We had decided to climb by a known way that was from behind the hill following the stream that comes down the hill. So we started moving towards the backside of the hill. While moving through the low lying slums finding the route towards it was very difficult. So we decided to take the route that would take us to the very foot of the mountain but above the reaches of the slum. We got a small way between two houses we moved up towards the hill. While moving through the space between the houses we came upon a stray dog. On seeing us visitors he got aggressive and started barking on us. He didn’t stop at that he started moving towards us. He was really very scary. But once we were out of his territory, he left us.
We were right at the foot of mountain now. We could see almost the whole slum from here. Mountain now appeared huge and boisterous. It took us fifteen minutes to reach up to here. We waited to catch our breath before starting the climb. Having decided the way climb we started off. The way was good. The climb was easy. We had expected the ground to be mucky after the rains on previous night. But it was drier than our expectations. Now it appeared that we were moving through the gap between two mountains. Now the route had started to show its real colors. The ground became slippery due to lose soil. Rocks were few and scattered. We were having a hard time maintaining the grip. The trees in our way were of huge help to hold on to. Now it was visible that we had taken the shorter route that would be taking us straight to the top of the mountains without any bends or turns. But as it is known, the shorter routes are always the most difficult ones. So we were witnessing the fury of the route now. Shaunak and Rajas were having a very difficult time doing this patch. The patch was not dangerous but it was very difficult to stand on two feet here. This patch was taking us more time than we expected. I was helping Rajas while Tej was handling a restless and over-zealous Shaunak. After negotiating this patch successfully we reached the top of mountain. We were below a huge reflector placed on top of the mountain. There was another reflector some 200m away. From here we could see complete Kalwa, Thane, Mulund and Mumbra. The view was enchanting.
Reaching this peak brought nostalgic moments with it. I had come to this top after a gap of 6 long years. Before that this was a regular monsoon trek for us. This was second trek that I had done as a kid. My dad was always the organizer for this trek. My other friends and neighbors would accompany me on this trek. There were many other passed moments associated with this trek. Now I was the organizer. It was like stepping into my dad’s shoes. I could feel the responsibility I was carrying with me. My fellow trekker’s belief that we are secured with guy could be felt by me.
I called my granny who stays nearby. I told her that we had reached the peak and could see our building. My friends too called their respective homes. The view was breath taking. We see long distances of sky scrapers on one side, while on the other hand we could see the huge mountain range, the tall trees and dangerous heights we had reached. After adoring this scene and bring back those forgotten days we started our journey again.
Now our aim was capturing the peak of Parsik-4. It seemed impossible from the way we had tried before, but from here it seemed as if it could be conquered. So we went for it. There were again two routes to move there. The first one was very obvious that went through the peaks of Parsik-2 and Parsik-3. The other way was like a bit off road but seemed challenging and virgin. Young blood running in our veins didn’t allow us to take the obvious route. So we opted for the second one. This route was easier than we deemed it to be. There were tall trees thought. We could feel the depth of the valley below. Soon we struck a rock patch. It was the most comfortable part of the whole trek. After completing this part we were around 50 feet below the summit of Parsik-4.
We could see a rock structure above us. We decided that we would do it until it could be manageable and much risk is not needed. So we set off with me in lead followed by Shaunak and Tej bringing up the tail. I was moving steadily making sure that all the holds were strong and would bear weight of four people. While moving I was also telling Shaunak what to do and where he should be careful. Shaunak too followed me quickly. But the task was to bring Rajas up. He was an amateur trekker on his very first trek. To negotiate with such rock patches on very first trek is nothing someone would like. I left Shaunak behind and decided to check the remaining route. I was moving on steadily and slowly. Shaunak was asking me every now and then whether I had reached the top. I was telling about the progress. This communication was by medium of screaming to each other. Meanwhile, Shaunak and Tej helped Rajas to reach above. Once Rajas was up, it was just a matter time before Tej was up.
At around the same time, I reached the peak and my joy knew no bounds. I screamed aloud to tell them that we had done it. Soon everyone was there besides me. We were sitting close to each other on those 10 x 15 feet of space. There was nothing around us to brace our fall. We were cautious about our every moment on that place. Tej was playing blues and Bryan Adams on his cell phone. These are some of the moments that a trekker remembers for the rest of his life. After enjoying the view we decided to climb down.
Climbing down was a much more difficult task than climbing down. At first it was decided that we would be moving in the same formation as we climbed up, but on later thoughts it was not sensible to keep two amateurs like Shaunak and Rajas together. So I sent Shaunak ahead and asked Rajas and Tej to wait. Once I escorted Shaunak through the rock patch I came back to take Rajas and Tej. On reaching the spot we had climbed down through I realized that Shaunak was still there and had not went clear of the rock patch. On enquiring he told that he was feeling a bit dizzy! This was the last thing one needed on this rock patch. So again asking Tej and Rajas to wait I helped Shaunak down and then started to take Rajas through with the rock patch. He was very much in state of panic and under confidence. So I and Tej first brought up his confidence by telling him again and again about how easy it was to climb down and asking him not to look at the valley below. After he was a bit fine we decided to take him through one step at a time. Tej was guiding him from behind and me from the front. I was guiding him as to where the holds were and how he could get grip from it. After guiding him through and making sure that Tej was through, I checked on with Shaunak. He was feeling better now. We decided to move down as quickly as we could risk too. Soon found a cozy place under a small overhang in the very rock patch.
Now we were very safe and it was just a matter of time before we could get down. So we had some eatables that Shaunak and Tej had brought with them. By now we could feel our water reducing. We were facing a crunch in quantity of water we needed. So making smart use of water by using very less and keeping more for future need we moved on. While moving down we reached a point from where we could capture Parsik-3 in a matter of minutes. So it was decided that we would do it too. Once there we took snaps in all angles possible and moved on towards Parsik-2 which was also very much near. On top of Parsik-2 there was a huge plain surface. It was very much flat than we could find on some mountain top. After taking a small break over here we decided to stop our adventure and retreat.
But our adventure ceased to end. Shaunak was again and again bugging us to climb down through a different route. So we gave in and started moving towards that direction. But after covering some distance it dawned to us that there was no way and the only way which appeared to go down had much more risk than we would bargain for. So I, Tej and Rajas were of the opinion to find some other route. But Shaunak was adamant and so was I. He moved towards the route while I held my ground that we won’t be going that way. But I am also known to out stubborn anyone. After a few shouts from Shaunak that there was a small place to go down, I held my ground. But still Shaunak stood stubborn. So as an ace in negotiating I told him that I was calling his place. This was a thing that he was most afraid of as this would mean that this would be his last trek. I would never have done that as it would only spread panic at his household. But the trick worked and my old friend was back. After scolding him to no end we walked back. Tej had found a dried rivulet through which we climbed down the mountains. In another half an hour, we were at Shaunak’s place viewing the photos in his TV that we had snapped this morning and reliving the experience once again.
This was my 5th trek to Parsik-1 and first to Parsik-2, 3 and 4. I enjoyed it a lot as there were some things we had not expected before the trek that we had done in this trek. 
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