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AllezZo

@zonal__r_k

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Enjoying existence 🧿
Climber by passion.
-Outdoor Facilitator
founder of @stride_cpy

POSTS STORIES REELS

One with the Rock (Literally!)
Shot by @kysii_walter
#climbing
#lead by @zonal__r_k

This trek holds a very special place in my heart because it was my last trek as a trek leader. Ending this journey with such meaningful moments, curious minds, and a deep connection with nature feels emotional and fulfilling at the same time.

This time, I designed it like a treasure hunt, and it completely changed how we experienced the trail. Every day, trekkers followed a small treasure map to find simple wonders like pine cones, oak acorns, chestnuts, birds, and trees. Once found, we paused, spoke about them, and understood how deeply everything is connected to the forest.

Along with this, the trek was also filled with learning survival skills; what to do in the mountains, how to be more aware, and how to live in harmony with nature.

Because of all this, the trek slowed down in the best way.
People weren’t just walking, they were observing, noticing, and truly being present in nature.
Walking away with a heavy heart, but also with immense gratitude 💚

This chapter ends, but the memories will always stay.

#grateful by @zonal__r_k

Perspectives! by @zonal__r_k

New terrains, new skills, new people, and a whole new chapter. 🌄✨

Trainings, learning something new every day, and making memories with amazing people. Grateful for this journey, the experiences, and everything this new life is teaching me. 🇦🇪❤️

New place. New challenges. Same love for adventure. 🏕️🤙

#UAE #OutdoorLife #NewChapter #KeepExploring #Grateful by @zonal__r_k

Bali Pass 🏔️

A trek I’ve wanted to lead since the day I joined Indiahikes. After leaving, I honestly thought I’d never get the chance. But coming back as a freelancer and leading two groups made it happen.

It was fun, adventurous, and everything I hoped it would be.

Feels like proper closure. ❤️

What a journey. What an experience.
#grateful by @zonal__r_k

Our first mile. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

ഇന്ന് STRIDE ആദ്യമായി ഒരുമിച്ച് ഓടി. ❤️
One mile, countless smiles, and a beautiful beginning. ✨

Running അറിയാത്തവരായാലും, സ്ഥിരമായി ഓടുന്നവരായാലും — ഇത് എല്ലാവർക്കും വേണ്ടിയുള്ള ഒരു community ആണ്.

ഒരുമിച്ച് ഓടാം.
ഒരുമിച്ച് move ചെയ്യാം.
ഒരുമിച്ച് മുന്നോട്ട് പോകാം. 🌿

This is just the beginning.
STRIDE — Run. Move. Connect.

അടുത്ത run-ൽ കാണാം! 🤍

#STRIDE #StrideCommunity #CommunityRun #RunTogether #FirstMile RunningCommunity RunMoveConnect KeralaRunners KeralaRunning Palakkad Cherpulassery PalakkadRunners MalayaliRunners RunKerala OutdoorCommunity MoveTogether StayActive RunWithUs CommunityMovement ThisIsStride by @zonal__r_k

Lost skin and almost lost my sanity... but somehow gained a 7A. 😂
These legends kept me psyched, roasted my beta, celebrated every tiny progress, and made the whole trip unforgettable.
Already missing the rocks, the chaos, and all of you. 🧗‍♂️
10 days in Maldevta!

(Sorry if I missed a few of you in these photos. you were just as much a part of this journey.)

#AllezZo
#sportclimb #psych by @zonal__r_k

A collection of moments from a day on the wall. Reading sequences, trusting feet, refining movement, and learning from every attempt. Not every route ends with a send—but every session adds another layer to the craft.
In Frame: @johnnegii @mountaineerchattan @himalayan__devil @zonal__r_k @uk_travel_tarzan_mountaineer
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#ShotonOnePlus #rockclimbing #mountains #explorepage✨ #bnw by @zonal__r_k

They say climbing is an individual sport, but anyone who’s been at the crag knows different. It’s the shared beta, the mutual hype, and the person holding your life in their hands at the other end of the rope. Climbing is nothing without the community.
.
. by @zonal__r_k

Why this film

“Hold On” is a climbing film I had been sitting with for months. Not just as an idea, but as a feeling I couldn’t quite shake off.

This film is about rock climbers, what pulls them back to the wall, what keeps them there when things don’t go their way. It’s about failure, persistence, and that quiet, stubborn act of holding on.

Zonal and the Grey Chair

At the heart of the film is @zonal__r_k and his long-standing relationship with a route called Grey Chair.
This wasn’t just another climb for him. It was unfinished business.

I wanted to capture his journey to explore something deeper: how a route can get into your head, how it starts shaping your thoughts, your approach, even your sense of self. You’ll see him struggle, recalibrate, and eventually find his way.

Two days in Badami

We had just two days to bring this to life. We chose Badami, one of India’s most iconic climbing destinations, but the route itself was tucked away deep inside, away from the dramatic golden-hour light that filmmakers often rely on.

Shooting while climbing

Filming a climbing sequence is a different kind of challenge altogether.

You’re not just behind the camera, you’re part of the environment. Suspended 90 feet above the ground, constantly adjusting your body, your balance, your frame… It’s physically demanding in ways I hadn’t fully anticipated.

No amount of planning quite prepares you for that.

There’s a certain vulnerability in that space. You’re focused on safety, on movement, on getting the shot, all at once. And yet, in between all that, there are moments of stillness where everything just aligns. Those are the moments you chase.

This film is my first attempt at understanding that world.

There’s a lot I’m still learning. But that’s also what made this process exciting. It forced me to listen more, observe closely, and trust the story as it unfolded in front of me.

“Hold On” isn’t a perfect film. But it’s an honest one.

And for me, this feels like the start of exploring climbing stories more deeply.

A big thank you to @ravi and @kysii_walter for helping me prepare to shoot on the wall.

#sonyalpha #createwithsony by @zonal__r_k

Went for some bouldering and had an absolute blast 🧗‍♂️
Super fun day, amazing crag, and even better people to be around.
Got to meet @varunmishra._ with his legendary moves and years of climbing experience, inspiring to watch and learn from! ✨
@thenestsankri
#bouldering by @zonal__r_k

This is my first climbing film. A short 1 min film.
I came into it with curiosity, a little to no climbing experience, and a deep respect for the people who do this every day.

“Hold On” became my attempt to explore the story of @zonal__r_k and his long-pending climb of the Grey Chair in Badami. It is about failure, persistence, and slowly finding a way.

We had just two days to shoot this film. Most of the route stayed hidden from the dramatic golden light filmmakers usually chase, so we worked with whatever the rock gave us. Soft light, harsh shadows, changing moods, and a lot of improvisation.

Shooting while hanging 90 feet above the ground was physically exhausting and, honestly, a little intimidating at times. But somewhere between the stress, the silence, and the movement on the wall, the film slowly started revealing itself.

A big thank you to @ind_ravi and @kysii_walter for helping me prepare and making me feel comfortable while shooting on the wall.

These are a few stills from the film before it releases in the next few days.

Hold on. It’s coming soon ;) by @zonal__r_k