snow trek. Once again I realized that I could never stop learning from the mountains. Every time I return from a trek, I consider myself one step closer to becoming both mentally and physically stronger and start looking at life from a new perspective.

As a Human Resource professional, I talk to many people. The most interesting part of my job is that I get a sneak-peak into the minds of many kinds. And on my return from the mountain summit I discovered that as we walk the pitfalls of our day to day life, we tend to forget that beyond all the small moments of dissatisfactions, resentments and anxieties there is a life full of hope. While our personal and material gains become larger concerns, we overlook the endless possibilities that await us beyond our self-created comfort zone.

And I am going to share 5 of the many life-lessons that the mountains taught me, that no books or classrooms could teach!

1. Your biggest competitor is YOU:

Dayara Bugyal snow summit 2021 © LifeofHoi

In our entire career span, I am sure at least once, we all have faced a distinct circumstance – when one of our peers or friends got better appreciation than us. In such a situation, though we try to be happy for them, at times we also compare our own success and abilities with others and in the process, overlook where we truly stand.

While summiting a mountain, one can learn that the real struggle is not about how to be better than others. It’s all about overcoming the continuous battle between our own MIND (the willpower) and BODY (the physical exhaustion). As we hike up the long, rough roads, every part of our body starts protesting, but our mind tells us “you’ve come this far, let’s get to the end” – not to be better than someone else, but to be better than our present self.

And in the end one of them wins. Either our mind takes us to the peak of the mountain and rejoices in the new achievement, or our body collapses in the process. In both cases, we win or fail by challenging ourselves. In the process our determination gets tested, and we understand that there is a lesson to be learnt from every success and failure.

2. Never underestimate the power of SMALL steps:

On the way to Bakriya top, Uttarakhand © LifeofHoi

We sometimes set up larger life-goals and try to push ourselves up to achieve them as quickly as possible. While doing so, we get caught up in a rat race and in the process overlook all the smaller wins or even the few smaller failures that actually make us wiser.

In the mountains, while trekking up and down the steep, rocky slopes when our calf-muscles become sore – we understand the importance of small but steady steps.

During the trek, one needs to remember that rushing forward or overtaking others to reach the top could bring unfortunate accidents. No matter what – the goal is to get to the top of the mountain steady and strong, and not to win a race! And as we reach the top after all the hardships, the sense of accomplishment that we gain is unparalleled!

3. SHARED PURPOSE is the key to success:

Final summit, Bakriya top © LifeofHoi

Every organizational success heavily counts on its “effective teamwork”. Small or big, a healthy support system, aka. “team” always optimizes sustainable growth. To keep the team motivated and focused we often exercise various team building activities. And this time, I realized that summiting a mountain along with a team is one of the best ways to practice team bonding.

While hiking with a group, it is very important to follow a rhythm so that everyone is in sync. If one meets with an accident, the rest of the team becomes the support system. They lend a helping hand and when needed aid in evacuation. When one gets exhausted, the rest of the team works together to morally boost the other.Thus summiting the mountain doesn’t remain an individual goal anymore. It becomes a shared purpose.

This bond within the team immensely helps in building endurance, boosting confidence and it motivates the leadership qualities within us to push and pull the others forward for one single mission – summiting together.

On our final summit day, for about three odd hours we had to hike through ankle deep snow and soon encountered a heavy snow storm. Our bodies were bent forward to cope with the wind and our vision was blurred due to continuous snowfall.

One of our teammates twisted his ankle while walking. His foot was sunk in the depth of snow. There was a time, when I myself started feeling breathless and thought I couldn’t walk anymore. Naturally the pace of the entire group was becoming slower.

It was then the entire team of 10 members decided that, either all 10 of us would go to the top together or, all shall return back together. And that did the trick! All of us fought with our own physical pain and started moving ahead.

And after a while, the overwhelming celebration that awaited us on the top of the 4000 Meters high snow-covered mountain peak, was sensational!

4. Achieving a goal is a CONTINUOUS process :

Trekking down towards the base after summit, © LifeofHoi

The mountain treks continuously give us new challenges, make us wiser and more prepared for our next goal. We learn about our own personal barriers. We learn to push our boundaries to see what’s ahead of it. And that way, achieving a goal becomes and remains a continuous process.

In day to day life, to achieve a goal, sometimes for days, months or even years, unrelentingly we try to make it a success. And once we succeed, it becomes an important benchmark of our life. But is that all?

This time while summiting, I realized that reaching the destination (the goal) is not everything. The journey is equally important, as well as returning back from the top.

Of course the experience of reaching the top of the mountain is special. But then comes the toughest part of the summit – returning back safely to the basecamp.

But why is it the toughest part?

Because, while hiking up we spend all our efforts and energies, to get to the top. By that time our body becomes exhausted. And while climbing down the hill any loose steps could become dangerous. As a matter of fact, most of the injuries occur while trekking downwards.

5. Less is MORE :

Since times unknown the wise men instilled the importance of simplicity and contentment, for living a life of integrity. We live a life full of conveniences, with possessions we care for, possessions we crave for. Our city life has everything we need for a cozy living. A sound income, a persistent desire for improving lifestyle and a comfort zone around our work, friends and family.

So why do we trek up the rugged mountains?

Why do we desire to leave the warmth of our home to sleep in a small tent in freezing weather conditions?

Why do we endure such physical pain of hiking for miles, eating whatever is available?

Why do we choose a trip where there are constant uncertainties?

Because once you fall in love with the mountains – it’s hard to do the equation.

Mountain treks bring us close to nature, and give us lessons about what really matters in life. Nature teaches us to be a minimalist deep down. We understand that happiness, mental and physical wellness comes with a simplified routine. A thirst for living a life with “less” actually opens the door to possibilities that are larger than life.

And that’s how every small success brings importance and stays within us as an inspirational and spiritual memory, forever.

Quick Note (Dayara Bugyal Snow Trekking):

Local Language – Primarily Hindi and also English. Other colloquial languages including Garhwali, Punjabi & Nepali are spoken as well.
Local Currency – Indian Rupees. Keep a little bit of cash with you as finding ATMs in the mountains can be challenging.
Best time to visit – May to November is peak trekking season but, for the best snow-trek experience, visit in winter (December & January).