My First Trek at 42: A Kalavantin Diary
A guest post by Rohini S., who took her first trek with Mumbai Trekizens in October 2025 — and hasn't stopped since.
I turned 42 last year and gifted myself a first trek. Everyone I knew who trekked was younger, fitter and lived in Instagram grids. I was mostly a fine-dining, five-star-vacation person. I told my husband I was going to do this trek. He said, "You? At 42? Kalavantin? The pinnacle one with the rock-cut stairs?" And I said yes.
Booking
I picked Mumbai Trekizens because a friend at work — actually the office receptionist — had done Pawna Lake with them and wouldn't stop talking about it. Their site had a shocking amount of detail on every trek. Pick-up points. Food. Fitness expectations. I liked that. The booking took four minutes. PNR was emailed. Their WhatsApp community added me instantly.
Night before
I got a call from Rohit. He walked me through what to expect — 10 PM assembly, bus, arrive at 4 AM, chai at base, ascent by 5:30 AM. He asked if I had trek shoes broken in. I did — bought them a month earlier, wore them on Mumbai walks. He told me I'd be fine, and that his colleague Anjali was the trek leader.
The bus
27 people in a Tempo Traveller. I was worried about being the oldest. I was not — there was a 61-year-old gentleman named Mr. Deshpande who was on his 14th trek. Everyone was friendly. The trek leader Anjali did a proper briefing before we slept. I appreciated the professionalism.
The ascent
I want to be honest — it was hard. Kalavantin has these rock-cut stairs near the top that look impossible from below. I had a wobbly moment on stair 30 or so. Anjali was next to me in two seconds. She didn't rush me. She said "Sit. Breathe. Look at the view. You're doing great." I sat. I breathed. I looked at the view. Two minutes later I stood up and finished the climb.
The summit
You know what nobody tells you? That when you reach the top of Kalavantin for the first time, you don't want to take a photo. You just want to sit there. The wind is loud. The mountains are enormous. You feel very small and very alive at the same time. I sat with Mr. Deshpande. He shared his gud-chana. He said, "This is your first, no? Then the mountains have chosen you." I nearly cried.
The descent, and after
Descent was slower than ascent — my knees were shaky. Anjali walked with me. At base, hot poha and chai were waiting. On the bus back I fell asleep against a stranger's shoulder. Reached Mumbai by 2 PM. Booked the Harishchandragad trek at 3 PM. My husband came home at 8 and I said, "I have a hobby now."
Since then
I've done 9 treks with Mumbai Trekizens. I've now taken my 15-year-old daughter on two of them. Two of my colleagues have joined. My WhatsApp status changed from a Zomato coupon to a mountain reel. I'm 43 now. I don't feel it.
If you're reading this at 42, or 52, or 32 wondering whether to start — start.