.jpg)
It's the journey toward doing these harder climbs that really gives value to the whole activity of climbing..... Alex Lowe
.jpg)
After a very long time went out somewhere- 2 months to be precise, not including the frequent Saturday night outings to Lonavla, Karnala, Charoti etc with friends. Sweltering summer heat on the highways and added financial constraints curtailed any possibilities to ride out far- hence for the time being lying in the crunch decided to explore nearby surroundings, especially till the lovely monsoons are here. Resolved to trek as many forts and some off-beat places to my maximum ability. The rain gods very pleased with the western belt of Maharashtra have been generously leaving the heavenly tap open, washing off the slushy roads, waking up the greenery all around transforming even the most ordinary barren landscapes into green carpets.
.jpg)
Kick start to the season began with a trek with Arjun to the supposed 800 year old fort of Kohoj situated off Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway (NH8) on the Manor-Wada Road. The fort can be easily recognised from very far owing to the two adjoining peaks which resemble two people standing on top. Around 3200 feet high and the difficulty is classified as "MEDIUM" by professional trekkers, whereas the tallest peak in Maharashtra "Kalsubai' is classified as "SIMPLE"- hence by standards of a person like me who hasn't trekked much and with tummy on a daily bulge- it wasn't going to be a cakewalk (though I realised that later). After our last trek failure in April 2007- thanks to a few guys who were dehydrating faster than a dosa on a griddle, I wanted to be on the top of this- whatever it takes.
We were already running behind schedule as Vinod and Salil joined it at the last moment. Via Western Express Highway onto NH8 taking right from Manor Naka to Waghote village our base camp, it was already 2.15 in the afternoon. Parked our bikes outside a villager’s house and got our feet moving at 2.30. People on the way were surprised as to the timing of our trek. It was a lovely experience of passing through the muddy walls in between the paddy fields.
We were already running behind schedule as Vinod and Salil joined it at the last moment. Via Western Express Highway onto NH8 taking right from Manor Naka to Waghote village our base camp, it was already 2.15 in the afternoon. Parked our bikes outside a villager’s house and got our feet moving at 2.30. People on the way were surprised as to the timing of our trek. It was a lovely experience of passing through the muddy walls in between the paddy fields.
.jpg)
Stopped over at the lake for a click- actually a reservoir for field irrigation with the mighty Kohoj looking down upon it in the background.
.jpg)
15 minutes of walk brings us to the base of the fort. Hey this is an easy trek, we should be up there quite soon I thought. A gross under-estimation that- no sooner we were through with the easier sections, our calf muscles were put to the task. Though it was a bit vertically challenging- the path was still visible and we're on our way up. Salil was sweating like a wet sponge on the squeeze- we needed a breather too and stopped for a recharge.
.jpg)
Passing through thick tree cover was fun- a jungle trek this.
.jpg)
Occasionally looking back at the places left behind on the way.
.jpg)
Knowing that we are already late, we upped the ante and got quicker on our feet. That was too much for Salil who finally decided to give up the trek. Though he tried his best later, but we were too quick from him to catch up. This was the last time I saw him.
.jpg)
A group of seriously sweating trekkers passed by carrying ropes and trekking equipment, leaving me wondering if the trek was that difficult. One of them suggested that we abandon the trek as it would be a risky task. I nodded my head to his suggestion, but in my mind I was like "Why the hell did you go then if it was for the risk?" We carried on at a relative brisk pace and one rocky corner of the top was visible. I was excited of having almost made it before one gentleman making his way down said "40% of what you trekked till here still to go". He was kind enough to suggest pointers as there was no path up there. Vinod was in a full mood to abandon the trek, but not Arjun and me. Arjun suggested we keep trekking till 5, if we cannot make it anywhere near, we return. We continued and faced the toughest part of the trek- no visible path, thick tree cover, slippery rocks, fallen trees which we had to crawl through- tiring but seriously exciting with repeated reminders on phone from Salil that he wants the camera asap.
.jpg)
Here comes the second retirement- Vinod couldn't carry further and with his ailing knees jangling like a tail of a rattlesnake, we had to bid tata to him as well. We two carried on at the same pace for another half an hour and finally..finally finally finally....we are on the top. "Congrats Arjunbhau I say, but where is the fort?" There it is, still half an hour's of trek remaining. Arjun was in a full mood to camp overnight- we had the required eatables in our bags to take care of a night's meal and raincoats that would keep us safe from the deadly junglee mosquitoes. That was the extreme and last resort in case we weren't able to make our way back. Also handing back Salil's camera was an added pressure to return back.
.jpg)
It was 5.30 and returning just from the table top sighting only the Lord Shiva temple would have been a waste of the entire effort.
.jpg)
We carry on and meet up with a group making their way down the fort. Request them to wait for us as we were sure of losing our way in dark.
.jpg)
Water cisterns- lots of them on the way up.
.jpg)
A last small slippery crawl and there we were, on the highest point of Kohoj- all the stiffness and pain suddenly disappeared or rather we forgot about it.
.jpg)
That's a hypocritic smiling thumbs up...I was all scared ;)
.jpg)
We had cuppa noodles, sugar, tea bags, cups in the bags- but guess what, not even a single matchstick :P Arjun didn't want to let the effort carrying the stuff go waste- he pulled out a cup, poured cold water, dipped the tea bag and some sugar and had his share of cold tea at this point. If not for the cuppa noodles, at least the tea- his wish was fulfilled. One of the advantages of this place is full cell network coverage- even at this topmost point got a call from Glen asking our whereabouts. We hurried our way down to catch up with the other gang, who had already disappeared.
.jpg)
Arjun poses for a couple of pics, in the meanwhile I tank up the bottles from the streams.
.jpg)
We catch hold of the guys from a distance who surprisingly were getting down at crawling pace. As we near the spot, we realise why. The slippery section, who's got the guts to blaze away. Also one guy from their group escaped a bid on his life slipping over the rocks and luckily came out with injuries. Poor guy was still walking- well he didn’t have any option either.
.jpg)
Me getting stuck at a point..jpg)
That was the only difficult trek of the section, rest was a tiring but comparatively convenient trek. BTW we were descending to the other side of the fort to Nane village which was 9 kms away from Waghote where Vinod and Salil were awaiting us. No way could we have made our way back via the track we came up.
.jpg)
Heartiest thanks to Patilsaheb, who guided us safely down the fort- without him it would have been a difficult task reaching base.
.jpg)
With another odd 2 hours of walking, slipping and stumbling on our tired feet, we make it to Nane village in dark.
.jpg)
The group was kind enough to drop us till the Manor Wada Road. Further after a lot of failed requests for lift till Waghote- hopped onto a trailer which dropped us for a reunion with the retired guys. Got onto our bikes and road to Hotel Sarovar for hot Aloo Parathas, Paneer Rolls and refreshing masala tea. After a terrible bumpy ride on NH8 till Ghodbunder, we split for our homes.
A tiring trek it was, but thrilling and exciting as well. Never had a trek like this before- even Ratangad was relatively much easier. Being dead scared of heights myself- thankfully I did manage to kill some of it on this trek. I'll be a lesser jolted cat on my next trek. Thanks to Arjun, Vinod and Salil for the company.
Snapshots of the memories HERE
Dude that descent looks scary !!
And yeah it definitely looks tougher than Kalsubai - Kalsubai has just one tough section, otherwise the trail is quite gentle