Condensing my extensive alpine hiking experience in the Western Himalayas, the 40 modules below will get you up and running in independent hiking in the high mountains. Knowledge is presented clear and compact and taught through hands-on assignments which can be done online in your own time in any location. I periodically review and provide feedback on the submitted assignments:

Chapter 1 - Maps / Route planning

Module 1 - Geography of Himalayas - https://forms.gle/9e9D7eAr5D1pK52p9
Module 2 - Topography & Contours - https://forms.gle/6XqUZWWhXm4GpZcP9
Module 3 - Open Street Maps - https://forms.gle/qCQxnY9U3Hr2p9VK6
Module 4 - Traverse Planning - https://forms.gle/KTvP8vpC9Uh1zAwY7
Module 5 - Survey of India - https://forms.gle/1aCwC8qnH7Z6WWoi7

Chapter 2 - Navigation

Module 1 - Mobile / GPS - https://forms.gle/bSbjMefFZVK7q8W3A
Module 2 - Geo-referenced maps - https://forms.gle/EBkDdSyDKVhaVhnq6
Module 3 - Recorded routes - https://forms.gle/AtT9EPwh5NMF3K2F6
Module 4 - Terrain reference - https://forms.gle/ThP1db6nysY4LQiQA
Module 5 - Off trail (Contours) - https://forms.gle/DsJnkBG8wNYjLqCt9
Module 6 - Compass - https://forms.gle/W9ktg1Q24E95Ws8P6

Chapter 3 - Planning your Journey

Module 1 - Elevation profile - https://forms.gle/1nZLqHV99U7RaSzu5
Module 2 - Acclimatization - https://forms.gle/M85YeBPKbkZg3J5w7
Module 3 - Weather - https://forms.gle/MJbbbrS9soTkbxx86
Module 4 - Seasons - https://forms.gle/XSUuMHZE5b8S5kF9A
Module 5 - Food planning - https://forms.gle/6BEssv1RQuT5JfS77
Module 6 - Hydration - https://forms.gle/ZC4wi6DtBZS8J8Lx6
Module 7 - Night stay - https://forms.gle/Z7rycgXq2GKfmS7w8
Module 8  - Financial - https://forms.gle/wTViNGKdA57mZGFh7

Chapter 4 - Fast hiking & lightweight gears

Module 1 - Clothing - https://forms.gle/KRm1JtdcJZo2jTQw9
Module 2 - Shoe wear - https://forms.gle/ppJRDKWZBWgUmbpT6
Module 3 - Backpack - https://forms.gle/ZSFBifNPhuVrxL9b7
Module 4 - Sleeping bag - https://forms.gle/ZXPXhQr8sbBq3onp8
Module 5 - Tent - https://forms.gle/NfvC9AvLshe8xqj78
Module 6 - Electronics / Power - https://forms.gle/QphsM9DRwrPNs6KW8
Module 7 - Technical gears - https://forms.gle/tP4HJ1grYNqq2AM77

Chapter 5 - Himalayan Terrains

Module 1 - Settlements - https://forms.gle/iQhQUucfCaNJ7HcP9
Module 2 - Trails - https://forms.gle/Q63t23Sqo5LyqCaf8
Module 3 - Valleys & Streams - https://forms.gle/zBWvC6nFSLXaUjr98
Module 4 - High Ranges & Passes - https://forms.gle/jzLYdNWa3bAvVbEc6
Module 5 - Forests & Meadows - https://forms.gle/a17wa2bXCajnSVzz8
Module 6 - Rock & Ice - https://forms.gle/W4Pu7pDhf3rbwXUF7
Module 7 - Snow - https://forms.gle/ZTrvUJgiUkwwfLi88
Module 8 - Wildlife - https://forms.gle/qqpb1F89QCnFg15J9

Chapter 6 - GIS (Advanced, needs laptop)

Module 1 - QGIS, freeware GIS - https://forms.gle/5dmyLd7dunjvUHcT6
Module 2 - Importing and analyzing data  - https://forms.gle/WoEXeyCCJB3sQw7H9
Module 3 - OSM data - https://forms.gle/k29BbAT61rtuvktf9
Module 4 - Geo-referencing maps - https://forms.gle/9BQNTGUZo4AF8Xkw8
Module 5 - DEM & contours - https://forms.gle/E2StTpd2AnkwUzyE8
Module 6 - Maptiles - https://forms.gle/GaXXVdcBKuytGodNA

In this first module we will familiarize ourselves with the geography of the Indian Western Himalayas spanning the states of (East to West) Uttarakhand, Himachal, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

I created high resolution maps of the 4 Himalayan states showing the main rivers (valleys) and numerous passes in between. Rivers drain the high ranges (rain, glaciers and snow) and define the topography of the Himalayas. Passes allow us to cross over high ranges in between neighboring valleys. Understanding this geography is essential to plan hikes or traverses across these high ranges and valleys.

http://ultrajourneys.org/hires-maps-of-western-himalayas/
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1m_PvBijbeNPGLzZzNCb1bITzMljaI0YQ?usp=sharing
(JPEG maps are easy to view on laptop, PDF format can be viewed / zoomed on mobile)
(link in Bio / story)

The Western Himalayas consist of hundreds of rivers (main valleys) and thousands of smaller streams (side-valleys, not shown here for simplification). Thousand+ passes cross high ranges in between adjacent valleys defining beautiful hiking routes.

In further modules of this first section A we will look at various available map sources for the Indian Himalayas visualizing topography and terrain details including hiking routes, peaks, rivers, human settlements, etc. These maps are essential to plan our hiking traverses.

In the second section B we will look into plan various aspects of planning multi-day traverses across one or more subsequent passes and valleys. In my month long ultra-journeys I usually connect hundred+ passes across entire states

Let's warm up with a small assignment below - take a closer look at each of 4 Himalayan states and familiarize yourself with the main rivers and valleys.