This Thiruvananthapuram-based trekking group ties group constructing with outside exercise

Triathlete Suresh Sam Chandy was searching for trekking companions to Agasthyarkoodam, South India’s second-highest peak, situated in Thiruvananthapuram, in 2020. Unable to seek out somebody in his rapid circle, he unfold phrase about it. Eventually, there have been 40 folks prepared to hitch him on this troublesome climb.

This collective in the end led to the formation of ITREK, a mountaineering group that now has 500 members, aged 18 to 75. The group consists of civil servants, company heads, journalists, entrepreneurs, and college students. Their motto: Explore outside, embrace group. It focusses on sustainable journey, environmental accountability, and supporting forest-dwelling communities.

“We are a facilitating engine for individuals who like trekking. Many folks don’t know the way or the place to go for a trek; some wouldn’t have folks to go together with, and a few are nervous whether or not they can bodily endure a trek,” says Sam, a five-time Ironman triathlon winner, ending a sequence of swimming, working, and biking challenges.

ITREK focuses on three facets— exploring the outside to advertise a wholesome life-style, dedication to protect nature, and allegiance to forest-dependent and tribal communities with an emphasis on making certain a clear trek with out littering and increasing a serving to hand to forest dwellers, performing as a “window for alternate of concepts with folks residing within the metropolis.”

“With every trek, we contribute to the group. We mobilise funds for guides in the event that they attain out to us with well being or different points, since they’re a part of communities indigenous to forests,” says Sam. “They welcome us and communicate to us concerning the forest, the way in which they reside, within the obtainable window of time.”

Health is wealth

Sam says the membership advocates a wholesome life-style. He factors out that people who find themselves involved in trekking most frequently already prepare every day.

“The group is just not restricted to treks; we typically do sea-swimming too. Thiruvananthapuram has the Western Ghats on one aspect and the Arabian Sea on the opposite. It is a chance to expertise each,” says Sam.

He provides, “Even whether it is an aged individual, she or he must be match to an extent. Fortunately, these are the individuals who usually select trekking. For occasion, throughout our final trek to Arippa in Kollam, we had Veeramoni Sankaranarayana, a retired banker, who trekked with us for seven kilometres. We guarantee assist for members of all ages. We will maintain their hand and even carry them,” says Sam. “Often older folks want to trek to peaks like Agasthyarkoodam for a few years, and ITREK has been capable of fulfill the dream of lots of them.

During the final journey to Agasthyarkoodam, 75 folks from throughout the State joined the group, making it the only largest group to scale the height, says Sam. In December 2025, ITREK might be scaling the height once more.

The group has deliberate 4 treks — the primary one is to Vazhvanthol waterfalls, situated 40 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, on September 21. The itinerary for October has a two-day and one-night trek within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, which features a evening jungle scout with animal sightings, and a full-day trek. There are treks to Munnar and Meesapulimala in Idukki scheduled in November.

“Next yr, we hope to have a Himalayan trek,” says Sam.