A lot of times we come across this question from trekkers about why we don’t set fixed camps on our treks like some of the trek operators have been doing.
People think it is a smart strategy and a more convenient option. It saves everyone time that gets invested in setting up the camps.
What they don't know is how much convenient the idea may appeal to them, it is not ethically and ecologically right.
I discussed the issue of fixed camping with Ritvij, one of the co-founders of Bikat Adventures and here is what he had to say.
“Trekking is an activity that is not just about walking on mountain slopes but unfortunately it is becoming like that. Trekking is way beyond walking! When done in a group, it’s a proper team task. You need a leader of the team who can strategize and plan and you need team members who can play their part. In fact you need team members with different skill sets to complete the task better - Some aggressors who can lead the way and pave it for those who follow, some caretaker who can be sensitive to the needs of all members, and some sweepers who are so patient that they can motivate even the laggards to complete the trek.
If you have some technical people like mountaineers, photographers, bloggers as part of your team, then even better. You are up for a great team experience. I have been an HR professional and seen how team building games are useless but I can vouch for creating a team through trekking and defend my claim even in a court of law!
Fixed camping kills the team aspect of trekking. If I don't even know what all equipment we are carrying with our group, who all are supporting us for carrying the common logistics, who would be our cook, who would help us in our camping tasks, how do I even start to think of this group as a team? I cannot accept trekking as a check in - check out model activity where instead of traveling in a car, I am walking between hotel camps! Trekking with rolling camps is rough, it is a bit messy as well but you are completely independent and can be fearless in the wilderness if you are with your team. You have everything that you need and if needed, you can start and stop anywhere.
We decided on Day 1 that we would never use fixed camps but now our trekkers do not find any campsites in the towns that people set up on popular treks. I am not kidding. Just go to Kedarkantha trek and see the base camp. It looks like a bloody town! We move in smaller groups, we brief groups as teams, we introduce everyone to everyone, our staff is fixed for groups and not camps. My teams on any of these treks would be the first to reach a campsite but what is the point! We would have to settle up for a compromise. The result is that even we have to think of ways and means to capture a site for our groups.”
