Untitled

Stargazing is one of the most surreal activities that one can think of while trekking. While it may sound very easy and simple it is not really what it looks like. There are a lot of things that one needs to know about before stargazing. We might look at the stars and the moons every day in the sky but stargazing takes a little more effort. The entire process is more than just grabbing your telescope and moving in your backyard. Things such as guidebooks, star charts, and other equipment can help you glide your way through stargazing. Here are certain tips that will let you stargaze better the next time you go on a trek.

1. Get up high: Living in a city full of light pollution it might be difficult for you to stargaze from your backyard or from the terrace. In such cases, it is suggested to go as high as possible so buildings and artificial lights do not obstruct your view. Areas typically away from the city are considered. Places with good altitude are also advisable. The sky must be clear and dark, hazy clouds or pollution present the atmosphere will make it difficult to stargaze.

2.A red flashlight: While in the forest, if you want to avoid being completely alone in the darkness then carry a flashlight with a red filter instead of a blue one. Red light helps in maintaining dark adaptation for nighttime viewing. This condition is due to the size of the iris. In bright light, our iris closes more so that less light can enter into our eye and vice-a-versa. Although red light is more preferable you can also carry a cyan-green light as an alternative.

3. A star chart: Star charts are used to identify and locate constellations and astronomical objects such as stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. It is the best way to learn skies. Before the smart apps and technology came people used these star maps to navigate the stars. At first, it might be difficult for you to understand the star charts but once you get the hang of it, it becomes the most useful tool in stargazing.

           4.Some handy applications: Mobile applications can be a great way to understand stargazing in a better way. They let you see the position of the planets, set your location and move the horizon. Some apps also come with a red light mode that keeps away your phone’s white light from interfering with your eye’s ability to adjust with the dark.

Star chart, NASA app, Night sky lite are some examples of applications that can help you stargaze better next time. These apps are available both on Android and ISO.

5. Start with binoculars first: Often beginner stargazers commit the mistake of buying all the high tech equipment. Later they get frustrated because these equipments are difficult to use and they do not see things that are similar to them before. Which is why starting with a binocular is better than buying telescopes. Use these binoculars to understand the moon and other planets before you move on to further detailed objects.

 6. Photographing stars: While looking at star trails can be a beautiful experience it is also likely that you would want to capture those beautiful moments and take them back with you. The minimum requirement of equipments includes a well-built tripod which is one of the most important pieces of equipment. And a camera with manual mode functionality. Cheap tripods may not stay still or move slightly during the long exposure process required during the night photography. The next comes a 35 mm camera lens which is required to reduce the amount of noise in your pictures if it is a high ISO picture to provide high quality. Other equipment includes a wide angle lens to pick up as much light as possible in a short time and a timer/intervalometer which is used to click long exposure images which are longer than 30 seconds.

Considering the cost involved in buying such heavy equipment? Thanks to technology these days you can click night sky even with your mobile phone. The leading phones with good cameras are iPhone and OnePlus.

Pro-tip: Get Beyond Limits’ Phunsukh Wangdu Isolated Campsite is the best place to experience stargazing.

Next time you visit a trek never forget to have an unreal experience of stargazing. As beautiful as it may sound it is one of the most amazing experiences to have while trekking. Imagine yourself under the vast sky of stars shining like fireflies. Away from the cities artificial lights and skyscrapers having to experience stargazing for once is a must.

For more queries visit www.getbeyondlimits.com

Ishan Sharma and the Mt. Frey Experience

“Never take a mountain for granted” – Ishan Sharma

Not many know about Mt. Frey, but those who do, know that this is one of the most beautiful and difficult mountains to climb in India. A beauty in the Himalayas, Mt. Frey was a dream peak to climb for Ishan, someone who knows no limits when it comes to adventures in life. His story with regard to climbing Mt. Frey is an inspiring tale to those…

ISHAN SHARMA AND HIS EXPERIENCE COMPLETING THE ADVANCE MOUNTAINEERING COURSE – AN INTERVIEW

If the sky’s the limit, then we have just not tried enough.

We all aspire to achieve something big someday. Be it wanting to be an engineer, doctor, entrepreneur or something less common like a mountaineer. One thing that bounds all these aspirations together is hard work and sheer determination. If you’ve got the combination of these two inside of you, nothing can stop you from reaching the…

It is very important to have a good night’s sleep at night during a trek. While sleeping your body repairs your muscles and tissues and also helps you to gain energy for the next day. Having interrupted sleeping patterns can affect your ability to make clear decisions that might be fatal for you. Mostly trekkers face problems in sleeping on higher altitudes. It is because of the lack of oxygen that causes disturbances in the sleeping patterns. Here are certain tips that might help you with sleeping properly at night.

1. Never sleep empty stomach: Your body heat warms up the sleeping bag and food gives us the energy to keep our body warm. Include food rich in fats and carbohydrates that will help to keep your body warm. Nuts, energy bars, and dairy products are always a good option. You can also carry soup, hot chocolate or any other hot drink in a thermos to sip on when you feel cold.

2. A hot water bottle inside your sleeping bag: Keeping a water bottle filled with hot water can help in warming the sleeping bag. Your sleeping bag will take time to warm up slowly from your body heat, keeping the hot water bottle you can heat it a little faster. Also, this hack comes handy if you are trekking in cold temperatures.

3. Do not postpone urinating: An empty bladder will definitely give you a good night sleep. So always take that nature’s call. Try to urinate half an hour before sleeping and right before sleeping. Avoid having too much of liquid right before going to sleep this might increase your chances of urinating midnight.

            4. Cover your body: Most of our body heat is lost through fingers, toes, head, etc so it is important to wear a hat, gloves, and socks to avoid the loss of heat from our body. If in cold temperature wear layers of clothes before going to sleep. You can keep your next day's clothes inside you're sleeping bag towards your feet it will keep your feet warm.

5. Clear the spot: Before setting up your tent make sure that you have cleared the way and there are no stones and sticks that might hurt you while sleeping. Always try to find flat level ground but sometimes it gets difficult to find it. In that case, you can sleep on a little incline ground but make sure that your head is on the upper part to avoid blood rushing.

Sleeping is something you should be taking due care of while on a trek. These few tips come handy and help you enhance your sleeping experience. On your next trek do not forget your essentials to have a good night sleep.

For more queries visit www.getbeyondlimits.com

Top 8 Trekking Foods and Meals

We all love food, but eating while on a trek is a little trickier than it seems. While trekking, we need to keep in mind our stamina and how much we can carry without any spoilage or spillage. It isn’t just about the fact that you have to eat so that you stay active and energetic throughout the trek, but it is also about the fact that you enjoy what you eat. Food is not just food, but an emotion…

Camping is a great way to take a break from your normal routine and have fresh air somewhere in the mountains. It helps you respect nature more and tells you that nature was never meant to be scary. You will have life-changing experiences and realise that there are more important things in camping than just campfire and marshmallows. With the technology at our disposal today, we have forgotten how to live with minimalistic opportunities. But if you want to know what life is all about then camping is a must.  

1)The urge to unplug: Working life has made us slaves of the technology. Every morning the first thing we see is our mails. But imagine getting up with the sunrise or amidst the mountains. We as humans are adaptable creatures but we are not made to just simply sit all day. When we detach ourselves from the digital worlds is when we get back to the basics of life- fire, starlights, rivers, trees, mountains. If you want to have a great time while camping makes sure you have less screen time.

2)Strengthens bonds: Camping alone in an isolated area away from the technology will help you understand people better. The world is reduced to the number of people you travel with and everyone becomes a team. Suddenly the number of people you are in contact with becomes small and you realise who really matters. You will realise how small you are in front of the vastness of nature.

3) Less is more: All you need is survival in the forest which is food, clothes, and shelter. It makes us realise that our material possessions don't really matter. Beginner campers generally overload themselves with gadgets and gears but slowly you will realise the importance of ‘less is more.’ While camping having a minimalistic approach is necessary in order to spend some alone time away from civilization.

4) Falling asleep with nature: You will learn to sleep with the cacophony of insects, the rustling of the leaves and sound of the river. Falling asleep with the sound of nature is completely different from falling asleep in your bedroom. Spending time away from the artificial sources of illumination will help you revert back to your natural cycles of light. You will wake up with the sun and feel tired when the stars show up.

Camping does help you relieve your stress from your daily routine. But more than that it helps you relive the basics of life and make you understand the importance of having a minimalistic approach in each step of your life. At first, it may sound like a very challenging and demanding task, but you may want to experience life once without the protective shell which is a good thing. The point here is not to suffer, but to understand that life can be lived even after giving up the luxuries of your soft foam bed.

For more queries visit www.getbeyondlimits.com

Trekking may sound challenging but monsoon treks are another kind of challenge in itself. Trekking in monsoon is one of the most beautiful and alluring experience. You get to encounter the lush green, scents of flowers, water droplets setting like diamonds on leaves. It seems as if the world is covered under a layer of green and your eyes are experiencing the vastness of nature. That boundless serenity of the greens, birds chirping and the streams flowing makes you forget all your stress and anxiety that you bought with yourself from the city. Monsoon trekking is thrilling but definitely a tough task to take up. It is getting more and more famous these days with an increased number of people taking up trekking to rejuvenate themselves. Here are certain tips that might help you next time when you are getting for a monsoon trek in the western ghats.

1. The right pair of shoes: Shoes are an important part of your trek, especially if it is a monsoon because you need to maintain the grip in order to avoid slippery surfaces. Many people commit mistakes while choosing their footwear and end up buying footwear which is not suitable for monsoons. It is always suggested to wear shoes with good grip for beginners. In addition to proper grip, it is necessary for you to select shoes that let your skin breath to avoid moisture and dampness in your skin.

Note:  Some locals and trek guides easily wear flip flops and pull off the trek.

  2. Carry your essentials: there are certain things that you should carry in order to help yourself in a monsoon trek. 

Raincoat: It is not necessary that it is going to help you when it starts to rain heavily but something is always better than nothing.

Socks: you can wear double layered socks to avoid the leeches but prepare yourself to encounter leeches because there is nothing that you can do to avoid them.

Waterproof tent and bag: If you do not want to sleep in a tent drenched in water it is always a good idea to carry a waterproof tent. Having a waterproof bag will save your clothes and other essentials from being wet during the journey. But traveling with Get Beyond Limits team you do not need to worry about that because we provide good quality tents and sleeping bags.

3. Clothes: Be it summers or monsoon it is always better to wear light clothes. Heavy clothes will soak in water and take longer to dry as compared to lighter clothes. On a monsoon trek, cotton clothes should be avoided. Most people will prefer wearing shorts and t-shirts but in a monsoon trek, you should always consider wearing a full sleeves t-shirt that pant to avoid stings, thorns, sunburn, and mosquito bites.

4. Collection of firewood: Most of the treks in the Western Ghats camping is not allowed, you have to go to the top and come back the same day. But if you ever get the permission to camp you have to make sure to collect dry wood beforehand. Because of the rain, most of the wood will be moist and it becomes a serious problem to start the fire and cook. But trekking with Get Beyond Limits team you don’t need to worry about food because we serve hot and nutritious meals to satiate your hunger.

5. Food and water: Carrying enough water is a must. Due to the weather conditions, there will be an increased amount of humidity which will make you sweat more and result in water loss from your body. Carrying your own food like cucumber and watermelon that have water content is a better option.

Monsoon treks are fun but also demanding. These treks are the real test of your patience. Beyond all these preparation you need to mentally prepare yourself. Having a positive attitude is necessary and if you are prepared to drench yourself in water and still enjoy, you'll probably have a great time. There is no avoiding from being wet. You should be adventurous enough to take up the weather and nature will show you the best of what it has preserved.  

For any queries contact [email protected] or visit www.getbeyondlimits.com

The first thing that comes to your mind after listening to the word trek is high mountains, snow peaks, muddy slopes, and the sun setting is the background. But beach trekking is an experience in itself. The cotton soft sand touching your feet, the sound of the waves while the sun sets down quietly is the most calming experience. The orange vivid sky in the evening and the flawlessness of the ocean makes you realize how small you are in front of nature.

1. Camping under the stars: Walking on the sand at night under the moonlight is a different experience. Imagine camping under a million stars listening to waves hit the shores. Spending a night in nature’s lap is one of the best experience and the sounds of the waves are a perfect lullaby for you.

2. Lots of coconut water: If you are a coconut lover then beach treks are for you. There is plenty of coconut supply and you can feast on them as much as you want. The Paradise beach in Gokarna is covered with palm trees all over which is a treat for eyes.

3. Play games: Another benefit of going on a beach trek is the number of games that you can play. Beach offers you the opportunity to play around and have fun. You can play volleyball, soccer, and other water activities. Gokarna is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts who wants to seek adventure and take a break from the everyday chaos of life.

4. Om Beach: This is a popular beach at Gokarna it is in the shape of OM the spiritual symbol which is considered auspicious therefore many visitors go there.  You can witness serene views of boundless blue water.

5. Sunsets like never before: Kudle beach has an arch-shaped coastline that offers the best sunset ever. From here you can star gaze and relax while the waves hit the shore. Sit back and enjoy as the sky changes its colors from blue to light yellow to dark orange. This is one of the most surreal experience to have at the Gokarna beach trek.

Trekking at the beach is completely different from trekking in the mountains. From the temperature to the flora and fauna everything is completely different. In the mountains, you can experience the sunsets surrounding yourself in lush green whereas on the beach the same sunset you can experience surrounding yourself with cotton soft sand and the water. Beach treks are great in letting you relax from your hectic life and spend a good time with your family sharing stories over the campfire under million of stars.

For any queries contact [email protected] or visit www.getbeyondlimits.com

Camping Or Trekking? How To Decide On A Weekend Getaway

Camping and trekking are both really fun activities to engage in if you’re an outdoorsy person. While camping is more about relaxing and getting to know nature in a more personal way, trekking is more rigorous and challenging. Both are fun, but it really depends from one person to another. And if you’re unsure as to which one to choose as your getaway from all the mundane things in life this…

-

Apart from the mountain ranges in the North, western India Ghats or the Sahyadri range also has a plethora of treks to choose from! Mostly all of them are weekend treks, and the reason for their popularity, is they can be done throughout the year, except at the time when the mountains are too moist during the heavy monsoons. Here is what to expect from a trek in the Western Ghats

1. A good getaway: A weekend trek is always a good getaway for people especially who seek adventure. Every day it seems as if they are on some kind of mission, trying to earn money by working hard, pacifying their crying babies, attending calls even once they reach home and end up getting very little sleep. All this eventually leads to stress. So weekends are the only days, which they get for themselves, and treks act as a stress buster too. Nature has the magical capacity of keeping your tensions at bay, and insinuating positivity in people!

                                                               2.Variety of Flora: Total 28 types of plants grow in the Western Ghats. The climate and the altitude has resulted in variety of vegetation types. The dry deciduous forests mostly occur between the eastern side at the elevation of 5000-10000 meters. Moist deciduous forests occur between the elevation of 600-10000 meters. The shola forests and the grasslands in the Nilgiris are major attractions for trekking. Beautiful and rare flowers which are mostly native or indigenous to western ghats are a visual treat. Lilies,  orchids, palms  are some of the types of flowering plants in the region.

                                                                                                           3.Waterfalls: The majestic mountain ranges of Western Ghats form one of the four watersheds and feed the perennial rivers of India. Major rivers of Western Ghats are the Godavari, Krishna, Thamiraparani and Kaveri others tributaries to these long rivers, flow to the east and fall into the Bay of Bengal. During the monsoon season these rivers offers some of the spectacular waterfalls in India such as the most stunning Jog Falls by Sharavathi River, Astonishing Athirappilly Falls by Chalakudy river, Kunchikal Falls, Sivasamudram Falls, Unchalli Falls and famous Meenmutty Falls.

                                                                             4. Biological hotspot of wildlife: Western Ghats also known as the Great Escarpment of India is home to wide ranges of wild animal and bird species. It includes a majority of endangered species in India. They are Royal Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, black panther, wild dogs, Indian elephants, Indian Bison, Indian giant squirrel, King Cobra, purple frog,  etc. Spotting these animals can be very exciting, but one should always remain responsible for their own lives and not do anything harmful to themselves as well as the animals.

                              5. A huge range: The range crosses from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. If you are residing in or visiting any of these places, then you can embark on Western Ghats trekking to combine leisure and adventure. Commuting to the Ghats from any part of India has become very easily accessible, because of the growing amount of tourism. 

                                                       6.National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries: There are 13 National parks situated in the Western Ghats along with two biosphere reserves, several wildlife sanctuaries and many Reserve Forests.  If you want to roam around a bit more than just your treks than there is nothing better than gaining some knowledge about the rare and endangered species of the world.  Famous National parks are deciduous forests of Bandipur National Park, Silent Valley National Park, Periyar National Park and Eravikulam National Park. The rainforest of majestic mountain is full of natural beauty and one of the must see place in India.

                                  If you want to go for a quick getaway, Western Ghats region is an ideal place for adventure, a variety of flora and fauna, National parks etc. If you are a beginner,  there are a  plenty options to choose from, and make yourself fit and happy!

For more further queries about the same please visit  www.getbeyondlimits.com 

Differences Between Monsoon And Summer Treks

Monsoon treks are wet, lush green and splashy, while summer treks are more about sunshine on your face and sweat dripping down your back. But is this the only difference between a monsoon trek and a summer trek? To find out, you need to experience these seasonal treks to understand better. While some like the rain and some like the feel of the harsh sun right above their heads. Seasonal treks are…

Top 4 Spooky Stories That You Have To Share In Your Next Campfire

Campfires are the highlight of any camping experience. They help you socialize and create the mood by sharing stories that can chill your bones. Spooky stories have been a campfire tradition around the world since times immemorial. But the question is, are you a good storyteller? Or do you have great stories to share? Well, if the answer to these questions are a no, here are top 4 spooky stories…

6 Famous Sherpas We Should All Know About

Sherpas are real life heroes. While western mountaineers are famed all across the world, we often tend to forget to credit these sherpas who have equal, or far too many achievements to their names as well. Sherpa translates into “The Eastern People” and this ethnic group is a big help to all the mountaineers from across the world who aspire to climb the Everest, or any other peak around Nepal.…

TOP 5 CHEAP AND BEST BRANDS FOR TREKKING GEAR

If there is one thing that every trekker should have, it is good quality trekking gear. But shopping for these is a troublesome task as finding good trekking gear can be a little expensive. As any trekker might suggest, do not compromise on the quality as being broke at the end of the month is always better than coming back from the trek with blisters and injuries. But what if you knew the right…

Movies mostly show us the real side of the world, by dramatizing various aspects of our lives. It is basically  a medium of entertainment, but that is not all...People who are true movie lovers will know for a fact that films even teach or spread awareness about almost everything under the sun. So these are some movies which will persuade you to go around the globe.

 1.      This Mountain Life: In this film/documentary revolves around a duo of mother and daughter, who attempt the ski trek from Canada to Alaska. The mother has just turned sixty, and she is more than ready to take up this challenge. the gripping story with her daughter  an avalanche burial; a group of nuns who inhabit a mountain retreat to be closer to God; an impassioned alpinist; a focused snow artist; a couple who has been living off grid in the mountains for nearly 50 years. All this combined makes a treat to watch “This Mountain Life”. The mountain ranges are covered with snow to the brim, with beautiful and natural beauty of the world.

                                          2.      The Moment:  This feature documentary is all about free ride mountain biking. A group of bikers , in the backwards of British and Columbia are extreme adventure seekers.  It is like a parallel universe where the riders want to see what their bikes can do. They smoke pot, live in the mountains and go down the hill with their bikes. Blood is everywhere along the trails. They are a bruised almost everywhere on their bodies including their  stomach, hands, legs. Its an excellent movie which may inspire you to start mountain hiking or cycling from somewhere.  Personally I was smiling throughout the movie, and wished I had the same skills and guts.

                                      3.      Plan C-14: “Not everybody has a Plan B”. This movie revolves around a man, Martin, an 83-year-old industrious man, who embarks on a unique journey at 14.000 ft through the deserted highlands of the Argentine Andes mountains. He is running out of time and against all odds and Doctor's recommendations, he is determined to have one last adventure before the end. His love and dedication for traveling are stronger than any medical diagnosis. His old friend, Mariano, was his companion in all his adventures and he passed away. This made him  to embark on a new journey to the place where they made their last trip together in an attempt to bid him farewell. This Movie received the best adventure Film of 2018 by BANFF.

 4.      Free Solo: Free Solo is a documentary film based on a rock climber, who wants to climb the toughest mountain on this Earth. It has portrayed the perspectives of all his closed ones. His girlfriend is happy that he is perusing his dream, but is she is afraid that he wont make it and return from the trip. His mother is very proud of him, and also believes that, life would mean nothing to him, if he doesn’t do this, there will be no meaning to his life! This man is an inspiration to so many mountain climbers out there. This movie had received “Best Documentary Film Award” by BAFTA in 2018.

                             5.      Trembling Mountain: On April 25, 2015, Nepal was hit by a devastating earthquake in which 9,000 people lost their lives. The quake caused an avalanche of snow, ice and debris that swept away entire villages. One of them was the village of Langtang in the magnificent Langtang Valley, a popular trekking destination surrounded by the majestic Himalayas, where the avalanche killed 176 of the villagers and around 80 hikers. The Nepalese filmmaker Kesang Tseten Lama travels to the area days after the earthquake, going on to document the survivors’ efforts to rebuild their lives for a full year, long after the earthquake has faded from the news. Most residents are taken to a refugee camp where they are given basic facilities like limited food, negligible health care facilities and shelter. The director encapsulates every emotion of the survivors who have been through tragic situation.

                                                       BOOKS WHICH WILL MAKE YOU WANDERLUST

 Many people prefer books over movies. All of us have been a part of an argument at least once in our lifetime, that is the book better than the movie, or vice-versa. I say, decide for yourselves!

 1.      Before They pass away: In this book, the writer, Jimmy Nelson has showcased a group of tribals protecting their culture and heritage in this increasingly globalized world. This book reminds us that their tradition is not only joyful to look at, but has a lot of historical importance too. The photography done by the author himself  is splendid with beautiful landscapes captured with nuance and posterity.

                             2.      Complete Atlas of the World: This beautiful atlas of the world is the best one we’ve ever owned and one the most essential books for travel junkies. It includes over  330 maps depicted in full-colour double-page spreads, it provides a detailed profile of the world’s continents and countries. Readers will also find a series of thematic maps that explore Earth’s place in the universe, its physical forms and processes, the living world, and the human condition.

                                3.      Into thin Air: It is basically a personal account written by Jon Krakauer, where an expedition to Mt. Everest leads to eight people dying including several casualties suffered by the survivors. The author was one of the many who survived the rogue storm. Even a movie was adapted from the same.

 4.      The bucket list: The book revolves around a billionaire and a mechanic who share the same hospital room. Apart from sharing the same room they also share common interests of travelling to some of the places, mentioned in their respective lists. They decided to embark on a adventure journey before any of them or both of them die.

                                            5.The Push: An  inspiring memoir by legendary rock climber Tommy Caldwell, the first person to free climb the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s El Capitan. It is similar to the documentary free solo where they climb one of the toughest rocks on Earth. Yet another inspiring story which will keep the readers hooked throughout the story!

   Movies and books give us a brief knowledge about whatever topic they choose to write or show about. Even when you don’t have enough money to travel, movies and books can give you a visual or  tour of that place in much lesser amount of money. If you want to read more such content on travel and advenure outdoor activities click on the link https://www.getbeyondlimits.com/#quick-blog

                                                                                        Pratusha Asawalikar

At 27,000 feet, while climbing towards the summit, I started feeling cold in my left foot. From my previous experience, I knew if I continued, it could turn into frost bite and a possible amputation. That was a moment when I had to opt between the physical survival and self esteem.