If you think trekking is a sport popular only with the upwardly mobile, you haven’t heard of Bidhannagar Hiking Society. The secretary of this recently-registered society runs a photocopy shop while another member transports water on his cycle as a profession. But they are all driven by their thirst for adventure.

“Trekking is both expensive and dangerous but we love it,” says Ujjal Das, who lives in Kadapara and who supplies 24 jars of water on his cycle to Sector V. “These trips cost Rs 20-25,000 per head but we save for months to afford them.”

The Sukantanagar-based group has trekked to places like Sandakphu in north Bengal, Goecha La in Sikkim and Kanamo Peak in Himachal Pradesh. “We walk for eight or nine hours a day with just five minute breaks. We eat dates, biscuits, chhatu, noodles that our guides, porters and yaks help us carry,” says Balai Das, who works in the corporation’s accounts department.

The trekkers carry 2l water bottles but also drink out of waterfalls. It’s so cold and the air is so thin that they hardly have the energy to click pictures. They eat dinner and retire inside their tents at 6pm so they can start walking from 4am under torchlight. “When we are up there we miss the comfort of home but when home, we long to go back,” says Arijit Sen, who lets his car out to app cabs.

The group has 14 members, most of whom live in Sukantanagar, under the Chingrihata flyover. “In fact about a month before we head out I start running vigorously up the Chingrihata flyover for practice. It’s the closest thing to a hill nearby,” says Tarun Mondal, the president and a civil contractor.

Madhab Patra, the vice president, says he gets enough practice round the year. “I run a cable firm. I’m perpetually climbing up ladders tending to overhead cables,” he laughs.

The group got registered a few months ago and secretary Pulak Bose says they will now try to raise funds from others for future trips; maybe even mountain climbing trips. “As a group we have a responsibility towards society too. In the past we have donated dustbins to schools and bought books for a girl who got through medical entrance exams. We also want to sponsor students and teach them trekking,” says Bose, who runs a photocopy shop and cyber cafe. “We want to help them lead a lifestyle conducive to treks — to eat right, exercise and save money to fund such trips.”

Their next trip will be around the Pujas to Sandakphu with first-timers of their area. “We are happy our enthusiasm is rubbing off on juniors,” says Bose.

Club members discuss their upcoming trek under the Chingrihata flyover. Mayukh Sengupta