I was apprehensive of joining the Desi Outdoors group when Niranjan and Vinita Deo first recommended it to me in back in March 2018. I had got the hiking bug in October 2017 when the Marathi Vishwa Yoga group planned a October Fall Hike to Bear Mountain . I had never ever gone on a hike before, walks in parks - yes, but not a steady climb.
After the Bear Mountain hike I tried getting my friends to be interested and go out on hikes but people would drop out at the last moment. On Niranjan and Vinita's recommendation, I finally joined the Desi Meetup group. It still took me another two months to go out on my first 'Meetup Hike' with them.
I went by myself on my first hike and was nervous about meeting a bunch of people I did not know and go off into remote trails and woods with them. To top it all, the first hike I had signed up for was a night hike and overnight stay on top of a ridge! But soon after starting at the Trailhead, every group member made sure to introduce themselves and talk to me. Back home the next morning, I let my mind wander over the interactions I had with the group.
Hiking will bring you in contact with Nature, that is a given. You can enjoy nature from a window in your house, working in your yard, while fishing, commuting to work, or walking your dog. We are surrounded by Nature from the moment we step out of our house. Hiking only enhances your closeness to nature and takes you off the beaten path. But what was special about this Meetup group was the amazing camaraderie shown by each and every member I met on hikes.
Every hike became special not only for the nature trails and mountains explored, but also for looking forward to meeting new people. I soon realized that the joy of hiking with this group was due to the fact that on each hike, I met someone new, talked to them, got a window into their lives and walked away at the end of the day being friends with them. The common bond of being outdoors was doubly enhanced by the interactions within each group.
Every outing filled my senses and mind (not to mention my camera) with beautiful pictures. Posting them on Facebook or IG, somehow completely misses out on moments when someone gave you a hand to help you up a mountainside, shared their snacks with you, gave you a band-aid for a cut on your finger or gave you advice on what gear to buy and where to buy. Those moments reside only in memory. So all those pictures that you see me post on FB are just that - pictures. They just do not reflect the interactions and the group effort that made it all possible. And sadly, some pictures do not do justice to the group effort and interactions.
Every time I am on a summit, I thank each and every person who helped me climb/hike/walk, encouraged me when I thought I could not go on or just walked with me when I lagged behind everyone. I owe this group not only for the unforgettable hikes done with them but also for the unforgettable friendships and knowledge I garnered from each one of them.
