Parsik was the first ever trek that I had done in my life and to be their after nearly seven years I had many nostalgic moments. I had done this trek a couple of times before. So I had decided to it the other way round. I had my college friends Tej and Akshay who were amateur trekkers. Shaunak and Harish were also there and they had accompanied me on the previous treks here. After some discussion we decided to try climbing by an unconventional route. We asked a few locals if there is a way to the top from the other side. The reply that we got was affirmative. So we went ahead.
The day of trek dawned. 1st April 2009. I went to thane where I was going to receive Akshay and Tej as they had never been to Kalwa alone. We met at Thane station at 7:30 am. From there we came to Kalwa. Once in Kalwa we could see our destination very clearly in front of our eyes. We met Harish and Shaunak near Shaunak’s place. The route that we were going to follow was very near from Shaunak’s place. We started our climb at around 8:00am.
The trek was a very small one and I was the route opener. After climbing for half an hour we reached a point from where there were two ways going to the top. So we decided to take the easier way. Tej and Akshay were going great guns, but the problem was with Harish and Shaunak. They got tired very quickly. So it was decided that Tej would open the route and would be the tail so as to keep the spirits and energy. We had to take care of Harish and Shaunak. Both were like two sides of a coin. Harish was bit afraid of the heights and was a bit more careful than required while Shaunak was like a madman left open. Even though he was tired he was very much excited. In that mode of excitement he stumbled quite a few times and had scolding from all of us. Scolding was of no effect to him and we had to control his excitement.
We reached a point from were it was apparent that rock climbing was the only way. So I and Tej decided to check whether we could proceed by this way. As I said it was apparent the way was very much easy. So we decided to proceed. We made a formation of ourselves. Tej was to be in the middle of this patch and me at the bottom. First of all Akshay was sent through. We asked him to be ready at the top to help the other two coming up as they would need help. Shaunak was next and he climbed very quickly in spite of some gruesome mistakes he handled himself well. Now was Harish’s turn to do it. First of all his sack was sent above by Tej. Now started to guide him of were to hold and place footing. I was backing him up. After reaching the middle area Tej took over. He too led him well and with some of Akshay’s support he was through. I and Tej soon reached the top of this patch.
From here the scenic beauty was at its optimum. We could see the towns of Kalwa and Mumbra very clearly. The Mumbra creek shinning in the morning sun was a sight to behold. We took a few snaps from our cell cams and started to figure out the way which we had to take now.
Over here after climbing here from here for around 15 minutes we again reached a dead end. We decided to use the same strategy that we had used earlier. I and Tej went ahead to open the route. But this time it was not going to be cake walk. The way was very difficult. The rock formation was like “L”. There was a way from which we had come and the other way led to the top. This was the last climb in this trek. But this was also the most difficult climb of the whole trek. The rocks had nothing to offer us to which we could cling to and move up. Our only hope was a thin ridge that went through. So I decided to give it a shot. With the help of that ridge I climbed a few feet and helped Tej come over. Then Again used the same ridge to climb some more. In the way I took support of a strong tree which had miraculously grown out of that ridge. The ridge had heaps of dried leaves in it and I was unable to guess the depth of that ridge. Soon we reached a point from where only a small way went up and it was very difficult to climb down through it. Meanwhile Tej too reached here. He recommended that we both could do it but it Harish and Shaunak would not be able to do this. Akshay too had started to wear out a bit. So decided to get down and call it quits.
But it was not that easy. We had to face a herculean task of getting down the same ridge that we had climbed some time before. I again led the way. Akshay was at the bottom to help us climb down but he said that he won’t ne able to climb through the ridge. To help us get down someone had to climb till the place were I had waited for some time and it was no way easy for an amateur. We called this place “Monkey’s Point”. As they said that I resembled a monkey while climbing there. So now we were on our own. We could see the gaping valley below us. If we went down that way then it would game over for us. I took a few steps down and then I was stuck. I was at the end of a boulder and the only hold that I had was of the ridge. With only two strong holds to use and nothing more it was gamble. Akshay was telling me were I could have a footing but it was out of my reach. The tension was building up and by now Akshay was accompanied by Harish and Shaunak in giving us suggestions. I was comfortable on my position now. So to reduce some tension in the air Tej called a friend of us on his mobile. We talked on the loudspeaker and were soon fooling around as if we were in enjoying a cup of tea in our living room. Some jokes were cracked and then slowly and steadily I made a move. I came down on my knees and stretched my leg down. Akshay told me that there was a footing I could rely on. So I searched for it and soon found it. In similar manner I reached the Monkey’s point. Now it was Tej’s turn to climb down. I took over from Akshay and guided him as I had been through the same ordeal as the one he was going through now. After taking Tej on the Monkey’s point I started my journey to safety. Using the tree and ridge I reached were Akshay was standing. Soon Tej too climbed down and we raised a cry as if we had conquered the peak.
After resting and recharging our batteries we started to decline. Now it was decided that we would do the hill besides the one we were climbing. So the way towards it was different than the way we had climbed. This way was a bit difficult. There was no firm footing and we had to keep on moving so as to maintain some grip. After struggling here for around 45minutes we reached the mid section of the hill. Now we had to move on plain surface so as to reach the base of the hill that we had decided to climb now. A brisk walk for half an hour took us to the base of our supposed climb. We halted there for some time. Had some light snacks and started the climb again.
The ways to the top were numerous and it was very confusing as to which way should we take. We found a dried brook and decided to follow it. The way was very dirty owing to the slum dwellers in nearby areas. More twenty minutes and we were with nature alone. Dense forest covered the way by which we had come. It was well passed 12 and the afternoon sun was burning us. Our water had depleted to some amount during climb to the previous mountain. So our reserves were low and we had to climb more than half the mountain. We continued our climb. Shaunak and Harish were in very bad state. Shaunak was suffering from back ache. His lower back muscles had started to trouble him a lot and he also had some cramps in his legs. Harish’s case was similar but it was not that serious. By the time we had climbed half the mountain our water was almost finished and we were not sure if there was any source of water at the top in midst of summer. So it was decided that we abandon the trek from here.
We rested there for some time and soon started our climb back. Tej was very much disappointed as his first ever trek was unsuccessful. I was disheartened too but the health of my companions was more important to me than reaching the top of mountain.
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