Hosted by Awardees of
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What is RUGGED?
Rugged is our way of sharing our passion & love for the great Maharashtrian outdoors in the rawest, unadulterated, and immersive form.
A tiny group of individuals learns to tread through back-country thick Sahyadri forest, with the objective of getting from point A to point B over a period of 3 days 2 nights or 2 days & 1 night.
A marked map, camping & survival gear, rations, and professional guidance are provided. The group learns to take multiple wilderness-based decisions to chalk their way through the forest.
Learn to take
Wilderness Decisions
Rugged is about venturing into the unknown with the expert team at Jack & Hill Adventures.
With Rugged, we intend to put our participants into the real shoes of the adventurer.
To become completely independent and confident in the forest setting.
Individuals will learn how to make crucial decisions, how to tread through the forest, how to prepare, how to keep your head on your shoulder even when situations look terribly bleak.
Only for those
that choose to dare
Through Hidden thick back-country forest
Rugged will be hosted in the thick forest of the Sahyadri range. One of the key attributes of Rugged is that it will always be on an off-beat path.
We do not intend to thread or cross any popular trekking routes. We intend to be the only ones in the forest with minimal or no human interaction.
For those that would prefer specifics, we will be 2-4 hours outside the city of Mumbai.
We do not want to disclose online the exact location specifics as we want to protect that portion of the Sahyadri range from any sort of irresponsible tourism.
We want to maintain its sanctity.
Rugged is definitely not for the weak hearted.
It is for people that can find strength in themselves both physically & mentally. It is for people who are capable of facing uncertainty with a cool mind.
It is for people who are eager to learn how to exist & survive in an outdoor environment. It is definitely not a picnic but a raw outdoor experience.
Who is RUGGED For?
What will you learn
Learn to choose & identify trails
How to read maps & use a compass (Orienteering)
How & Where to pitch a tent
How to build a fire & stay responsible with it
How to conserve resources
How to pack your backpack & distribute weight
How to plan for food & hydration
How to build team strength & stay motivated
Learn Leave No Trace Principles
How to prepare for a worst case scenario & conduct a rescue
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Raylene
Reviews
A real 'meet the wild' – RUGGED was a raw, immersive kickass experience!
It seemed simple enough on paper: a three-day offbeat excursion into the wild. Which by itself is rare in a place like Maharashtra where trekking trails are often overpopulated and yet, underrated. Little did we expect the crazy adventures that lay ahead.
Not a soul in sight as we figured out trails on a path where no city trekkers have been before, kickstarting our survival instincts into action – from harvesting water, doing our 'business' in the wild, setting up tents, clinging onto rocks for our dear lives, to the camaraderie and fun we shared as it tends to happen when like-minded individuals come together – RUGGED required fortitude, courage and more importantly a sense of grounding. The understanding that you're merely nature's humble subject and she deserves her due respect.
Rugged challenges you in ways where you discover yourself even more, find qualities that you didn't know and look forward to evolving even further ✨
Johann and Sam of Jack and Hill Adventures are the real MVPs. Their sense of work ethic when it comes to what they promise is admirable. Impeccable commitment to indeed delivering safe, responsible and off-the-grid hard-core outdoor experiences.
Would recommend J&H in a heartbeat! This experience is something that had moved me, changed me and will stay with me.
Thank you, Johann and Sam ❣️
Rustom Dalal
For those of you who love the outdoors and are looking to experience something new look no further. When Johann first shared the concept of rugged I was blown away. The trek over two days was such a great learning experience, all of us learned so much from both Johann and Samuel.
From reading maps to finding trails and so much more. I am so looking forward to the next Rugged trek
Rugged
Led by Johann Daniels
Rugged will be led by our Founder who is also responsible for the conceptualization of Rugged.
With 16 years of experience understanding the Sahyadri forests, he likes to say that he has grown up exploring in these Maharashtrian forests.
Johann has completed his Basic Mountaineering Course at Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering, Jammu & Kashmir.
He is also one of the country’s very few Wilderness First Responders (WFR) and is trained by Wilderness Medical Associates International(WMA) in New York, USA as well as the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), USA - both global leaders in Wilderness Medicine & Rescue.
With a degree in B.Sc Zoology, he is an avid lover of snakes, birds, and everything wild.
His passion & love for the great outdoor is certainly known to be contagious.
He is also a contributor at Lonely Planet Magazine India and covers topics on everything adventure in India. He prioritizes conversations on Responsible Tourism in the great Outdoors.
What's included
Tiny Group
This trip is open to a max of only 10 individuals. We at J&H strongly believe in the concept of Quality vs Quantity.
Over the past decade, we have learned that hosting a small-sized group makes for a thoroughly enriching experience for everyone.
All Food Rations & Meals
All food & meals from the time you meet us in the forest.
A week prior to the experience, all group members shall unanimously finalize the food supplies required for all days. All ration shall be provided by J&H.
AC Transport to & fro
Private Hired AC transportation from Mumbai to super remote Maharashtrain landscape & back.
Drop at Point A/Entry point & pick up at Point B /Extraction point
Mad Memories & Superglue Relationships
We exist to create unforgettable experiences. That is why we do what we do. Because we truly take pleasure in it.
RUGGED is an experience designed to excite us more than the participants.
You are in for a ride if you join any RUGGED.
When a groups toils through the forest through cold nights, storms, and hardship, some of the most remarkably relationships are found.
RUGGED relationships are super glue strong.
Gold Standard Safety
A team of trained & certified Mountaineers
will guide you from start to finish.
A certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) / Wilderness First Aider (WFA)
will accompany you & implement safety systems.
Gold Standard Safety
A team of trained & certified Mountaineers
will guide you from start to finish.
A certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) / Wilderness First Aider (WFA)
will accompany you & implement safety systems.
Not sure whether Rugged is for you? Call us for a good chat!
Wondering why the pricing is so steep
Here's why
To Transport each adventurer into remote, deep & generally inaccessible Maharashtra, we have to hire Private Vehicles to drop & pick us that set us back by a minimum of 2500 per person for both ways combined.
To get deep inside the forest, this is the only way. Public transport does not exist or is not something we can rely on to host RUGGED.
