Here's to freedom and seeking new adventures

What do you envision when you hear the word “adventure”?

I think of excitement, challenge, the tricky, the unknown, and probably a little adversity. The thing about adventure is that it gets you out of your comfort zone. And makes you vulnerable. Fact is no matter how carefully you plan, you don’t really know what is actually going to happen. That’s part of the fun - the goosebumps of excitement and anticipation!

Consider the word “vulnerable.” It suggests exposure and opening yourself to possibilities. You have to risk some exposure from time to time. Keeping yourself safe just doesn't have enough room to break out, grow or explore.

'If it scares you, Do it.' I read this somewhere and know it to be absolutely wise advice. Face it. Things will  not always work out as you expect. You might get a little banged up along the way. But in the end, you’ll be a stronger, happier, more confident person. That is what really matters.


It’s the adventures that challenge us, the ones that touch our deepest vulnerabilities and fears that engrave the most indelible marks on us. They also teach us the greatest lessons. Every adventure you venture upon is a golden opportunity to bring out newer nuances of your character. What really happens when the going gets rough? How do you cope with difficulties and obstacles? Would you do differently next time?

You never regret the things you try in life, just the things you don’t. Go ahead and put yourself out there. Try something new. Be scared. Experience fear. Fight your arch enemy.

You will learn that you can achieve more than you thought you ever could. Or maybe not. But gain the satisfaction of having tried.

I am willing to try something new, something adventurous, are you?

Diary of Gurpreet Dhindsa : Life changing adventures

Woodland's Adventure Ambassador, Gurpreet Dhindsa, looks back at his first truly adventurous moment  at Kaloi Glacier in Kashmir and falling in love with adventure thereon. Read on:

Gurpreet:
"I had a different childhood. Being from the defence services family, we spent most of my childhood moving every year along the small towns or villages along the border. We grew up in an environment with more outdoor adventures than kids to play with.

While I can’t really point towards a singular event that turned me towards adventure sports, when I look back, one incident in particular stands out.

In 1988, while pursuing my B.Sc (Honours) in Amritsar, I was doing small treks regularly. That's when I decided to go trekking to Kaloi Glacier in Kashmir along with the younger brother of a friend.

Back then there had been massive floods in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and our trek turned out to be quite eventful with lots of bad weather. We endured most of the conditions sitting in a small tent at a high altitude. We not only reached the glacier and but also climbed the Kaloi peak!

Later, due to a series of events, I ended up giving my boots to my friend and climbed from glacier to peak in a pair of simple running shoes. While I personally didn't think much of it, a group of Germans climbing at same time made big fuss about it and we were treated like special guests at the base camp that night.

We had an equally interesting return as the road back to Punjab was washed away at few places. We continued to hike our way back home as we thought it was better than waiting in Srinagar to be airlifted. Despite of circumstances, we reached intact and in time to the pleasant surprise of everyone, especially my friend's family!

That experience taught me a lot. While handing over my friend's brother to his family meant quite a relief, it also marked the end of an adventure for me. That is when I realised how much I had enjoyed this tough journey and living on the edge.

The feeling of making life and death decisions, of braving weather and hardships, to feel the power of nature and strength of human body to endure and adapt: I believe it was at this moment when I truly fell in love with adventure."