After a lot of contemplation about a three day trip to Karwar island, we dropped the idea and planned for a trek. Since, Ramit is also coming to Bangalore we wanted to organise something challenging enough for him and thought about a night trek.
A lot of planning was required since it was a night trek and most of us are doing it for the first time in life.And, of all it is an illegal trek.Yes, Skandagiri night trek is banned by Police. Ashwath and Murali have worked a lot on contacts, to rescue us just in case we end up in the police station.Though they did not tell anybody much about that.Everything was in place, torches, snacks and medical kit.But ,there was a lot of discussion on Daaru. Finally, everybody agreed that we are not going to carry Daaru.
We set off at 9:00 PM, late in the evening in two cars.This time, the allocations in the car happened on the basis of weight.All the heavy weights were in Murali's car which included Hari, Murali, Ramit,Ashwath and TJ. Ofcourse, the racer car was occupied by Shameen, Charan and Mr.Flirt Kanhaiya enjoying in the back seat with two ladies Sangeetha and Subha going by his line 'Kya Faraq Padta hai'.
We stopped for dinner by 10 PM at Bhagini, and since all of them were already advised to have light dinner it did not take us much time to finish. Sangitha, the new lady in our team was targeted this time and people pulled her leg every time she tried to say something.We finished dinner and are heading back to the car while people spotted the Daaru shop. As a team ,daaru entices us more than anything.We bought some and started from there.
It is 12:15 AM by the time we reached the place. The place is desolated and Murali started off with his ghost tricks frightening all the girls.We spotted a guide but his eyes were so red, pretty apt to the place.After negotiating with him, we started to trek.The silver shine of the moon is so fascinating, and the landscape got better with the altitude as we trekked.
As we trekked higher, the things we were carrying got heavier. Girls luggage was transferred to the poor guys who carried the bags all along.We finished the breezers and some of the oranges along the way.Moaning and groaning,we still continued the trek.As we climbed higher, the temperature dipped and it got colder and colder.
Team being very supportive to each other, somehow we reached the summit.But it was so cold that we could hardly speak without stammering, for sometime. Deepak was running here and there collecting twigs for the camp fire. But whatever we do, the fire just does not stay.It blew off all the times we tried lighting it.We gave up and then, daaru time started.The drinks we carried were hardly sufficient for any person.Almost everybody was trying to snatch the drinks from each other.
Murali came up with a solution for the daaru problem.he said whoever is going to come and perform to whatever he asks would get daaru. As we all expected, Shameen was the first one to go.She was asked to propose to Kanhaiya, which she did in her unique way, made Kanhaiya accept her proposal and got her quota of daaru.Next, in line was the most placid of the team, Charan. He was asked to dance for a song where he asked Sangeetha to join him to perform a duet and they performed in the chilling cold and both got sips of alcohol.
The entertainment continued for sometime but the temperature got worser.We all sat tight for a few minutes, and some were too tired so they dozed off.The time slowly passd by and it 5:40 AM, where we could notice the colour change in the sky.But also, the wind blew heavier.We stood there at the sunrise point closely hugging each other calling out for Suraj mama. I think that was the only day in my life where I desperately waited so much for the sun to pop up. But every few minutes the sky had variations in colour proportions.Finally after a long wait, sunrise happened around 6:30 AM.I cant describe the beauty of sunrise that day in words.It was worth more than all the pain we took in reaching there. Ofcourse, we posed for a lot of pictures.The sun got brighter, we realised we had to start from there before it gets too sunny.
The way back, the route was longer and took us more time to reach back.We had a typical south Indian breakfast and set back home.Obviously, while coming back in Murali's car it has to be Murali's 'gyan time'.We reached home and fell asleep for a long time forgetting completely about the run we registered for, next morning.
Key learning of the trek which applies to our team anywhere and everywhere which is quoted by Mark Udall"You don't climb mountains without a team, you don't climb mountains without being fit, you don't climb mountains without being prepared and you don't climb mountains without balancing the risks and rewards. And you never climb a mountain on accident - it has to be intentional".
