Chasing Summits: An Interview with the Founder of SGTrek
Seven years ago, Vijay started a Facebook group of outdoor enthusiasts who would spend their weekends going on treks and nature hikes around Singapore. Slowly, the group expanded as they trekked further north to mountains Malaysia. Driven by this enthusiasm and his own love for the outdoors, he founded SG Trek, Singapore’s leading outdoor adventure platform specialising in adventure sports and nature treks. Since then, he has quit his day job as an engineer and has been helping people reach their dream summits around Southeast Asia.
What made you want to start SGTrek?
I had prior experience backpacking, and I wanted to create an outdoor community to take people around nature. I started a Facebook group and spent my weekends meeting new people and taking them around nature. We started walking around Singapore, then eventually we did day trips to nearby mountains in Malaysia. And it’s been going on for seven years since! The community grew, and I became addicted to hiking and climbing mountains. For me, it’s about the passion, not the profit.
Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia was the first mountain that I summitted, then I started to hit Asia’s other mountain peaks in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. When you meet more climbers, your goal changes and grows. I thought: why not do the seven summits of the world? Back then, not many people were interested in hiking. But now, there are increasingly more groups organising outdoor programs since there has been a movement towards a healthier lifestyle. The SG Trek members are like family – some of them have been with me since I started.
What – or who – is your most memorable experience on SG Trek?
I met this Japanese climber in Nepal. He had lost all his fingers and only had his thumbs left. He was stuck on Everest in a blizzard and had lost all his fingers, except his two thumbs, from frostbite! He told me how he tried to repeatedly climb the mountain, but did not succeed. Later I found out that he passed away from high altitude sickness. His dedication and passion really inspired me to climb.
Trekking through the forests of Bromo, Indonesia in the Fjallraven Indonesia Discovery last year.
What matters more: the journey or the destination?
It’s all about learning and taking the decision to turn around. You should know your ability to climb, and know when to turn back. Lives are at stake when you climb a mountain: the lives of your friends and your guide. The mountains will always be there! [NBAM1] There is always something to learn when you climb, and you know better the next time you climb. It’s more about challenging yourself.
What advice would you give to beginners looking to climb their first mountain?
Learn to enjoy yourself. Be in nature, meet more climbers and gain new experiences. The summit is optional. When you climb up, you still have to make your way down - the summit is only really half of your journey. I always tell my climbers that when you enjoy the journey, you won’t even notice you passed the summit.
Since you started climbing, have your attitude or habits towards the environment changed?
When you’re out in nature, the first thing you must do is respect nature. When we climb, we climb with local guides and tribes. They believe that the mountain protects you, so you need to humble yourself and show respect to the mountain. We also try to educate people along the trek not to litter, and to pick up any litter they see. The mindset of a hiker should be: nature is beautiful, so why would you litter?
What is your favourite Southeast Asian country to hike in?
Vietnam! I rode the bike around the villages, lived with the people, and farmed with them. You wake up to fresh air and the view of paddy fields,and sit there and enjoy a cup of coffee. It’s not a feeling you can get anywhere else.
To find out more about SG Trek, follow them on Facebook or Instagram:
https://sgtrek.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SgTrek/
https://www.instagram.com/sgtrek/
Trek of Taipei Grand Trail in December 2019
About the author:
Fion Lee is a freelance journalist passionate about travel and women’s rights. A solo female traveller herself, her interest is in meeting people and hearing their stories. A sociologist in training, she loves hearing about cultures, and the lives of others. She wishes to explore the depth and diversity of the human experience in her writing. She hopes to contribute in a meaningful way by featuring everyday stories from extraordinary people.