landslides in himachal pradesh drowning deaths at a waterfall in goa if youre an avid trekker who enjoys being in the misty green hills in monsoon theres enough cause for concern as weather and rainfall patterns become unpredictable and hordes of amateurs hit the hill trails seasoned trekkers and tour organisers tell us about the need to put caution over daring while preparing for a monsoon trekread alsotrekking adventure tourism on cards in pachamalai hillsthe tamil nadu tourism development corporation ttdc has proposed to introduce trekking and adventure tourism activities in the pachamalai hills near thuraiyurfrom packing your rucksack to getting the right clothes and shoes theres lots to keep in minda mountaineer geared up for trekwhat to packthe backpackgo in for a 2055 litre backpack depending on your trek duration the backpack should ideally weigh not more than 20 of your body weight as heavy bags can strain your shoulders back and knees leading to fatigue during the trekthe backpacktrekking shoesyour regular sneakers however expensive will not work on wet and slippery mountain trails youll need hiking boots with antiskid gum soles that are waterproof to some degree you can add a soft insole to increase comfort for himalayan treks sarfaraz recommends shoes with vibram soles which are blend of rubber and foam and have a high degree of abrasion resistancethe trekking shoestorch hydration pack and snacksa lightweight torch or a head torch preferably with a usb rechargeable port is a must for those times when the trail gets dark and inaccessible a one litre hydration pack that can be attached to the backpack is also a mustcarry for long treks parag sharma founder of travel service company aao chalein says pack quick bites and healthy snacks like chocolates 12 protein bars dry fruits and trail mixes for a quick energy boost but avoid consuming excessive protein in artificial heavy shakes as it takes more oxygen to break down the protein at higher altitudes and hence takes longer to digest also pack ors sachets for emergencies the head torchrain gearcarry a windcheater or a synthetic poncho and gaiters for your feet which are fabric guards that cover the gap between your trousers and walking boots and prevent your feet from getting soaked if you dont want to invest in trekking gear for the rainy season you can rent it as well an extra rain cover and plastic packets will help protect your other accessories too never leave any plastic behind in the hillsthe raincoatthe right clothesveteran trekkers advocate wearing fullsleeved synthetic insulated jackets or in colder climes clothing in merino wool that is breathable light and prevents mosquito bites and sunburns always carry extra dry clothes and polyester or polyamide socks sarfaraz baghdadi founder of treks and trails in mumbai says these days you get feather and fibre mix jacketsyou can also go for clothing in goretex material which is breathable yet windproof and waterproof to keep yourself dryprice of trekking essentialsjackets feather and fibre