Feeling proud to have done Kumara Parvatha Trek for the 10th Time on 11th & 12th October, 2014. First one was in February 1995 – part of Graduate & Diploma Trainees Team Building Exercise at Kirloskar Electric. Almost 20 years later, I was trying to recollect those moments. A feeling of accomplishment prevails. This time around, the first deviation is that I did it as a part of Team Treksack, a team of 12. In all my previous treks (barring the first one with Kirloskar Team), I used to be the organizer JJ. Second deviation is that, this trek started from Somwarpet Side (Beedahalli) and ended in Kukke. All previous 9 treks were done from Kukke – KP – Kukke. Kamara Parvatha …. An exciting, captivating trekking destination in Karnataka. A trekker’s paradise. A very demanding stretch really. It brings the best in everyone who tries to be part of it. There will be different surprises every time you go there. So, a proper planning & execution of events will never work out in KP. The journey has to take its own course. This time around …. Heavy Rain full of lightning & thunder, near zero visibility staring from 3:00 PM onwards till ….don’t know. Slept in tents around 10:00 PM and it completely covered with fog. The first stretch from Beedhalli till Rock was fantastic and is more like the first stretch from Kukke to Bhattara Mane. In the second level the rock climbing was a different experience as it was very slippery & we had to be careful in selecting the path. Further trek was uneventful till the peak. Soon we started having lunch at 3:00 PM it started raining. We started back to Mantapa by which time it rained very heavy & water gushing from all sides towards the rocky slope which we had to descend. Kaushik had cramps & was unable to move. The flow of water was worrying … Sridhar made a strong pitch for moving further but I was little hesitant looking at level of water. We had to move since staying on top was not a choice. Luckily the other team which was planning to tent on top decided move down. I requested their help in taking us along which gave us the momentum to move down. The rocky slope was not as difficult as it was expected. By the time we came to Shesha Parvatha peak it must be around 5:00 PM. Visibility was about 30 ft. We took some rest and started moving. Since it rained heavily I expected the fog to get cleared but it worsened by the passage of time. By the time we crossed Battada Rashi, the visibility was few feet. Directionally I was clear and previous experiences had helped the level of confidence in me. But by the time it was around 6:30 PM, it was very dark & foggy. It was a churn-out time. But close to Mantapa the other team of 11 helped us sending two guys little up. That helped us to move down. The other team was not sure it was Mantapa where they were stationed. They were willing to move down to Bhattara mane since it was continuously raining and the area where we are supposed to tent is full of leeches. But I said it was not advisable since it takes about 90 minutes to reach Bhattara Mane and we cannot make it in torchlite as it was completely foggy & raining. Secondly some of our team members were not in a state to move down. We pitched the tent & had dinner – Chapati & chutney pudi. Luckily rest of the night it did not rain heavy other than few passing showers. Next day got up by 6 and decamping & breakfast (maggi) was done in 2 hours time. We reached Forest Camp by around 9:30. Had black tea & moved down towards Kukke. I took few minutes time out to meet Bhattru. It was nice speaking to him for 5 minutes & I left to join the team immediately. This stretch was more troubling since all were exhaust & it started raining again. It was more of a struggle than anything. Managed to reach base camp by 1:30 PM. Quick bath in Kumara Dhara and could not have darshan since Temple was closed. Still managed glimpse of deity through half closed door & Adi Subramanya. Started back to Bangalore by 3:30 PM and reached home by 10:30 PM.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 09:03:06 +0000
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