INFORMATION
Height sea level -
Around 2000 feet
Region - Lonawala
Difficult level of Expedition – Tough
How to Reach -
From Lonawala – Ambavane – Bhamburde
GROUP
Leader – Arun Sawant
Technical team – Sagar, Sanjay, Sachin, Rohit
Team members – Aarushi, Sujata, Sucheta, Ishwar
kaka, Mandar, Rahul, Manoj, Rupendra, Milind, Namdev, Pankaj, Sandesh, Mukund,
Maltesh, Mahesh, Roopesh, Reshma
Villagers – Shantaram Shinde, Lahu Kadu
EXPEDITION SCHEDULED - 21st-22nd
May.
Exploring new routes provides
surprises and challenges, the kind of experiences the beaten paths cannot
offer. Imaging a dried meandering stream leading to a cool pond stopped by a
470ft stone wall, rappelling down is the only way ahead!
Best part - When preparing for the trek didn’t know what to expect ...
it could have turned out to be dull walk too but Bomrabhi fall provided a
perfect 2day walk into discovery.
DAY BEFORE IT STARTED
Rain god welcomes us past midnight at
our base near Lonvala. It was a welcome change after the sweltering Mumbai from
where we started in evening. The village is called as Ekole. Population is not
too much. Rest of our night was catching up on much needed sleep. Space
provided in the Hanuman ji temple.
DAY 1
Beautiful day break of 22nd May went
past us with the focus on the uncertainty ahead and all of us prepping for the
long day. Two helpful villagers joined our band with contagious enthusiasm and
route suggestions.
Leaders had the un-enviable job of
carrying all things necessary as we started the route. While some of the
essentials like harnesses, helmets to food were divided in the group, our load
was much lighter in comparison.
When we had the group come together - Arun sir, Sagar, Sanjay, Sachin, Rohit,
Aarushi, Sucheta, Sujata, Milind, Namdev,Rahul, Iswar kaka, Manoj, Roopesh,
Madar, Pankaj, Maltesh, Mukund, Rupendra, Mahesh, Sandesh - we did the most
important part of the trek ... Group photo ;) This was at adventure base camp
gateway to the Tail Baila trek ahead of us.
Sun playing hide and seek with the clouds and a
comfortably warm breeze goading us we began the hike. Rohit's slogans amped up the atmosphere. We
started towards the source of the Bhorambi stream as our first destination. The
meandering path made by the stream was a natural path we took giving us a
glimpse of nature's delicate erosion forms made on the mighty rocks. We
continued the journey downhill and the peaking heat by now was hurting.
Small ponds ahead of us was the oasis providing
a comfortable respite.
Small ponds ahead of us was the oasis providing a
comfortable respite. After walking of
about 2-2 and half hour we finally reached to the last point where there is no
land for straight walk.What lay ahead was a 470ft straight drop!! Which would have put the flattest glass
facades to shame . We could see in front of us in centre Mhatadka kada, at left
Kaldhondyachi Dhar, at right Aadyachi vat and in very bottom Bhorai river. WOW!!!
Next 5 hours was all about meticulous
planning to take on the rock face. Bouldering points and deciding on the safest
path down was discussed and executed upon by Arun Sir, instructors
Sagar, Sanjay, Sachin, Rohit and prompt helpers Milind, Mahesh and Manoj. One by one all of participants began the
most exciting part of the trek. The first 120 ft. rappel stopped at a small
flat patch where ropes changes could happen to facilitate the further 350ft rappel.
In another 2hrs all of us completed the rappel. A super sense of achievement
mixed with excitement was just beginning to set into everyone.
We just rappelled highlight of trek Bhorambi
waterfall.
At bottom of the waterfall it was ample
of space and clean water for us. That was our night stay. All throughout the
evening into making dinner a sense of accomplishment prevailed. Dinner was
simple affair of items brought along by us and delicious serving of warm kadi
rice. We let the moon to play hide and seek with the clouds for we were too
tired to enjoy it and soon drifted out.
DAY 2
Destination to reach Ekole village
through Aadyachi vat.
Day began at 5.30am welcomed by
bird sweetly chirping away. Only the morning, refreshed we could soak in the wonderful
scenery of the blue sky canopying the greens on the rocky bed of ground broken
by the (dried) river flowing through it.
We
were joined by two villagers who had agreed to lead our party and help with the
route for the day. Mandatory photoshoot later we began the day of a long trek.
After about half an hour of hike we hit our next patch of rock we had to rappel.
Again a challenging 200ft drop but yesterday's practice proved helpful. We
doubled up on the ropes and in-parallel climbed down two persons at a time. The
patch was easier than yesterday with few trees for
support and an existing setup in place.
One of our villager Shantaram
Shinde guides also took to
rappelling. His first experience. His childlike enthusiasm and no shoes effort
was touching drawing loud cheers from all of us. Yay!! However, his friend
preferred taking a longer river bed path downward giving a pass to the thrill.
He joined us later ahead on the trail.
Till 12pm we walked on and by then the heat was
prickly and getting to us. Straight ahead was a rock face ( It is Aadyachi
Vaat) starring at us which required a steep climb. Attempting the climb early
was advised given the rising temperature.
The villagers guided us up hill and we
toiled on, seriously tired. Thick trees provided much need shade for us to rest
intermittently during the climb and savor our energy. While the shade was helping
but the slope was not. Automatically group splits into 3 groups to pace the
trek better.
Along the way we came across two 15
feet rocky patches where we could sharpen our climbing skills. Rope came in
handy as a precaution although it was needed. The rock climbing patches were of
moderate difficult.
Second rock climb was particularly
exhausting even after completing the section, we thought nowhere close to the
top. The heat however had topped; would be around a scorching 35*. A lot
(really lot) of water was needed to keep us hydrated. Thankfully the ample
supply we had hoarded before climbing with us helped.
And FINALLY the sight of flat land gave
us to the strength to dig deep into our reserve stamina and power through the
final stretch. Some strength was also spent in gleeful shouts celebrating the
sight, as if lost sailors had spotted land! 6 hrs of difficult terrain, rappel,
long climb and full blown summer sun behind us we indeed had a celebratory
mood. Nature offered us its gift ... we had come to a patch up shrubs of Kara
wand berries, ripened sweet and sour!!
We were looking at the panorama at the
top, it was beautiful sunset time. We could see Ghangad stand as alone .After
good rest we all headed back to the Ekole village where it all started and then
to our transport bringing us back into the city and its grind!
Only to end more thankful for the
thrill and fascination of the experience then pride of victory.
Note :
You’ll see cover of tree's down n over hill which is pleasure to the
eyes. That’s why there are variety of birds and insects (not harmful
one) available but it needs some expertise to recognize it.
Ample of water is available till bottom of Bhorambi waterfall. But once
you start climbing up through Aadyachi vaat there is no water available in
between. So carry enough water before climbing.
It is not recommended to do trek in monsoon as it is not possible to get
down at waterfall.
Villagers are very helpful and they’ll guide you enthusiastically. Village n the place is serene and clean. Please do not litter. Carry
garbage with you to keep site clean.
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