Trailblazers of Tomorrow: The Gen Z YHAI Trekker

Trading Screens for Sunrises

GenZ spends most of their time on digital platforms and yet they demonstrate an unexpected preference for offline activities. People need to leave city sounds behind by going into actual forests and mountains, clouds and snow, tents and long winding trail spaces. Young people have discovered trekking as a new exciting way to escape their daily lives.

The Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) serves as the starting point for many of these adventures which take place throughout India.

YHAI has been organizing treks throughout India for more than twenty years. The organization experienced its first major transformation during the past five years. College students and young professionals now make up the majority of campers who visit the site while GenZ trekkers arrive with their backpacks and preloaded playlists and mountain exploration curiosity.

The First Trek is Always Special

I remember my first time, it was a small one-day monsoon trek to a waterfall, but the experience, it really did open up a field which I did not know about at all.

Looking back now, I have completed multiple treks now, ranging from short one-day ones, right up to hiking in the Himalaya for 7-8 days on end, all of them with YHAI. And for good reason, the quality of the trek, the experience of the guides, as well as the people you meet, the authentic experience one feels staying in a tent, it just increases the experience ten-fold.

Most trekkers join their first YHAI trek not knowing exactly what to expect.

But the beauty is not in how each trek goes, it lies in the people you meet, the nature you experience and the stunning visuals you see. Creating memories which one remembers for a lifetime.

The trek becomes so memorable, that it becomes a necessary habit, in our daily bustling life.

Enjoyment through Trekking

The daily routine of young people establishes trekking as their preferred way to escape from normal life. The daily schedule includes lectures and projects and deadlines and screen time. The activity of trekking provides a basic way to travel which consists of walking and breathing fresh air while observing the landscape that changes with every step. 

The steep climb which seemed impossible to climb during the morning hours transformed into a peak accomplishment by the afternoon. The experience of watching a mountain ridge at dawn brings greater satisfaction than the experience of using a smartphone. The evening welcome drink provides a refreshing experience which helps one recover after a demanding day of climbing mountains. 

Freedom represents the most enjoyable element of this experience. The trek creates an environment where people do not care about your social media following or your footwear brand. The entire group works together to travel to the upcoming campsite.

Helping with things you forgot to bring, tasty snacks, or just a helping hand when you need it to overcome that slippery climb. 

The Joy of Disconnecting

GenZ prefers trekking because they find it enjoyable to walk in areas without mobile network coverage. The trail experience starts when phones stop working because their signal disappears and people begin to talk to one another. People start games during their break time. Walking people create music through their singing. The beauty of nature becomes more enjoyable when people view valleys and forests and snow-covered peaks.

You start to realize the soft chirp of birds, the leaves rustling in the wind, distant peaks which show just how magnificent it all can be.

The small moments of sharing tea at a campsite and watching clouds move across mountains and sitting together with a hot soup create memories that feel more authentic than digital screens display.

More Than Just an Adventure

The trail of a trek transforms human beings through its minor yet significant effects. The trail teaches hikers to maintain patience through its unending sections. The achievement of reaching a summit which you once believed to be impossible builds your self-confidence. The experience teaches you that working together with others provides assistance during challenging times. Many GenZ trekkers return from their first YHAI trek wanting to do another one. Some volunteers take on the responsibility of organizing upcoming programs while they motivate others to discover nature. The initial point of curiosity eventually develops into a passion for discovering new things.

A Generation Rediscovering Nature

The choice between mountains and malls together with trails and traffic serves as an inspiring demonstration of youthful decision-making. The Youth Hostels Association of India operates its programs which enable thousands of GenZ trekkers to experience India's natural beauty every year. The trekkers learn about themselves through their experience of walking in nature which teaches them resilience and friendship and the simple happiness of walking in nature. The most effective path for progress requires people to proceed by walking on the established path

About the Author

Adeep Kuncalienker is a student in his third year at IIT Bombay, who started trekking at the age of 7.He has completed multiple treks from Everest Base Camp to the Kashmir Great Lakes. Besides his studies, he is a regular trekker, going for weekends to visit Maharashtra's forts