This weekend, a group of trekkers will help visually impaired enthusiasts experience the thrill of trekking in the Western Ghats
Visually impaired trekkers explore their surroundings with the help of guides. PICS COURTESY/SIDDESH NAYAK
When you stand atop Mount Kalsubai’s summit, the highest peak in the Sahyadris, the sky changes shades in layers. The clouds drift close enough to touch, those who have been there will vouch. Sunsets, we hear, are to die for. Yet on a trek last month, a group saw none of it. Guided by the Blinds Who Trek community, 10 visually impaired trekkers discovered the magic of the Western Ghats through the breeze, echoes, and the diverse terrain.
“Even though I’ll never know how a waterfall looks, I can now tell you how water sounds when it falls from different heights, I can recognise the fragrance of newly blossoming trees and bushes, or the nostalgic smell that emanates from wet soil,” says Nikhil Bhalerao, who was rendered visually impaired when he was one year old. Bhalerao recalls feeling unseen among his friends, who would have stories of their school trips to parks and forts. Maharashtra’s rich natural history, he now reminds us, is for everyone to enjoy.
Mira Road-based trekker Siddesh Nayak has been meticulously planning these treks both on and off field. “In 2018, I was pursuing my Master’s degree in Marketing. As part of a college workshop, my professor asked us to spotlight one communication pitfall in the city that needed a solution. My mind immediately skipped to the many visually impaired commuters I had observed at Dadar railway station. During peak hours, some of them would stumble, even fall to the ground. There was no help at hand,” the 31-year-old recalls. The project sparked a commitment to give the visually impaired a dignified life, he says.
Alfiya Memon (right) with her guide
The community functions through a WhatsApp group of volunteers passionate about the mountain range. On a trek, each participant is usually paired with a volunteer who becomes their eyes for the day. “These volunteers are experienced trekkers, but more importantly, they’re patient and caring human beings,” Nayak points out. The many shades of blue meeting each other over mighty peaks is conveyed to the participants through words. Unlike most busy Mumbaikars, this group does in fact, have all day. The Kalsubai trek that usually takes six hours to finish, is extended to 12 hours to accommodate the special needs.
Siddesh Nayak (centre) with a group of trekkers
“Being visually challenged, I was always surrounded by protection. I had to take the leap of faith with a trek to Sudhagad near Pune,” says Alfiya Memon, who joined a trek this year. Ask her for her fondest memory from the climb (which she summited, by the way), and it’s not the cold wind blowing through her hair, or the sound of raindrops 2000 ft above sea level. “At one point in the climb, I had given up. My peers relentlessly motivated me to get back up. The memory of reaching the top and hearing everyone cheer for me will stay with me forever,” she recalls.
A senior participant lays on grass for a fully tactile experience
Ahead of the next trek at Harishchandragad this weekend, Nayak is counting on Mumbaikars to step up to the cause. “We need volunteers in large numbers to help expand our avenues. Because we operate on a slim no-profit-no-loss model, we cannot afford to pay much,” he rues.
Help comes in many shapes and forms for the group. At the Sudhagad trek, where Memon had reached her first summit, it was humanity that peaked. “A group of young trekkers behind us was visibly confused and irked by how slow we were moving. One of them reluctantly came forward to see what the commotion was. When they realised we were with visually impaired individuals, they all joined in and we became one large group,” he reminisces, before signing off.
ON December 6, 7
MEETING POINT Revealed on enquiry
LOG ON TO @blinds_who_trek (for queries and registrations)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
