Healthcare in the mountains has always been scarce: something we see every time we walk through the villages on our trails.

At Indiahikes, this gap is not new to us. We’ve discussed it openly, explored ways of contributing more meaningfully, and even imagined a time when our base camps could support villagers medically. The intention stayed with us. What we needed was the right moment to take the first step.

That moment took shape when VisionSpring got in touch with us.

For almost two decades, VisionSpring has been working to take eye care into places where it rarely reaches. So when their mission aligned so naturally with the regions we know intimately, we just get the work started. 

What followed was a ten-day, high-impact effort — a sweep through Shimla, Rohru and the settlements along the Rupin Pass trail, reaching Jiskun, Jhaka, and Sangla. There were eye screenings, on-the-spot diagnoses, and eyeglasses handed out immediately.

Here, VisionSpring’s ‘See to’ model set the direction — a clear framework that shaped the work across all the villages.

Their model rests on three simple but powerful pillars.

The first is See to Earn, which focuses on screening local communities so they can continue earning with a clear vision.

The second is See to Learn, which brings screenings and awareness into schools.

The third is See to Be Safe, aimed at bus and truck drivers whose clarity of vision directly affects road safety.

These pillars defined how the work moved: schools and drivers in Shimla, driver screening in Rohru, and focused community work in Jiskun, Jhaka, and Sangla. Every village came with its own realities, its own challenges, and its own audience that needed attention.

The first camps began in Shimla and then moved steadily through Rohru, Jiskun, Jhaka, and finally Sangla — five major locations where more than 5,000 people were screened.

The Part Indiahikes Played, Close to the Ground

The groundwork for this initiative began much earlier than most people realise. A year before the project, a VisionSpring team member trekked the entire Rupin Pass trail with Indiahikes — not as a formality, but to understand the villages, the terrain, and what it would actually take to run eye camps in such remote regions.

When the project finally took shape, Indiahikes supported it in the way we understand best — by staying steady on the ground. 

We were glad to facilitate a trek for the founder’s team, many of whom had travelled from across the world to be here. 

Not just that, we connected them with village Pradhans we’ve known for years, and helped them navigate community networks.

Meanwhile, VisionSpring worked closely with the Himachal Government and WHO for broader coordination. And through it all, Indiahikes remained present wherever local understanding and on-ground presence were essential.

Why Trekking Was Part of the Project

A question kept coming up everywhere: Why combine eye camps with a tough Himalayan trek?

On paper, it doesn’t add up. If VisionSpring had stayed in Shimla, they could have screened 10,000–15,000 people in just five days. Instead, by trekking into remote villages, they reached around 5,000.

But that number was intentional. These 5,000 people live in places where healthcare is extremely scarce. The project was never about scale, it was about reaching people who rarely come within the fold of healthcare.

By trekking, the team could meet locals along the trail, screen them on the spot, identify cataract and glaucoma, give eyeglasses immediately, and step into communities that rarely see any medical support at all.

A Glimpse Into How the Locals are Impacted

The response from villagers was immediate and wholehearted. People came because they needed clarity, and for many, it was the first time they could sit down and understand what was going on with their eyes. Screenings happened right there, diagnoses were explained clearly, and eyeglasses were handed out on the spot whenever the prescription allowed.

Eye surgeons joined the team for deeper checks — from basic vision numbers to cataract and glaucoma. For cataract and glaucoma cases, villagers were guided to the nearest hospitals they could access. 

And wherever the glasses needed more time, whether the prescription was unusual or a bit complex, VisionSpring noted down every detail and ensured the glasses would be prepared and sent back through the village Pradhan within 10 to 15 days.

Here’s an Instagram post shared by the VisionSpring Foundation. It carries a powerful impact story of Barsan Devi. Please read through! 

A Collaboration Rooted in Purpose

As the days unfolded from the screenings to the trek, the purpose behind this effort became very clear.

It went far beyond a camp or a project.

It brought two long-held intentions onto the same path and took eye health into villages that often go unseen.

In doing so, it nudged open the door for more meaningful work in the mountains.

And speaking of meaningful work, something new is taking shape at Indiahikes.

We are working on an initiative called the Mountain Medical Care. It’s an effort born out of a long-standing dream to bring basic medical support, right where communities live, work, and sustain the trekking world.

The project is still in its early stages, and we’ll be sharing more details as soon as it goes live.

But one thing is certain — this is not a one-off effort. It is the beginning of something bigger, more consistent, and deeply needed in the mountains.