Note: The Summit is only 2 kilometres from the Nag Mandir Campsite. So, even though descent takes time, the trekking day will still be a short one.
That said, trekkers are guided and trained by trek leaders on how to steer through snow during ascent and descent along with the equipment one can use. We discuss more about this in the section below titled “Skills required for the Nag Tibba Trek”.
Fitness Levels Required for the Nag Tibba Trek
The trails of Nag Tibba are relatively easy to navigate. Since the trek is only a weekend long, our backpacks are relatively lighter. We also have the added advantage of leaving some of our things behind at the campsite on the day of the summit.
That said, you will still need good lung capacity and leg strength to complete the trek. If you are struggling most of the time, you won’t be able to enjoy the trek. With the end goal being enjoying the trek thoroughly and not just completing it, the following is the fitness level we recommend.
Practice jogging/running three days a week and see if you can cover 5 kms in 30-40 minutes. In addition to this, you can also add some resistance workouts for legs (like squats and lunges) and core into your training schedule.
Gear Required for Nag Tibba Trek
While we will be providing most of the equipment needed for trekking (tents, sleeping bags, crampons, snow boots etc), there is some basic gear you will need from your end to get through your hike comfortably.
These are a sturdy, lightweight backpack and comfortable trekking shoes. In case, you plan on purchasing them, please refer to the articles below for some helpful tips on how to go about choosing the right gear for your trek.
A branded backpack can be a hefty spend when it comes to trekking. But this needn’t be the case if you know what to look for when purchasing one.
One of our founders, Pankaj, purchased a non-branded pack for INR 1100 in 2010 and the pack continues to work just fine for him. In the article linked above, he shares some helpful tips on what to look for when choosing a trekking backpack.
Conventional sports shoes don’t suit trekking trails. We recommend wearing high ankle shoes with sturdy soles. These not only provide better support but also reduce the possibility of injuries while hiking. For a trek like Nag Tibba, where you are likely to encounter snow during the winter months, we recommend wearing water resistant shoes to avoid exposing your feet to cold temperatures. Please refer to the guide linked above for some useful tips on choosing trekking shoes.
Trekking poles are not mandatory butcan help take the stress off joints especially during descents and save energy. It is an accessory that helps the trekker with stability and rhythm on rough terrain.
The article linked above explains how to use trekking poles.
Skills required for Nag Tibba trek
Bikat Adventures is primarily an adventure learning organization. This means our key objective is not just to help trekkers complete their treks but also to ensure they pick up some valuable lessons and skills in trekking along the way.
To achieve this, we have created learning modules and paired them to different levels on the Bikat Rating Scale.
These modules are taught real-time on the trails by our trek leaders.
On the Nag Tibba trek, our trek leaders guide and train the group on how to steer through the snow during ascent and descent before attempting the summit. The trekkers are instructed about various trekking equipment that will be used during the trek like gaiters, micro-spikes and trekking pole, all in coordination with one another.