Prepping To Answer The Call Of The Himalayas

The mountains are calling. No, they definitely are. I haven’t been to the Himalayas in years, itching to get wet, dirty and euphoric in those mystical mountains. And as extensively as I have ridden/driven/roamed around the country, I have sadly never been beyond Keylong pass, something that I plan to rectify very soon, thanks to the upcoming 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey. So, here’s how I am prepping up for the ride and hopefully, this story should help you guys out as well.

The Route Prep

There were two options for me to choose from, start from Delhi, take the easier route up to Manali, Leh and get to Umling La, or do the return stretch where I tackle parts of the Spiti valley, a circuit that I have enjoyed in the past. However, I am looking forward to a rather relatively peaceful encounter. So, option A it is.

It has been a long time since I have taken a breather, a back step from work. My agenda of going to the mountains is just to bask in their glory, hear the lessons they silently impart and come back rejuvenated. Plus, this small time away from the chaotic content-driven world of ours fits my bill perfectly.

The Bike Prep

This, I needn’t worry. Royal Enfield’s Himalayan has been the adventure motorcycle for all intended purposes. The current iteration is as good as it has ever been. So, in terms of setting up the bike or whatnot, I don’t have to bother much. And this steed has been winning hearts for many years. So, no wonder I feel comfort in the knowledge that I have a capable, relaxed and relatively simple motorcycle to deal with on the ride.

The Gear Prep

This is where you'll can disagree but this is what I think would work for me.

• Helmet: MX Over Road
  I don’t have an ADV touring helmet, which would have been ideal for this journey. My trusty Scorpion MX helmet will accompany me once again to the Himalayas. Funnily enough, my first ride with this helmet was on the trip to Spiti valley. I am banking on the extra protection the MX helmet might give me in case of a spill-over, especially if the front-end digs into fesh fesh sand and throws me over the bars. Plus, better breathability for sure as we make the climb up to Umling La. One big issue of riding with a road helmet in the cold regions of Ladakh is visor fogging. Yes, that can be mitigated to a certain extent with a Pinlock insert, but an MX helmet with good MX goggles completely negates fogging.

• Earplugs and buffs
  Since I am trading breathability for silence, a couple of cheap pairs of earplugs are going to be a must. Wind noise is expected to be a serious challenge as much as the terrain itself. Hence, coming back with hearing intact is going to be key. 
  Also, protecting the neck from chilly wind blasts is paramount. The tiniest of water droplets can turn into sharp pellets that deter you from riding steadily. A couple of buffs should help keep my neck warm and protected from the natural elements.

• ADV Touring Jacket
  I will be borrowing Royal Enfield’s Khardung La jacket and bringing a short review on the same regarding how suitable it is for the region. It is water resistant, has a waterproof over-jacket liner, a thermal liner and suitable Knox Level 2 armour. Plus, I have opted for the super cool olive green colour. Nobody likes riding in wet gear, especially if you have to put them on back the next day. And Royal Enfield offers these jackets at a neat price. You could also check out offerings from Rynox and ViaTerra but none look as cool.

• Pants: Jeans As Well As MX jersey/knee armour
  This is where I will not compromise as I will be carrying two options. Riding denims are cool and comfy, especially for the relatively less challenging days. My pair of trusty RE X Levis jeans have served me well so far, so no reason to leave them behind. 
  For the predicted challenging days, I am packing ViaTerra’s Corbett pants and a good set of knee armour. The pants have a lot of stretchable panels, primarily around the groin area, so flexibility won’t be an issue. The pants also have rubberised knee grip panels, allowing for better control over the bike. And the advantage of having hard armour is a given, right? #BetterImpactProtection
  I will also be carrying a waterproof over the pants liner, for when the rain gods shower their blessings.
  If you, like me, would be choosing ventilated or mesh riding pants, a pair of thermal leggings under those go a long way, but more on that later.

• Boots: MX Over ADV Touring
  Again, staying protected is paramount. Hard plastic protectors and a steel toe plate to deflect any rocks or stones that are kicked up. Waterproofing does take a hit, though. And again nobody likes riding with soggy feet. Would definitely recommend having a pair of waterproof socks in your kit. I have been using one for the past couple of years and they work fantastically well. Just invert them inside out at the end of the day’s ride so that they aerate and are fresh for the following day’s ride.

• Base Layers
  You will immediately notice just how good your day goes when you are riding with base layers. T-shirts get clingy when they get damp, cotton underwear stitching gets irritating and no matter how hard you try, it just doesn’t feel quite as liberating on a long day’s ride. And this is going to be nearly ten days of riding. So, better pack a couple of them.  For a ride like this, where the weather can be surprisingly hot one day and biting cold the next, it’s best to have one set of summer base layers, and another pair of thermal base layers.

• After Ride Clothing
  This is just as important as anything else. So pack a few tees, undies and boxers/shorts, maybe track pants. The plan should be to relax in comfortable clothing when you’re not on the bike. In that sense, also pack a beanie to keep your head and ears warm. Chilly nights can cause a lot of problems, as your ears are primarily responsible for your sense of balance. So, keep them protected off the bike as well.

The Mental Prep

Royal Enfield has been doing the Odyssey for ages now. A lot of my senior colleagues have all done the Odyssey on some Enfield or the other. The latest one being Arun doing his second trip last year astride the Himalayan. He recounts how his ride on the Himalayan was far less taxing than as compared to his previous ride on the old Classic 500. Doing this pilgrimage of sorts on a Himalayan is brilliant, but doing the same leg on a Classic 350 now would be something to look forward to in the future.

PD has also done the Odyssey, quite some time ago. Hearing about his past memories and challenges, particularly the ones that he created for himself, I am certain that I will not make those same mistakes. Create new ones for sure. So, I’ll be carrying a small tank bag for dry clothes and slippers, packing a light trail bag and making jugaad work.

I am truly excited to embark on this spiritual journey. However, with the rain gods lashing hell fury in the region, my trip might be in some serious jeopardy. So, will I get to answer the call?