When I say what I watch during the first two days of a trek, I am not passing judgement on my clients.
Rather, it is what years of experience have taught me to keenly focus upon to ensure the safety of my clients, evaluate the possibility of an itinerary change, and give them the best possible experience which they rightfully deserve.
It is also a roundabout way of telling a few things what a trekker should consider or notice about themselves and where they are going.
I am focusing on the first two days specifically because these two days is the phase that not only introduces a trekker(s) with their guide but also gives a usable glimpse of personalities of each other, trekking habits of the trekker(s), their requirements, their issues (if they have any), etc.
With those observations, a guide determines if an individual requires special care and attention, how best to approach an individual to discuss or give information on something, and so on.
Before I dive into the topic, I have to mention that one of the most fascinating things about being a trekking guide to me is seeing the same pattern repeat among all of my clients: the excitement.
Excitement to be in this country, receive the hospitality of her people, experience age old cultures and traditions, and anticipation of marching into the rugged but beautiful terrain of Nepal.
Being a person to guide you people through those experiences, nothing gives me more satisfaction. I am forever grateful to my clients for that opportunity.
That being said, let’s march, shall we?
Watching How Your Body Handles the Trail
Let’s continue from where we left in the intro: Excitement. Particularly from anticipation, of the promise, of what the next day or two from the arrival carries. The day you reach the trail-head.
From my experience, this is universal regardless of their nationality, gender, age-group, profession, etc.
But the difference starts to be visible after that point.
Not all trekkers are alike.
Some are young, some older; some have experience trekking in altitude, some beginners; some are comfortable walking quickly, while some are laidback and move in a relaxed manner; and I could go on with these differences for pages.
A single person has a combination of those factors about them which directly influence their trekking habits and ability. A single steep climb can show how your body handles the trail.
I am specifically watching a combination of factors:
Your natural pace, walking skills, and balance on uneven grounds.
Your stride and descent technique.
How frequently you need rest and how quickly your breathing recovers.
Your hydration habits while on the move.
The quality of your sleep and lingering fatigue.
What you prefer eating and how much, etc.
To give you an example, a trekker might be walking quickly for the first hour of the trek. In Nepal, most trekking routes will make the trekkers encounter a sharp uphill at least once within that time. The rest after the first uphill may be short. But then the second one comes a bit later, then the third, and on and on it goes.
Let me tell you, as the number of uphill increases, with that quick pace the rest time gradually increases too. And your knee health? Well, let's just say that they won't appreciate that swift pace too much. So, is that quick pace sustainable? Not in general, no.
So, I generally advise my clients, before the trek starts or after I start to see those rest-stops getting longer, to minimise the pace they are carrying and save themselves from the resulting physical toll.
Similarly, one of the differences that I must include here is how some clients are open to communicate their wishes and troubles while others just trudge on and trust that their guide knows the best.
While the former definitely makes our life easy as a guide, the latter increases a chance of making your trekking experience less than ideal.
While a guide is doing much more than simply taking a trekker to a destination and they definitely keep a close eye on you and any hint of your troubles, they are also only human.
Yes, a guide is there to make the expenditure you’ve made in terms of time, energy, and resources, worthwhile.
Yes, they are there to be a bridge between you and the completely new environment that you’ve come upon.
But sometimes they may notice your discomfort a bit later than they would otherwise prefer to.
So, I urge you to communicate your issues, thoughts, and questions. You’d get the most out of the trekking experience.
Also, if you have any existing health issues, food allergies or preference of any kind, or any other things to take notice of, mention them clearly.
With that being said, what practical tips could I give you here beyond telling what factors to look at?
Well, as said before, each person is different from one another on some level. So I cannot give blanket advice on what to do. If a person is an experienced trekker and follows a good walking technique, I cannot in my right mind tell them to take on a steady pace. But, I can tell you one thing:
Understand your body.
You should be very aware of:
How is it responding to the pace you are taking on?
How much rest time do you require?
Are uphill climbs taking too much out of your knees?
How tiresome has the weight of your backpack making you feel?
If you’ve started from a higher elevation from the get go, have you been feeling unease?; so on and so forth.
Again, I reiterate, take notice of your body’s reaction as you are of nature and the trail.
How the Terrain and the Group Influence Your Pace
Now let’s move beyond individual characteristics and abilities that affect the behaviour of trekkers which a competent guide considers very carefully.
Let’s start with trails and their influence.
Not all trails are similar.
A trail-head might lie on 700 m. from the sea level, while another could be on 2800 m. Some trails may ascend gradually into higher elevations, while others, like Makalu Base Camp trek, make you feel like you’ll reach the clouds within a couple of days. I might be being a bit hyperbolic but you get my point.
Such variations in geography naturally bring changes in trekkers. So, what a guide observes or a trekker should particularly notice naturally changes, too.
For example, if my group has landed on Lukla for Everest Base Camp trek, I’d be especially interested if a trekker is showing signs of altitude sickness from the start. But, if we are moving towards Annapurna Base Camp, the main concern of mine would be if the repeated uphills are taking a toll on the knees of my clients.
Another thing that has influence on an individual is the group itself. If you are trekking in a group, that is.
For instance, a trekker might be moving at a fast pace not because he moves naturally fast but because other members of the group are moving fast. Or, they might rest short because others might not require a long pause.
To a guide, watching means more than simply observing the behaviour of a trekker. It is with the combination of both the individual behaviours and the outside factors which influence them that gives them usable information on how to approach various scenarios.
So, what would be my practical advice for you?
Well, it is to understand that how your trekking experience goes doesn’t solely depend upon you. Outside factors such as geography, weather, season, group, etc. have a say in it too.
My recommended solution would be to research the trek that you are embarking upon.
You should take note of:
Total distance, top elevation, and nature of the trail.
The itinerary and daily elevation gain.
Best season to trek and necessary items to pack.
Food that you are likely to encounter on the trail or the region.
What the specific trail demands more from a trekker, etc.
Similarly, think for yourself.
If you need more rest time, take it. If you want to walk a bit faster than the rest, you can do it but in a reasonable manner. I mean, if you are new to the country or on a trail, is it logical to move forward without someone near you and risk something unexpected? You are hiring a guide for a reason, aren’t you?
If the itinerary needs change, so be it. If you think that you’re slowing the group or the group is slowing you down, don’t. Don’t forget you are here for recreation. So enjoy it. Don’t get worried or be frustrated.
But above all, Communicate. It is much better if you express what you need than a guide noticing it. It will massively improve your trekking experience.
Final Observation
To me, meeting my clients on the first day of their arrival is one of the best parts of the trekking itself. Even if somebody says the trekking hasn’t started yet.
The excitement that I see on that day, I want it to remain the day they return. That’s why I focus on those first two days of the trekking. The few days that set the tone of how a trekking might go and how I can react to better the experience of my clients.
As I said at the start, you can also consciously do the same. All it requires is self-awareness and communication from your part.
Happy trekking!