Check before you trek, is the message after a young trekker lost his life when he fainted while climbing up the steps of Raigad Fort recently. He was part of a 12-member group visiting the fort for the 350th-anniversary celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation.

One has to trek 1,700 plus steps to reach the fort and the temperature hovered a little above 40 degrees Celsius. While the combination, physical exertion plus merciless heat is dangerous, and anybody can succumb, it is wiser for all to see that they are in fairly good condition for all physical treks, not just this one. Trekking season is upon us and come the first rain  we will see hordes trekking at certain spots near the city.