"2,3,4 December KP trek...." Roopa sent out a mail, I was all excited to see this mail about KP. I called Roopa to check why she planned a 3 day trek, because i couldn't have missed office on Monday, it was kept as a buffer since it is KP and she was all determined to summit this time after a few half way treks. But this was my first try.
Friday we all met up, 13 of us, a few new faces in the group, otherwise it was the old mountain buddies. As usual we started off discussing about our previous trek experiences. Someone started the topic of snake biting me in Mulliayanagiri. To add to the excitement the group, I even showed the snap of my ankle. Vasu was keen on knowing how I was still alive, One logic that since am NAG, the snake might be dead :-).
We started off our 9 hours journey towards Kukke Subramanya, which was pleasant till Sakleshpur, after that we enter the real NH48, national highway?????,where is the bloody road, its worst than any village road, to be frank there is no road at all.
By 6.30 we reached Kukke, after fresh up, me n Roopa went to the forest office to arrange for the guide, ideally one doesn’t need a guide for KP, but our plan was to trek in the night so to be on safer side we hired a guide. We visited the holy shrine of Subramanya Swami, and there we go, we spotted a snake in the river, WELCOME TO KP.
Someone was telling its a Cobra n all, not sure though. Kukke is one place where people will not create a fuss of spotting a snake, because its a common thing. Earlier I had also seen snakes in the temple, but this time a big one. After we were back from temple, we distributed the food items to be carried and started off the trek.
Some 15 minutes after we started equipping against the leaches, we applied tobacco n coconut oil. The temperature was still cool and we were able to trek fast. The first phase of KP is very steep, but since its a typical rain forest with tall, majestic trees covering the sun, its fun to trek this part.
After an hour of trek we reached the first landmark, The Big Rock.
Me n Shefali reached early, waited here for the whole group to reach. There were so many guys from other groups passing by. We started analyzing how far each one would go by the way the person is panting n puffing. The different grades were Battaramane, Mantapa, Peak. While we were doing so, one person was returning back half way. That made our belief stronger.
For the whole group to come, it took around 30 minutes, a small chat n snacks, we started off the next part. The real challenge of KP is that is almost a continuous ascent, one wont get a easy walk stretches to relax. Zigzag zone, this is the second landmark, there are some 10 zigzags to cross. This part is more of Shola forest, its pretty tough here as we will not have the natural umbrella and the heat will torture a person, and this is pretty boring and very exhausting. Few people in the group spotted two snakes, together.
After a long walk we reached Battara mane. There were already some 50+ trekkers here, this also shows how popular KP is. Battara mane is a popular base camp in KP. We can have food, shelter here. I won't be too amazed if Cafe coffee day, pizza corner comes up here in near future. There are so many people from Bangalore. In fact a group of 30+ from Thomson was there. Our guide was telling, in the Christmas weekend there will be 200-250 people for trek :-0
Battara mane butter milk is such a relief after such a demanding trek. Balaji took us to a nearby stream for a natural Jacuzzi, as we placed our feet into the ice cold water.... Man its such pleasure for the feet. We had lunch at Battara mane, proper kannadiga food, with anna, sambar, majjige with uppinakai.
Our plan was to halt in Forest guest house on the day 1, and do the summit on day 2 morning. So our day 1 trek was over. We spread out our sleeping mats in Adike thota around Bhattara mane and had a nice nap. Myself, Balaji and Karthik were discussing about the next biking trip to Wayanad, would love to make it sooooon.
What peaceful sleep we were having... soon it was all ruined by a game called UNO. At around 4 PM, we started off towards Forest guest house to setup tents n other things for the night. Its a 5-10 minutes walk, after reaching there we had a refreshing Tea, thanks to Roopa, Gauri and Prashanth. We went around for the sunset and some photography, Balaji made me all Jealous with this wonderful Zoom, a few tricks and tutorials, it was pretty dark and we walked back to the base camp. After pitching tents, we went on to collect fire wood. Hungry again, Dinner@Battara mane, it was close to a full moon day, moon had the whole place lit up, a pleasant 5 minutes walk. After a nice dinner, we had a zoke n Dumb charades session around the campfire. Best is Sameena trying to enact Rangeela.
Balaji, myself and a few other settled in the tent, and a few others in forest guest house. In my tent we planned to get up around 5 AM to start trek. 5 AM when the alarm was ringing, it was so bloody cold, we decided to .... Bless the person who found SNOOZE feature.
Finally got up around 6.30 and all set to walk by 7.30. Myself, Shefali (as usual), started off to lead. This part is also very steep, we didn't stop much and reached Mantapa within 50 minutes. We both were pretty happy about our pace. I named Mantapa as "Cape of good hope", if we reach here before Sun becomes too fierce (say before 9 AM), then one can have a good hope for KP peak. After some cool snaps session and sandwich breakfast, I was all set for the last phase. A few guys were contended with Mantapa and didn't carry on further.
Again a steep ascent and very rocky path. Nice views of surrounding mountains. It was so windy that at some places we sat down till it would reduce. Next popular landmark is Batthada raasi. This is a intermediate peak, probably gets it name coz it looks like a paddy heap. Beside this is Shesha parvatha, again this looks like hood of snake "Shesha". By the time we reached Shesha parvatha, we were all so tired, that we loved to assume this itself is KP peak. One look at the path ahead, another few guys started telling this is good enough and we won't continue further. Some how I was adament of doing peak, after some cheerup, we climbed down into the rainforest region, very nice strip. After this there is a little bit of rock climbing to be done, and we are 99% completed. Nagarajan was putting in great effort with his injured leg. At around 11.30 we were at the peak. KP SUMMITED.
I get such wonderful feeling on each of my summit, now this one is extra special for its Kumaraparvatha.
The scenery is pretty good from here. But nothing can beat Mullaiyanagiri. There is a temple, where once in a year during Shivaratri, this god will be worshipped. After a little screaming, snaps, orkut snaps, group snaps we started getting down, this isn't any easier, first of all Sun right over your head, and then getting down steep path. Completely sloshed by the time we reached Forest guest house, which is just half way. I noticed one snake, which disappeared in seconds (Not sure if I shud be happy or sad about it). With major pain we reached Kukke.
I was always wondering what makes KP so special, after all its the third highest peak in Karnataka first n second being Mulliayanagiri and Thadiyandamol. I have done both of them, so what big deal about KP, and why is it so popular, every single trekker in Bangalore either has done it or badly want to do it.
I still don't have the answer, may be just because it is KP. But am happy that I belong to the group of people who say "I have done KP". No doubt this is the most demanding trek I have done, close to which would be Kodai - Munnar trek. 2006 has been a mast year. I summited the top three peaks in Karnataka.
Had I not come to US and instead did the 10 day Goa-Doodhsagar trek, My 2006 would have been more complete.
KP Snaps : http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2097846054
Mulliayanagiri snaps and Denver snaps to follow soon ;-)
- Shankar Nag
