The trek mail started with a say "What’s special for this valentine day? Here is the chance to touch “4” girl friends Ms. Ehina Buja, Ms. Ombattu Gudda, Ms. Jenkal Gudda and Ms. Deepadhkallu in 2 days. (Feb 12th & 13th)" Hmm.. Tht got me excited and I registered for the trek. Further, it was informed due to restriction from forest dept for trekking in Ethina Buja (EB) range it will be skipped.
Anyway, we started on 11th Feb night after being delayed by an hour due to Bangalore Traffic. Everyone, reached their pick points well in advance but had to wait. Satish the team leader/organizer joined at the last stop. So, a team of 14 members (All Boys) started to meet their girl friend(s) on the eve of Valentine's day.
Team: Satish (Organizer), Prabhakar (Tiger), Allwyn, Dipankar, Sowrish, Kumar MP, Harish, Girish, Bharath, Naveen, Tanoy, Gurva Reddy, Debashish and Dr. Ravi Shankar.
We reached Hanbal in Sakaleshpur by 4.00 am and waited for Tiffin center to get open. We parceled our breakfast/lunch and got started. We halted nearby small stream to freshen up…
Figure 1: Day 1 Morning Refresh
We tried to find "Lakshmi Estate" by vehicle for the driver and we got Lost!!!.. But, we were able to find it within an Hr and hence, we got delayed by 3hrs from our proposed schedule.
Day 1: To cover Jenkal Gudda and Deepadhkallu. If things go well & could cover good distance, then will reach lakmshi estate at the end of the day or will be camping in the grass land.
Day 2: Move to Estate & OG.
The trek started from Betta Bhairaveshwara Temple @ 3470 ft altitude (With BASC one can alwayz have God blessings before/during the trek) and we can see a path already exist (Satish initially thought of making a path from here itself, I guess so). The path was through thick forest and after few decisions; we were able to reach a good distance near the Deepadhkallu peak. We decided to leave our baggage near the tree shade and carry only the essentials for the peak. It was up-climb of about 60deg with NO SHADE. All of us reached the Deepadhkallu peak by 1.30pm. From, here we can see the Ehina Buja and very reason we were not allowed to trek over there. There was thick forest fire, which we can see all throughout our trek.
Figure 2: Bettada Byraveshwara Temple
Figure 3: Deepanakallu from base
From, the Deepadhkallu we can see "Jenkal gudda". The shape of 'Jenkal gudda' is interesting as its round and as said by Satish it requires equal amount of stamina from any direction you try to climb it... The round shape was indeed the difficult one to trek in Hot Sun @ 2-2.15pm. Harish & Naveen decided to skip the climb.
Figure 4: Forest Fire in EG Range
Figure 5: View of Jenkal gudda from Deepadhkallu
We reached the JenkalGudda peak by 2.40pm. The ascend had steep climb with no shade… infact there are no shade from Deepadhkallu peak to Jenkal Gudda peak which was difficult as we were climbing in mid afternoon beneath the HOT sun. Jenkal Gudda has ascend of 70odeg with no place to hold up to. It was roughly 700m up climb from the base, which we reached from Deepadhkallu. Well, the view wasn't too magnificent as I expected due to approaching summer (it was more dry than my expectation). Here, we found a Deepak and wondered how the Deepak of Deepadhkallu came to this peak :?....
Figure 6: At Jenkal Gudda peak
Figure 7: View from the Peak of Jenkal Gudda
After group pics we started our decend down (a tough one)... While going back from Jenkal Gudda to Deepadhkallu, I had dizziness and needed the rest immediately. With encouraging quotes from Satish, I finally reached the shade near the Deepadhkallu. The descend to base where we left our bags took me quite a time and all reached by 4.30pm. After 5 min break (Considering me coming @end, others had quite a good break) we started for next destination…. But where ???? Estate or BASC peak (where BASC team got lost during OG2, hence referred as BASC peak by lost members)
Well, the idea was to reach the Estate that is visible from the point we started. It seemed to be just next to one of the peak, 2Km away and hence we can make it. So, started the journey to that peak and soon when we were just about to descend into virgin forest we Halted!!!. Reason: Don't know how deep is the forest and hence how much time it will take for the team (Yup Team, since many people are traveling like Cheetah and few Lions :) were still behind). Therefore, we decided to Trek Up, reach the Top and have camping there.
Figure 8: Lakshmi Estate.. Too Near Too Far
Hmm.. this is where I went down. While, going Up..Up Up… because of dizziness, lack of rest & no food, I fall down!! Hee.. only literally just causally at the same place. Here, Reddy and Allwyn carried by baggage up (Thanks a Ton guys) and with more encouraging quotes from Mr. Satish/Allwyn/Reddy/Sowrish I finally made it to Top.. Yupeee!!!! Later, I realized there were other casualties also….. Sowrish and Harish. We saw the Sunset and it was quite stunning view since the trek we started.
Figure 9: Sunset @ OG Range
Then, barring few members (5 of them) others went for Water hunt and found it. Then, as routine we camped at near mid-peak so as to be more close to water. We had our Dinner, BASC Intro round and then sleeping. Prabhakar and other tried keeping the fire ON till 3am before going for sleep. We wake up @ 4.30 am with strong breeze blowing and everybody started becoming SUPERMAN!!! All were good and no injuries!!
Hmmm.. The Day 2 started with our breakfast and starting for unknown trail. We had Map, GPS, Water and an adventure was waiting for us. Satish and path finders decided to reach the BASC peak initially and then find the Jeep Track. So, the journey filled with adventure started. Satish, Dipankar, Prabhakar led the team. We traveled from one peak to another (descend peak) and started finally into the dense forest. When we were just about to enter the forest, the path finder found that due to big rock ahead we cannot go down the proposed way. Hence, we climbed a bit and then again started to get down after roughly 400m. And here the difficult part started as we didn't knew how deep the forest.. well it was infact quite a deep 1.5km as per my estimation. At one place during forest descend there was nothing to hold up to.. The ones in front of me (Dr. and Harish) managed to get away but I lost it. I lost the branch which was to hold and suddenly started sliding!!!!!! .. I, then somehow managed to hold onto a rock which was also about to break. So I left it and slided further and hold onto one tree root. Harish got panicked and so am I & others (Sowrish, Deb & Kumar) following me!!!
Harish shouted and soon we had our rescue. Mr. Girish..... He saved my fall and made me to right path. Then, Reddy came from nowhere (He was behind Me & others).... and with Girish he saved the fall of others. And finally we reached the down.. Yupee!!! Into the Virgin forest and with water source. So, whts NEXT!!!
Figure 10: Into Virgin Forest and stream (Still Chking the Maps!!)
Satish told that we are going to follow the up-stream as he was sure down-stream will lead us to OG our 3rd lady though our current target was to reach the estate. I asked Ravi... So how far is it?? He said "We are lost and just hoping this stream to lead us some place".
Well... we started upstream and after about 400m he halted again as stream was on right side and as per our GPS we are supposed to go left side. Dipankar went further to find whether it is taking some left turn.. but signs were negative. So, we started up-climb into the dense forest. Leading the way was Satish & Tiger. After few decisions on the up-climb based on GPS position finally we were about to find an abandoned Jeep Track. Everyone was thrilled to found it. However, this one Satish was no expecting but it was reliving. Then, with all of energy we started to reach estate ASAP.. But hang ON!!! We are again got into two dilemma.
Figure 11: Which Path to Take ?
Satish & Tiger went right And Reddy & Bharat went Left.....
No on came up with satisfying result. But, since we had to go left as I said earlier we headed left and soon able to find the coffee plantation.... and after 10min walk we were near the estate. We freheshup near the waterfall and then went back to Estate. We had our lunch and since, no one expect Satish and Reddy was interested to trek OG we cancelled the same and started to Bangalore.
Path Finders: Satish, Prabhakar, Dipankar
Sweepers: Reddy and Girish
Casualties: Tanoy, Harish and Sowrish (Day 1, Mind IT)
