CTC- Nagala Trek Dec 05 & 06 '09

A long fine Trekalogue! Happy reliving my Trek experience on Dec 05 & 06 ‘09

Hey! Hey! Hey! WTF!

Rrrrrrrah People! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Nagala43- 10 min Trek (Wink: 0)

The night prior to the trek, I was experiencing Goosebumps and hardly slept fearing; oversleep. Nothing of the sort happened and here I am in one happy piece with my Trekalogue.

The gathering at 3:45 in the small hours at Tidal was invigorating, filling my heart with anticipation of the Trek and happy to be a part of CTC. (Boy! I am gleeful). People popped up in cars, bikes and the mood was abuzz as the trekkers gathered around; many a handshakes and booty shakes to warm up (it was chill, Duh!). We next clustered in front of Le Royal Meridian. Last, we gathered in Cmbt . Organizers herded us and we filed into cars. I, Arun and Hari Prasad were the only bikers and to avoid confusion we were to put away bikes in Cmbt and travel in cars; as space was aplenty. All our spirits were Gung Ho!

I had the Good Karma and seated with the Best Travel Gang comprising of Sagar, Sai and Rrrrrah! Ananth. Too-good-a-company; what with Ananth’s enthuse, Sai’s (justifications of his pov) and with Sagar’s & Rrrrrrah! Ananth’s counter, I was content to be a silent spectator chirping words at intervals.

All 7 packed cars began the adventure upbeat in the chill weather. We reached Nagalapuram and were distributed food by organizers (Cream buns, coconut poli, chapathi+Tomato sabzi, rusks, pear, apple, maggi and motivation) and explained the eating schedule. All were like Wow! Was this a Trek or Eating Trip? (Soon we would know! (Avvvvvvvoooooooooooooo!- Vadivel style). Started the Trek, lazy bum walk in to the barren lands {I was bitching about the starting view (Later on I was exuberant with a hint of tear)}. I was bouncy; Sunil was cautioning me to save energy. (WTF, soon we would know! (Avvvvvvvoooooooooooooo!); the dam was in sight, and the first turning point of entering the forest, man was it easy! Go! Go! Go! We crushed earth for some 20 min, and we sighted the first pool, dress-off and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Into the water, fishes were happy nipping at our feet (and what not!) under the small waterfall. It was very pleasant.

Had the cream buns and we were hustled further on! Now started the “10 min only” “2moin only” Motivation! Pha! Now, whenever I wld hear “10, 2 min only” I will say Fuck-Off. Organizers were marvelous in their approach-motivation-care-fun quotient. Deeper into the forest and I lost track of time, later reached the second (dead-end) pool (I was so dead!). Dress-off and weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Into the water (You bet! I was not weeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I was like We! Weeee! Wee! Knowing to swim and not knowing to balance in water depths; is the worst kind. I was frantic a few meters into the water and rushing towards my destination a few feet away coupled with fear seemed an eternity to wade. The organizers were the best- coordinating item travel on thermo-rexin rafts & ferrying non-swimmers across. Here, the massage under the pounding waterfall felt great. We then plodded through streams-jungle-near-vertical climbs-descents; leaving me shakily jubilant. After midway, I was assisted to the day’s distance by Gowri. Then clung with husband-wife team (Mrs. Mageshwari), lumbered on. We were helped by Vikram, Kishore, Sai, Max & Sagar. Without them (lifelines) I/we wld not have been in one piece. Sometime while trekking I asked Sai if I could take a leak. I was echoed back by boisterous laughter from Sai and Sagar asking me WTF? Can’t I hold it? till the organizers rang a bell!  I deserved the chiding. Haha! Poor Me! We all reached late to the Picnic pool thanks to the foursome fresher fears running wild, the topping for the day was; having to swim across to reach the campsite. I waded to the campsite holding Max’s ankle. I am deeply thankful to the above people. Peter was a Welcome Surprise who reached the time my group (we were the last) reached the spot before having to swim. Peter informed when asked that he covered the entire distance in 1 ½ hrs. Someone at the campsite asked if he knew a short cut, He stays in Nagala (Mother Fucker!) Bless Peter’s Adventurous Soul and his fitness. Despite Peter’s agile trek, he happily volunteered to ferry the items. The campsite besides the Picnic pool was a wonder. Waterfall, deep waters and rocks to perch on. Small fires were lighted and trekkers made steaming soup and yummy noodles; which were savored. Organizers repeatedly jumped into the picnic pool in the chill night and coming out rejuvenated. Campfire was started with organizers bringing logs; which burned into the night filled with sounds of nature and singing. Hallelujah! All had a steadfast sleep. Like many, I slept with the cluttering of teeth in the dipping weather next to the stream.

Next Morning


It was Max Birthday on Sunday.

Wishing Him all the Happiness!

Morning never felt better as I gaped at the serene view disturbed by fellow trekkers brush-spat-clean. A fresher asked Ananth or an organizer where he cld go pee (A fine Q) but, if he shd take water? Witty Ananth was agape and at a loss for words.

After the morning tea with rusks (Yummy!), after a lot of Come on Ppl, Jump in! From the organizers; Fresher’s tested the picnic pool and then many jumped in and were climbing the waterfall to the first ledge and jumping. One non swimmer friend (Sorry your name did not register) was making up & down the waterfall a ritual and finally settled on the higher second ledge right under the gushing waterfall. Freshers were persistently encouraged by Ananth, Naveen & after-jump rescue by Poncho. Excitement was never better.

I after a frantic swim to the waterfall (all of 50mts), waiting for my heartbeat to settle, jumped from the first ledge encouraged by seeing a non-swimmer jump umpteenth time from atop the ledge.

The trek back was wonderful. Started with Adithya in the lead, did not swim from the campsite, but climbed near-vertical to descend on the other side and waded the same route back. This time accompanied by Sunil, Aravind, Diwakar, Paayal, Husband-wife team (Director)… Some places it was treacherous and on the whole got torturous. All reached the first pool and then the Team Photo Session. The trek on the whole was injury less, thankfully!

LIC Heighte! CTC Weighte!

Gumtha Laka! Giri! Giri! Hooo! Ha! Hooo! Ha; Songs were to be heard (Enthused by Ananth), all the way from first pool till we reached the cars around 7. Gathered around Bid Adieus!

You either Love CTC or Hate CTC.

I love CTC, still Speculative about joining the next trek; will take some time, hoping my decision is not as of Jagan’s waterfall jump.

My Love to all and mainly to organizers for enabling a memorable trek!