Trek dates: 8-9 Dec 2007
After an successful attempt to climb the hill range at Tadakalpudi from the “Water Fall” approach on 2nd September 2007, we are determined to cross the hill range this time. Having complete knowledge about the location and terrain, the enthusiasts included Arpan, Prathik, Deb, Sayanthan, Ravi, Shiv and Sridhar to cross the hill range. Ravi was taking care of the transportation, Sridhar the food, Shiv and Deb the barbeque for the night stay, Sayanthan the route.
As the plan was to cross the range over 2 days and we did not have sleeping bags for all the members so 4 members (Ravi, Prathik, Sayanthan and Deb) purchased their own sleeping bags. The planning for the transportation went for a toss as we could not get reserved tickets to Kothagudem. So, we all decided to assemble at Imliban bus stand by 8:30 PM on 7th December 2007 and take the available bus for Kothagudem. The “Snaffy” rotis (packed rotis which can be used upto 4 days from the date of making) we normally take for the trek were not available. So at the last minute Sridhar had to make alternate arrangements and was unable to reach Imliban as planned. Sayanthan reached sridhar over the mobile and the tickets can be reserved tickets by the 11:30 PM bus for all the 7 members. After Sridhar reached Imliban, the common luggage was shared and the baggage repacked. The bus started its stroll at 11:30 PM.
As we reached Kothagudem by 6:30 AM, we all rushed to the Railway station to catch the first train to Tadakalpudi. The platform looked deserted and as we enquired at the station, the train left at 5:45 and the next train is available only at 8:00 AM. The option of going by bus is ruled out as we do not gain much time by the bus journey and we have to do an hour’s walk from the nearest bus stand. We quickly completed our routines at the railway station and awaited the 8:00 AM train to be bearthed. The train dropped us at Tadakalpudi by 8:30 and enroute, Deb and Sayantan had a glimpse of the hills and the terrain.
We quickly retraced our path along the railway track till Tadakalpudi railway gate and started walking towards the hill. This route from the railway station is quite opposite to the route we have taken for the “Water fall” trek. We met a few villagers who were walking towards their fields for harvesting the Cotton crop. The villagers were curious to get our where abouts and we were trying to get the details about the terrain and possible paths to start our trek. After we exchanged the required information, they have shown us a small deviation from their routine walk path which will take us towards a hill behind which we palnned to start our trek. As we walked along the path, the path became less prominent and we reached a cotton crop beyond which, the hill was visible. We were sceptic to walk through the field as it is the harvesting season. With extra care and slow walking, we crossed the field and walked around the hill. Now we could see our planned path and everybody was ready for the trek.
The route planners Sayantan and Deb were leading the way and the rest of the team is following them. The first objective is to cross the 100 feet hill range (3 small peaks) and as we climbed the hill, we could see our approach for the hill nearly 2 KM away. Now we decided a plain ground as a references started towards the same. By now, the time is 10:00 AM and the Sun started to show his power. As we were walking towards the intermediate point, the climb down the hill was very easy as we could find a path, but after that it was a bushy jungle and walking through the rivulet was nearly impossible. Ravi and Sridhar started exploring new paths and as we reached a small stream (with almost still water), Sridhar and Shiv found a way towards the reference point. Everybody was delighted as we were reaching the reference point. We found a huge tree giving us enough shade to have our breakfast and a quick rest.
Now we started moving towards the starting point of the trek again through a bushy jungle. With criss crossing paths, we were sure that there would be wood cutters in this place. After travelling for nearly 20 mins, we found couple of wood cutters and they informed that there is a path next to the stream and showed us the way towards the stream. Our google research showed us that there is some rivulet and the information provided by the wood cutters lifted our spirits. We quickly reached the stream and started walking along the path which was giving a gradual climb. We made sure that we could see the stream or atleast listen to the sound of water flow when were moving. After some time, the path and the stream were separated and we could not notice the stream. Now the path was not at all prominent and more over, the bamboo grass was covering the path and we had to cut them. Sridhar after talking to Ravi and Sayantan decided to walk through the stream instead of the path and move back to the path once it is visible.
The trek along the dry rivulet was tough for some of the members as they had to jump over the stones to avoid getting wet. It was very tough for the first timers as they had to balance themselves and jump over the rocks and climb them with the rucksack (@12 Kg). The first hurdle we faced in the rivulet is “you must jump”. Here the rivulet was broad and we had couple of paths to move up. One of them was very slippary and the lead runners got their feet wet. Sridhar took another path, but this path needed a big jump and with the weight, it was tricky so, first the bags were passed across and then the members jumped to the other side. Immediately after this, we faced a huge pool of water where in we had to climb along the rivulet bank towards the hill and join back. Here as well, the slim and balanced guys squeezed through the narrow space available between the rock and tree and climbed up the 6 feet rock. The movement along the rivulet was slow and tiresome. We were having quick breaks and we actually reached our starting point of the trek @ 11:00 AM so the effective climb was very less. The lunch was taken @13:00 hrs and we started walking quickly as the destined point for the night halt is a distance away. As we were walking along the rivulet, the path became more and more difficult and steep. We could see a path on our left side and we decided to explore the same, as the jungle track was even more tough, we decided to move back to the rivulet. Walking along the rivulet, now we again faced huge boulders now we had no other option but to make our path, climb up the hill and join back after crossing the boulders. We had to do this couple of times and every time we face such an obstacle, we are spending nearly 30 minutes for the entire team to navigate.
At 1600 hrs, we could see the change in the light and we quickly needed to find our resting place for the night. Everybody is very tired. Sayantan started climbing up the hill to get a vantage point, Sridhar started walking along the path to find a dwelling place, Ravi started assiting Sayantan to find the way up the hill by climbing a near by tree. The path taken by Sayantan was very difficult as he had to crawl through the bamboo grass and all along the path. Sridhar returned back with the news that the path is clear and navigable, but there is slope on either side of the path and fully covered with grass. Ravi after reviewing both the paths navigated by Sridhar and Sayantan, decided to walk along the path travelled by Sridhar then climb up the slope along the grass and reach the top and camp for the night, even if we had to sleep along the slope, the the objective is to stay away from the water stream.
After reaching the top, Shiv and Ravi found a level place to camp for the night. Quickly everyone moved towards the camping spot. The climb through the grass was very tricky as the grass was dry and the climb was steep and we could not see where the foot was landing. Everyone was tired and wanted a rest. Cairns were made enroute for safety. But the fact that we found an even place to camp for the night motivated everyone to move towards the camping place. From this point, we could listen to the water flowing through one of the reentry points on the other side of the hill. Deb quickly cut the grass and used the same as a cushion on the little unevenness on the ground. He was helped by Shiv, Arpan and Prathik in pitching the nets. Sridhar, Ravi and Sayantan collected firewood for the night. The logs were very heavy and to move them up the hill was tough especially when you are tired. As we settled, the camp fire was lit and everyone started sharing their experiences. There was a big discussion whether we can cross the hill and reach Narsapur from here or go back to Tadakalpudi. Looking at the terrain, we decided to go back to Tadakalpudi. The barking deers voice were heard from a distance. We kept an open eye for any other noices that could be heard. Cooked parathas and the ready to eat that was brought helped us to make Dal Makhni. The sky was crystal clear but for the shining stars and being the day after new moon, even the shy stars could show their face.
The cusion of the grass was very helpful to get a well-deserved rest. The wind was blowing ocassionally and gently and this helped the team get a good and well deserved sleep. We woke up by 6:30 and packed everything by 7:30 and ready to get down to tadakalpudi. As we walked down the slope and reached the path, we could not locate the spot from where we took the deviation to climb up the hill last evening. Sridhar tried to navigate along the path, but no luck. Deb and Sayantan quickly cut the bamboo grass and made a new route towards the rivulet. Once we are at the rivulet, we started walking along only to know that the point we reached now is upstream to where we left yesterday. We abandoned the walk through the rivulet yesterday because the path was very difficult and now, we need to navigate the same. But we had no option but to walk through the tough route. After walking for nearly 30 minutes, we reached the spot from where we could retrace our path along the rivulet. Now we moved quickly through the rivulet and recollecting our activities the previous day. As we reached the 6 feet rock and the huge pool of water, Sayantan, Deb, Prathik and Ravi jumped in to refresh themselves. After spending more than 30 minutes here, we started our walk down the stream. It was noticed that the water is flowing at a few places and dry at some other places. The mystery was solved at the next water log that the water was flowing through some small gaps along the stones this is only to confirm that all the while the water is moving down below the rocks and sand we were walking on.
As we were walking along the rivulet, we could not trace the point where we joined the rivulet from the path. As we understood that the stream we saw after we crossed the 100 feet hill and the one in which we are moving are the same, we were sure that we will not be lost, but the navigation was becomming difficult. At this point of time, Sridhar found a small path which was leading onto the bank of the rivulet and from there another path was visible. The confidence that this path (which was not the one we travelled along the previous day) was one of the cris crossing paths, the navigation through this path will definitely take us towards the spot where we had breakfast. So the team got on to the path and started exploring the paths and soon we were on the right track to reach back. Everyone was delighted as we reached the spot where we took breakfast the previous day. By now it is nearly 11:00 AM and the sun was beating us down.
Now we had to cross the 100 feet hill and reach the fields. After reaching the stream after the breakfast point, we could not retrace the path we climbed down the 100 feet hill. So, we decided to explore the path. Deb, Ravi and Sridhar started exploring the paths and after couple of unsuccessful attempts, we found a path which will take us across the hill. After climbing down the hill, we walked nearly 3 KMS to tadakalpudi railway station through the fields where bullock cart paths exist. As we were walking towards the railway station, we saw the train leaving, we were late by just 15 minutes. We reached the railway station by 14:45 only to know that the next train is at 17:30 hrs. So, we decided to walk to Tekulapalli and climb the bus back to Kothagudem. The distance is nearly 6 kms and walking through this hot sun and without lunch was taking its toll. Shiv was lucky to escape in the Auto who was willing to take only one person. A tractor moving along the way was kind enough to offer us lift till Tekulapalli. Once we reached Tekulapalli, we quickly moved to Kothagudem and took a Taxi back to Hyderabad.
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