An Introduction to Trekking

A guide is often helpful with your communication with the locals. In Europe, this was not an issue as my wife spoke fluent French. In Nepal, I always hire a guide. Beside the benefits of knowing the trail, assisting with lodging and helping hire porters, it's also a great way to support the local economy.

Do I Need a Porter?

Another decision to make is whether to carry your entire load or to hire porters to lighten it. Porters are not always available, as in Europe. Instead, for hikes connected to the road, your extra luggage may be driven to the next stop each day. On hikes like in Nepal, there are no roads so individuals are usually hired to help share the load.

More: Pack Light and Hike Strong

For treks in remote areas like Burma, where food and tents must be carried, porters are a must. In fact, they outnumber the trekkers. This helps make your hike much more comfortable and again provides an income to locals that desperately need the money.

It's important to pay attention to how your porters are treated. Different countries have different regulations. In Peru, porters were strictly limited to the amount of weight they could carry and were inspected multiple times on the trail.

More: Hiking Checklist: What to Pack for the Trail

In contrast, in Nepal, it is common practice to overweigh porters who are not properly clothed for the conditions. Even the guides from agencies rarely take up a concern; they tell you what you want to hear.

There are countless other variations when you trek that range from whether you stay in a tent or lodge and what equipment you need, to how much food should you carry with you. Stay tuned for coverage of these and many other issues in future articles on trekking.

More: Backpack Buying Tips

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