Trekking is an adventure that comes with certain risks. Despite some inhabitable risks, your safety is the first priority while traveling with Sublime Trails. Even though we can not eliminate all the risks during the trek, we will manage the trek efficiently and follow safety measures as much as possible. We try to make your trip as safe as possible. Here are some of the potential risks or hazards that may appear during the treks and our take to cope with them.
Potential Risks/Hazards
1. Altitude Sickness Acute Mountain Sickness
Trekking at high altitudes always possesses the risk of altitude sickness. Mild cases of headache, difficulty breathing, and nausea are normal. But, taking careless steps can make it severe. Not knowing exactly what to do can cause physical harm and even death.
2. Injuries due to animal
Yaks are huge animals found in the Himalayan region used for transporting goods. Yaks may attack someone who gets in their way or if someone teases them. These animals may push you with their horn and cause you to fall and injure yourself. Along the way, you may encounter several other animals like dogs and sheep. Not knowing how to deal with them may put you in a risky situation.
These treks also possess the risk of mosquito bites and leeches. Leeches attach to your body parts and draw blood until it's full. Though they are not dangerous, they may cause you to panic.
3. Overexertion
Walking for several hours a day for multiple days is not an easy task. Especially when the days are hot and the trails are steep, your body loses a lot of energy. If you don’t replenish yourself with needed nutrients and proper rest, you will be left unable to complete the trip. Setting unrealistic goals and forcing your body to do something it’s not comfortable with will only keep you at risk of overexertion.
4. Injuries due to slippery trails
The trails in the Everest region are usually safe but in rainy seasons, the trails can get slippery due to rainfall. During winter, when the trail is covered in snow, there can be a risk of falling in injuring yourself.
5. GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood)
The probability of a glacial lake outburst flood is very low and is a rare risk. It occurs when the water from glaciers or moraines is suddenly released due to water pressure. It is considered to be a catastrophic disaster if it happens.
6. Food Poisoning and Dehydration
While trekking, food poisoning is one of the major risks to consider. It might be a minor problem but can escalate quickly. Normally food poisoning happens when you eat something unhygienic or food that you are not used to. It also happens when one can not maintain personal hygiene during the trek. The contaminants in water are also equally responsible for food poisoning.
Dehydration is also a problem while trekking. The weather is usually cold in the Everest region, so one might feel like not drinking water. So usually, people forget to drink water, but our body needs more water at high altitudes than in the lower region.
7. Other Risks
- Frostbiting
- Snow Blindness
- Emotional exhaustion
Assets at risk
- Generally, the porters and local guides are experienced in dealing with altitude sickness. So most trekkers are at risk in trekking
- Anyone including guides and porters is at risk of yak attacks. However, it is not much serious and dangerous problem
- Injuries due to slippery trails might happen to anyone but trekkers are more vulnerable to this problem as they are not used to walking on such trails.
- The probability of GLOF is very low but when it happens, it causes serious traumas and damage to everyone.
- Trekkers are at more risk of food poisoning as they often are not used to local food items and not being able to maintain cleanliness during the trek is a cause for some people.
Safety Measures
- We choose proper vehicles to take you from one place to another making your travel safe and comfortable.
- We give you proper packing information before pursuing the trek so that your trek becomes smooth. Some of the things are vital to make your trek easier or save you from potential harm such as snowblindness.
- We give you proper information regarding what to do and what not to do prior to the trek. Some of the information will help you bond with locals and enhance your experience. Our guides will instruct you on how to save yourselves from animal attacks, how to behave around animals so that they do not get violent and hurt you etc.
- We always prioritize your safety. If the weather conditions are not right or there are some potential risks. In case of any danger alert we back out from our plan and we only proceed further if things are safe and fine.
- We gather information from past experiences or reliable sources to predict the weather. It minimizes the risk of getting stuck in bad weather conditions
- In case you get stuck with some emergency problems, our guides and other staff members are well-trained to handle such situations. They will deal with the situation before it causes you any harm.
- We give you suggestions on what to do and what not according to your personal situation. We check if the foods provided by tea houses are good for you prior to your breakfast, lunch, or dinner time.
- Our guides constantly remind you to drink water to avoid dehydration. They have profound knowledge of the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of local people. So, they help you behave properly according to the situation.
- Our guides will also help you figure out what animals are violent and how to act when you are near them.
- We design itineraries carefully so that you can cope with increasing altitude. We make the plans in such a way that you get enough time to acclimatize and do not get exhausted.
- In case of any emergency or evacuation due to injuries, altitude sickness, etc., our team members in Kathmandu are on standby to help you 24/7.
- We set realistic goals each day to avoid overexertion. Following the itinerary properly, you will get to enjoy trekking without getting exhausted at the end of the day.
- Our guides are very careful about any symptoms of altitude sickness or any other injuries or illnesses. You will be taken care of properly in such situations.
- Our guides are trained to give basic first-aid treatments. Minor injuries during the trek will be taken care of properly.
- Sometimes, physical drains can also demotivate you. Our guides will also give you emotional support and keep you motivated.