SAVE HIMALAYAS - BE A GREEN HIKER

Few experiences in the world can match the ecstasy of sitting in a lime green meadow in the highest alpine mountains with wildflowers and ponies tor company. Stretching over 2,400 km along the Indian subcontinent, home to over 100 peaks higher than 20,000 ft and boasting 15,000 glaciers, the Himalayas offer much more than a series of geographical superlatives. Think natural beauty in liberal doses, think mysterious forests, think landscapes that vary every 10 km, think about the humbling scale of the peaks, think vast, high-altitude deserts, think unique wildlife and tremendous rivers, and you might begin to understand why man gravitates towards these enormous giants.

But as Alex Lowe, the celebrated mountaineer, once said, 'There are two kinds of climbers, those who climb because their heart sings when they're in the mountains, and all the rest." Today, the Indian Himalayas endure, on an average, an influx of 1,28,70,928 enthusiastic tourists every year, which is almost one-third of their entire human population. In this modern age, riding a bike to Leh is considered a rite of passage, and the biggest high that the self-proclaimed Marco Polos of the year 2010 can concoct is driving a 4WD into the north-eastern Himalayas and setting up a blog upon return, peppered with ample pictures of remote valleys. But this is the nemesis of our generation, and it is this very remoteness that stands endangered. Despite enough public messages and easy access to information, glacial meltdown is threatening eco stability. For example, the glacier that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay camped on for their first ascent of Mt Everest, has retreated five kilometres upslope and melting rates worldwide have doubled since the 1980s remains only another newspaper report to most, intrepid travelers included.

Save Himalayas - Be a Green Hiker

• Get local guides wherever possible so that the economic benefits remain in the region.
• Purchase locally grown food and beverages wherever possible.
• Support community based initiatives like home stays.
• Be considerate when using shared infrastructure and services.
• Minimize pollution from phones, radios, loud conversations, sudden movements, flash photography, bright colored clothing and open fires
• Avoid night-time wildlife sightseeing tours unless required for conservation projects
• Avoid feeding wildlife.
• Learn more about sensitive sites and species in the local area by talking to local area managers, conservation groups, researchers or other professionals.

Based on this information, small changes in tour routes, how often they are used, the duration of activities or the key natural sites visited could help prevent irreversible damage and allow natural areas to regenerate.
Use established tracks and sites wherever possible when choosing routes and campsites. Avoid clearing new areas or tracks to help minimize erosion, habitat-clearing and trampling on vegetation. Where there are a few key routes and sites, rotate the ones used to allow areas to recover without putting too much pressure
on anyone area. This can be particularly important where there are no sealed or graveled tracks or boardwalks. When choosing routes and campsites, avoid highly sensitive sites such as breeding grounds (which may be seasonal) and areas where vulnerable or sensitive species exist. Avoid camping within a distance of 30m from water bodies and 100m from cave entrances. Clean all equipment and footwear before entering mountain areas to avoid chemicals entering waterways and exotic seeds and diseases entering the local ecosystems. Avoid open fires to reduce accidental fires and scarring of the landscape in dry areas. In snow-covered areas, this can also help protect sensitive vegetation beneath the snow. Remove all artificial structures after use. In snow-covered areas in particular, it is important to remove kitchens, shelters and other constructions after use as they are visually unattractive and create artificial wind and water breaks. Avoid over-packaged goods and disposable items. Purchase in bulk and use recyclable and refillable containers where possible. Keep waste and chemicals away from natural water bodies. Avoid the use of cleaning products, soaps, detergents and toothpaste near or in fresh water. Be careful with the disposal of human waste. If toilets are unavailable, bury human waste at least 15 cm deep and 100m from water sources or campsites. Use permanent toilets or portable chemical toilets where possible.

But consider the impact of off-track driving as opposed to routes that stick to metaled roads, think about the noise pollution generated due to any festival, not to forget the waste left behind, and you are getting closer to the issue. In higher altitudes, tourist season coincides with peak wildlife activity, which affects the fragile ecosystem in more ways than one. Tourists clean out sparse mountain vegetation for campfires, leaving very little food For wild herbivores, and disturbances to animals such as the wild ass, often chased by jeep safaris, isn't unheard of either. Breeding grounds of the waterfowl and black-necked cranes are under serious threat as well.


Almost all of the Himalayas are in danger, and if we don't wake up to the looming reality, our future generations will be unable to enjoy world's most fantastic natural heritage. Hillary summed up the reality of our situation in these words: "Cod has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools' Mountains are worth saving, and you can help do it."