Schedule
Spring 2025 – Register here
- Batch 1: Apr 20-26 – slots available
- Batch 2: Apr27-May3 – slots available
- Batch 3: May 4-10 – slots available
- Batch 4: May 11-17 – slots available
Objective
The Alpine Hiking Bootcamp was started in 2022 as a one week practical course to teach people on alpine style exploration of the Himalayas and grow the independent hiking community in India. The course consolidates my extensive field experience on exploration of more than 300 passes across the Indian Western Himalayas in recent years and teaches students to independently plan and navigate Himalayan traverses. The bootcamp is organized twice annually in Manali in Spring and Autumn. More background over here.
Agenda
Students will master the art of alpine style hiking in the Himalayas through 16 hands-on modules covering all key aspects of planning and executing an alpine style journey in the mountains. The bootcamp is practical oriented including class room theory, hands-on assignments on phone and field assignments in the trails around the basecamp.
Inspiration
After completing the Alpine Hiking Bootcamp in April 2023, Sant completed a solo 21 day alpine style traverse covering 320 kms across 13 high altitude mountain passes in Kullu, Shimla, Uttarkashi and Tehri Gharwal districts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand with a total elevation gain of 32,565 meters. He explored new routes using Survey of India maps, went ultra light, supplied food on the way and dynamically adapted his route as per weather and snow conditions. Read his experience over here.
Program
Location: Manali
A one week immersive learning in the mountains on independent hiking – understanding Himalayan geography, high altitude terrains, understanding topography & contours, planning a Himalayan traverse as per the seasons and weather, fast-hiking and minimalist lightweight gears, learning various techniques to navigate the wilderness, Himalayan communities, night stay & shelter, managing wildlife encounters, food planning & hydration, topographic maps, blogs & books, Himalayan regions & hiking routes, digitally mapping new trails, etc.
Participants will check into a beautiful basecamp in the mountains where above topics will be taught through theory, practical assignments on mobile and hands-on field assignments in the surrounding forests and meadows. They will plan and execute multiple day and overnight hikes to master the art of independent hiking.
Registrations
Interested participants for upcoming editions register here. Do not re-register if you already signed up earlier but did not attend. You will be informed on future editions.
Course fees = 25K INR. This includes 7-day packed course condensing years of valuable field experience, comfortable stay and delicious food in a beautiful, remote basecamp in the mountains and personalized guidance on your future alpine hikes. This amount equals cost of 1 commercial hike and gives free lifetime independent hiking.
To confirm make a full payment to reserve a slot. Payment is non refundable. Till one month before the bootcamp you can change your slot to a future date. After that the slot reserved by you cannot be filled and is a loss for the organizer and thus a new reservation is required
Pre-requisites no prior knowledge is required. A basic fitness level will allow you to make the most out of the bootcamp. No camping gears required (can be rented in Manali) – just a pair of good shoes, warm jacket and backpack. One week of leave is sufficient to attend – 5 weekdays + previous / next weekend covers travel + one week course. Participants travel by train or flight to Delhi and from there overnight bus to Manali.
Profile
Ultra-runner, explorer, alpinist and minimalist. Born in Belgium, settled in India since 1998. Quit the corporate world in 2017 and since then into full-time exploration of the Indian Himalayas. Founder of the Chennai Trekking Club, a 40 thousand member volunteer based non-profit outdoor community. Explored the South Indian jungles for over a decade. An accomplished ultra-runner having ran self-supported ultras over thousands of kms across the Indian Himalayas
In recent years I have explored (mostly solo) over 10 thousand kms across the Western Himalayas (Uttarakhand, Ladakh, J&K, Himachal) alpine style, self planned and navigated. I have been teaching independent hiking to the outdoor community for the past 10 years. I strongly believe in independent hiking as a more sustainable way of exploring the mountains. In the same spirit I GIS mapped the Indian Himalayas in detail to support the International outdoor community.
My motto “Die with memories, not dreams”.
- Web site – ultrajourneys.org
- Profile – instagram.com/petervangeit
Testimonials
Guiding Alpine Explorers
Based on my extensive exploration experience of 350 mountain passes in the Western Indian Himalayas I guide independent hikers from around the world in planning and executing their Himalayan traverses as per the seasons, identifying a realistic schedule, advising on gears, acclimatization, night halts and food supply. We discuss elaborately in advance to plan the route, strategy and challenges and stay in touch during the actual traverse rerouting as per actual weather (snow) conditions.
Benefits of Alpine Hiking
- Economical – one bootcamp equals the cost of one single commercial trek and gives you a lifetime free hiking
- Sustainability – independent hiking (solo or small group) leaves a smaller footprint on the environment vs. large organized groups
- Hospitality – experience unseen humanity in unexplored regions vs. frequented touristic places
- Gratification – of planning and executing your own independent hikes is immense
- Freedom – make your own way, chose your own destination, pace and schedule
- Knowledge/Learnings – gain insight in route planning, navigation, terrain study, weather & season planning
- Peacefulness – experience inner peace while exploring the lesser known paths far away from the crowded commercial locations
- Accomplishment – sense of accomplishment is far greater than an organized trek where everything is pre-arranged
- Decision making – your decision making and planning skills are tested every day
- Prioritize – between want to have (comfort) vs. need to have (essentials)
Hiking Styles
| Alpine Style Hiking | Organized Group Hiking |
| Cost effective | Expensive |
| Environmentally sustainable | Environmentally deteriorative |
| Plan own route and understand terrain | Guide shows you the way |
| Differentiate between needs vs. wants | Porters carry luggage, comfort |
| Hospitality in untouched places | Crowded commercial campsites |
| Sense of accomplishment | Everything taken care of |
| Discover yourself – push your limits | – |
| Total freedom | Fixed schedule, group, pace |
| Pre-trek preparation & fitness | – |
| Peacefulness | Crowded touristic places |
Hi, I would be interested to attend the Alpine Field Bootcamp. I’m a mountaineer by passion and have always been doing guided climbs. My recent has been the Everest (summited on May 15th 2022).
Please send me the details around price, etc and the link to register.
Sign up in the link on the web site Sunil and I ll get in touch
Hi Sunil, nothing beats the immense learning and satisfaction of planning and executing your own Himalayan traverse. All details on ultrajourneys.org/abc
Alpine field bootcamp in May 2023,interested to register
How do I register?
Dr, register in the current link on the web site and I ll notify you as soon as the May registrations open
Hi Peter, I would like to register for the batch of May 2023. What is the procedure for applying.
Thank you!
gs
Just sign up in the current link Gurmeetsingh and you ll be intimated first hand once May registrations open