Whispers with clouds

 

I ve never been challenged on a trek like this before. The smart and intelligent guide from the Department of Forest informed us that there are just 7 hills to pass before we can reach the top. Chembra mountain popularly known around as the Chembra peaks looked big enough to mark as a success if one could climb it, also small enough to challenge one to the task.so we started out with a casual approach to it.

Once you reach the footsteps of one among the seven hills to climb you are welcomed by the Forest Dept's notice telling you about the timings and what to expect.( but no really :) We ( me along with 3 of my friends and the guide) started off though a little late, were all systems go as we started the happy stroll along the clear tarred path.

As we crossed the first view tower and stepped into a semi thick real tropical forest,it was a sudden change from the rest of it all.Almost like in a flash the terrain changed to very narrow, gravel and dusty sand laden 60 degree climb.Took our breath away.From there on its was pathetic panting after every 10 minutes of climb which only worsened for the next four hours as the way was only up and up inbetween just a 5 minutes plain land for a catching of glimpse and swallowing a ton of air.(will there be a day when we can carry a spare heart and a quick shot of oxygen?)

We carried water ,candied peanuts, boiled eggs and bread. But considering the fact that after the first 45 mints you could eat any thing even grass, that is once you stop panting like a dog and have enough strength to bring your hand to the mouth.

The water finished as we reached less than half way through the climb and thanks to the smart guide, who is used to such nasty surprises like a water bottle giving off just air, and who went off the track and disappeared into some rocky crevasse to emerge later on with that crystal clear mineral tasting water from among the rock trail.

The hill top can be seen from far but we never could settle the distance with our eyes as it always went further off from our reach. It sure was tiring mentally.

In the above picture you can clearly see the top where we have to reach and the walk trail where we actually were standing. After each small climb from those seven small hills before one could reach the top it felt a never ending drill.

Less than half through the way, not really, infact this is at about one fourth the length if one measures by the total tiredness, is the heart shaped lake. But I would call it a really huge pond? A natural water hole for the animals and all other bigger stealthy visitors of the night. The guide showed us the carcass of a deer, an old meal for an older tiger perhaps. It was not scary though. The terrain never looked as if we might be surprised by a leopard but it sure had some places where it was a possibility.



The picture with the close up of a tea plant and distant mountain is from the start of the trek when we could get a view of the lower plains.






From the start of the trek

 The picture above is to give you an idea as to how much is in scale were we when compared to this great climb. Here you can see one of our colleague resting near a walk trail and the red mark shows where we finally have to reach.- The Chembra Peak.

 

Once we reached a large plain we showed off, but only after a very long rest period.The guide almost killed us for our slow pace. Probably he has no idea how far we all been running in life with all those extra burdens and surely from the previous nights cheap brandy and stuff.
To those cigarette smoking ( i mean heavy ones) and alcohol loving enthusiasts:-please stay away from attempting this one unless you are really prepared ,as this one is not for those quick bursts of energy but more like an endurance race. I used the old  tortoise tech, slow n steady.

The peak at the top right side of the frame posed more challenges than we were ready for
 

From here on we were forced to take a break every 15 minutes or less. I t really told us to go back to earth and start a rightful living. We were made to look so cheap for our age. The guide told us that when he took groups of tourists from other countries on trek, they would finish it in about three and a half hours. Mind you:- all the way up and back to camp in that time. We took exact four hours and half :) - just to reach the top.

Honestly I was not in a position to stand up and click so i managed this.

Once we all landed up at the top after those hard hours of climb, we were elated not by the view that was on offer but more by our own sense of achievement and were glad that none of us were needed to be air lifted by a rescue crew, though that ll be a never ever possibility in that place, and when I compare my bungee jumping from a crane almost 5 years back to this, that was almost like eating a Jujube.

 



Dont ask now ,as my friend here has already donated his teeth to a cow named Karumbi.