While traditionally, vacations are considered to be the time to relax, take a break from all of life's stresses, and enjoy some sun and sand or the cool, mountain air. However, this archaic definition of the word 'vacation' doesn't necessarily hold true for the millennial generation that is slowly embracing a new genre of travel. Over the last few years, the 'extreme vacation' has slowly become popular among Indore 's youngsters. From challenging mountainous treks to biking through the country at a stretch, these new age travelers are pushing the limits with their wild excursions. Be it surviving in minus 12-15 temperatures, treading narrow glacial paths, or undertaking a trip along the entire coastal line of the country, these vacations are a chance to not just achieve a feat or enjoy that Adrenalin, but also to live to tell the tale through social media.“We used to walk with our hearts in our hands. One wrong step could have landed us in a frozen grave,” recounts Simranjeet Saluja, 27, who is back from the formidable Chadar trek along the Zanskar river , located at 11,000 feet elevation in Leh-Ladhak region. “There were times when we couldn’t break the hard ice with hammers, and just two steps later, we would land knee-deep in an icy pothole. The grandeur of stark Zanskar valley kept us enticed, but throughout the way there were constant reminders that each step had to be measured and careful,” adds his friend Somyakanti Das, 27.Arpit Sharma, a trained mountaineer who takes various groups for such adventurous treks, says, “You cannot count on the weather in the mountains. While everyone comes prepared for the physical challenges, nothing gives you a heads up about the sheer grit and determination it takes to get you through. I have seen many quit halfway through, and request to not go any further on the frozen river. We witness different stages of ice or snow every day – sometimes it's like walking on glass or a marble floor, other times like sand. It's the most difficult when it is slushy.”It takes a lot more than expertise to go on a trek to the snow clad Himalayas during the winters. Pin Parvati valley , Kedarkantha and Rupin pass are some of the coldest passes of the country, due to the tough terrain, below-freezing temperatures and unpredictable conditions. They also happen to be quite popular with the city's youth.Muskan Kanojia, a 23-year-old student, who recently trekked in Kedarkanth, in minus 18 degrees temperature shares her first-hand experience. “Until Sankri, all was good. However, as soon as we began walking on Juda Talav – a frozen lake – I started reconsidering my decisions!”Muskan recounts how they battled fierce winds at a speed of 160km/hr at 3 AM, while trying to not fall into the glacial gorges or get frost bites. “The ascension from Luhasu base camp to the Kedarkantha peak was so full of perils that I wanted to give up at one point. Besides trying to avoid slipping, we had to constantly flex our fingers and toes in order to avoid frost bites. However, we were with four expert guides who took us through safely. The glorious sunrise at the peak made it completely worth the risk and effort,” she adds.A trek like this was a first not just for Muskan but also the rest of her group, most of whom were undertaking something so extreme for the first time. Slightly hesitant at first, but pumped up to take up the challenge pushed the group to complete the adventure. Shubham Jain, 22, another member of the group talks about his experience through the perilous trek. “Everyone always talks about prepping the body for the extreme weather conditions, but I believe one needs to also be equally mentally prepared to battle the odds. Ascending to about 15,000 feet, acclimatizing to the weather and avoiding all the mountain accidents we have read and heard about requires preparation on a psychological level, or one would be left wishing to be airlifted from the valley – like we did at one point!” he adds, laughing.Apart from trekking, daring biking expeditions are next on many youngsters' bucket list. Many are pushing limits to ride through the length and breadth of the country, starting from the last village at the Northern border of the country to the Southern tip of the country. Some even cover the entire coastal line of India, crossing nine states and roughly 5,000 plus kilometres on a single bike.“These bike trips present almost a new challenge everyday, due to the roads and the climate. Covering even a thousand kilometres on a bike can leave you dehydrated and disoriented. Here we travel over more than five thousand kilometres,” says Abhishek Pandey, 30, an avid rider who has completed a solo coast-to-coast ride and is next gearing up to bike from the northern tip of the country to the southern tip. He adds, “While riding in groups you have at least one other person as back-up. However, when doing it solo, you have to keep your spirits up throughout. On the surface, the idea of meeting new people, making friends with citizens of new states, etc sounds interesting; but only the riders know how they have to strengthen their wills while riding on lonely stretches, where only negative thoughts hit you and you feel like giving up,” adds Abhishek.Another biker Aditya Gopalan, 26, who is gearing up for a coast-to-coast challenge, says, “Some of the bikers have shared nasty accounts of being looted, battling all kinds of illness and facing irreparable damage to their vehicles while on the long road. It took me two years to actually get down to planning the ride due to these tales alone. But just the thought of seeing the countryside at my own pace and leisure made the challenge more appealing.”There are many reasons why they do it - the adrenaline rush, the sense of victory, and encountering the stunning and stark vistas. However, there is also the thrill of filling up their Instagram feed with images of their daring feats, along with the hashtag of #Ididit or #IWasThere.“There is a different sense of achievement when we share the pictures of our conquest, and our story of being able to successfully complete one of the most challenging treks in the country,” says Anshika Sharma, 23, who completed the Kedarkantha peak trek recently.Trek group coordinators also agree that a picture of a sunrise from a particular peak or along the most dangerous roads of the country speaks more than a thousand words. Aashu Mishra, a trek coordinator, says that it goes both ways. “Many youngsters approach us after seeing pictures in other travellers’ social media feeds. They ask us how they can travel to the said location to get similar pictures. Using hashtags of these places also gets them a lot of visibility and establishes them as serious trekkers or adventure enthusiasts.”However, they also agree that more than social media, it's that feeling of achievement that keeps them going. Muskan tells us, “The glorious sunrise at the peak made it completely worth it. Also, discovering my endurance limits has also got me pumped up to take more such treks all over again.”Even bikers who have taken such long rides across the country maintain it only gets better with every challenge. “You do not return as the same person. You become more humble, patient and accepting of the diversity you see across the journey. Plus the joy of getting to know the countryscape at close quarters is one feeling that I would like to experience again and again,” says biker Aditya Gopalan.

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