Nehal’s passion for preserving nature was like an heirloom she wanted to pass on, but it was a challenge in Mumbai. Unable to find a reliable travel company for young adults, she took matters into her own hands after her son Dev was born. Nehal founded ‘Heart and Soil,’ a community promoting outdoor activities and sustainable living for families
Thanks to this initiative, Dev went camping at two and a half years of age which ignited his love for trekking and the outdoors. Last year, when Dev was 10, Nehal took her son on an Indiahikes Family Camp in Dayara Bugyal. “We loved everything from the DIY activities to the food and the Green Trails initiative. We decided to make this a yearly ritual,” shares Nehal.
Little did they know that their next trek to Deoriatal-Chandrashila would be extremely different. A few days before the trek, Nehal suffered a back spasm. Thinking she might be able to make it nevertheless, they both left home for the trek “Before the trek, I had asked him if I could not carry on, would Dev want to carry on without me? To my surprise, he told me he would complete the trek regardless,” shares Nehal. If it came to it, I knew it would be tough for me to let him go on his own, but I also trusted that he was in safe hands.
When the trek finally began, Nehal’s back did not hold. She was at the end of the group while her son was leading; She had to leave to the base without saying goodbye. “I started doubting my decision on the way back but half an hour later, I saw pictures of him on our WhatsApp group and felt confident,” recalls Nehal. The first night away from his mother was tough, especially with an unexpected hailstorm. “Dev called me from his Trek Leader, Siddharth’s phone. I could sense he was emotional. I had to be strong for both of us,” shares Nehal.
The second day, filled with group activities, helped Dev regain his spirits. He learned new skills and made new friends. His trekking guides, Amitji and Karmaji were a constant source of motivation.
On the third day, Dev had a surprise. His mother, feeling slightly better, had joined them at the campsite. Dev was happy, but stayed dedicated to his camp activities for the day. “He even told me he would sleep with the Indiahikes team to be summit-ready,” shares Nehal. The summit day was challenging. Nehal couldn’t go with her son, but Dev, all of 11, carried on and was among the first to reach the summit!. “I felt on top of the world at the summit. I am eager to feel that again” says Dev, who received a well-deserved ‘Spirit of a Trekker’ badge after the trek “I have seen so much transfor-mation in my son and never ex-pected this kind of mental strength, confidence, commitment and responsibility in him. I would like to highlight in my story how the Indiahikes team helped my son to bring out his best & created an environment which helped him thrive and bring out his best. And all without me for the first time ever” says Nehal proudly.
Dev is set on many more Himalayan trails like Sandakphu. “He would do it with or without me; he has found his driving force,” shares Nehal. She urges parents to reassess their fears so they don’t project them onto their children, and instead let them take the lead and stand behind them in support.
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