Kumaraparvata trek - Some key points

Some key points which I thought might come in handy while doing Kumaraparvata trek.

1. Attempt KP trek, after training for atleast 2-3 weeks. These weeks should include running some cardio and breathing exercises. What I did, well, will share some other day.
2. Breath using nose always, both breath in and breath out. Never breath using mouth. I think this is one of the key point. Even in running if we breath through mouth, we end up being thirsty also more tired.
3. If one is sweating more (like me) drink more water and use Electral. I carried a 2.25 LT water bottle and even when the co-ordinator told me that it was heavy, I still stuck to my bottle. I had one more 1 LT bottle which was spare and empty most time.
4. Use a stick. I did not have a stick and while descending I was the last member, almost slow by 5 mins than the rest of them.
5. If you find going bit difficult, just chant the name of God and proceed. I think its as simple as that.
6. Always have the goal of reaching the temple at the top and praying over there.
7. There is no need to reach the peak from Kukke on day 1 itself. You can halt at Bhattaramane on day 1 and start on day 2. or you can halt at Kallu Mantap.
8. Carrying more load from Kukke side, will definitely take a toll on the body especially during summer. So choice of where to halt is important.

Well I am not an expert on trekking or giving key points. I am an overweight guy and the post written above is for myself, just to remind me the next time, I visit KP.

Till then,

Cheers, 

Kumaraparvata trek - Feb 15-16, 2014 - Part 3

After starting at Bhattaramane at 10 55 AM, we reached couple of view points on our way. The sun was at its best. It was getting hot, we started towards Kallu Mantapa. I never realized we were covering good ground even in bright sunshine.

We reached Kallu Mantap at around 12 10 PM. It was yet another record time. 1 hour 10 minutes was absolutely fantastic. I would like to thank the people in the front who were pulling like, nothing less than an A-Train. We took a 15 minutes break at Kallu Mantap. I was really in luck this time. I felt so happy and so emotional just to know, I will be able to complete KP trek and visit the temple at the top.

Then was the stretch of the journey which comprised of inclined climbing. We covered around 2.5 kilometers and reached at the false peak. We were there around 1 45 PM odd. Another record of sorts. From here it was 1 kilometer to Kumaraparvata. The feeling was awesome.

We made it to KP at around 2 20 PM. 7 hours after starting, with 1 hour break at Bhattaramane. Roughly 6+ hours to KP that too during summer(beginning of summer rather).

One thing I can say is, it happened only because of God's grace. Would love to thank God for each step I took during this epic trek. I proved myself wrong. I followed my heart and completed this trek. And four days later I am writing this post. Feels great.

Cheers,

Kumaraparvata trek - Feb 15-16, 2014 - Part 2

We reached Kukke, on 15 Feb 2014, around 5 45 AM. It was still dark. We freshened up in pretty quick time. This time, I was very much careful on what I carried. I shall mention about what all stuffs I carried this time around. But thats later.

Once everyone was ready, we headed out to Neo Mysore Cafe for breakfast. After a quickbreakfast, we were ready to start the Kumaraparvata trek at around 7 10 AM. I called home one more time, telling them that I was ready to start the trek and seeked blessings from my mother, hoping I would complete the trek.

The trek starts at a distance of 1.2 kilometers from the main Kukke temple road, so we walked this distance on asphalt road. Soon we were at the entrance where the trek starts. The briefing starts over here. We were 12 guys and our itenary was as follows.

Day 1 - Start from Kukke - Reach Bhattaramane - Break for lunch - Start to Mantap  and then to Peak.
             Return to Bhattaramane for dinner.

Day 2 - Start from Bhattaramane descend, reach KP and start to Bangalore.

This itenary was a bit tough one, I admit, on hearing this my friend had told me not to attempt this one as the summer had already kicked in. But I had taken it on and now it was do it or embarrass myself.

I had a lighter backpack this time around, one which weighed 0.75 kilos or even lesser. I had a 2.25 litres water bottle + one 1 Litre bottle spare which was empty. Since we were planning to stay at Bhattaramane we had to carry only 1 sleeping bag.

Before entering the forest, I just touched the ground and moved my fingers on the soil and prayed to God not to have a second time embarrassment. I wanted to complete this trek badly, and reach the temple at the top.
Believe me praying to mother earth before starting the trek helped, helped a lot infact.

Initial trek is through forest cover. There is good shade available and also since it was early morning we could do this stretch. We reached Bhimana Bande in around 50 minutes. This was quite a record time. The team was really good and 12 guys were really powerful. Initially I was in the front. Later I stopped in order to add electral to my water and stayed back till the forest cover ended.

Once the forest cover ended, people took few minutes break and I got a chance to sneak ahead. We made it to Bhattara mane at around 9 25 AM. We started at 7 20 AM and at Bhattaramane at 9 25 AM.  2 hours 10 minutes all it took..

What a feat it was, it was unbelievable. I felt blessed, I somehow got a feeling, I was in luck this time. My confidence just got a big boost.

Mr Bhatt agreed to serve an early lunch at 10 30 AM. We had loads of time. I started stretching hoping to cheat cramps. It felt better, relaxing. Soon we finished lunch and 10 55 AM we were ready to start again.

More on that in the next part.

Cheers,

Kumaraparvata trek - Feb 15-16, 2014 Prologue (events before the trek)

I completed Kumaraparvata trek this time around, and believe me the feeling is just awesome.

It was around 10th Feb 2014, I felt the need to trek. It had been 7 months since I had been to Mullayanagiri. After that, I did few trips but none of them can be categorized as serious trek. Those included.

1. Kumta to Gokarna Beach trek.
2. Photography cum exploration at Gingee Fort.
3. Trip to Hampi
4. Hubli Dharwad, Yellamanagudda Trip.
5. Chickmaglur trip.
6. KokkareBellur trip.

So I was keeping an eye on the BMC page for KP Trek. There were couple of treks to Kumaraparvata during January, but I could not be a part of it, due to some reasons. But when I came to know there was a KP trek on 14 Feb 2014, I did not hesitate to register.

Compared to last year I was feeling better, but couple of people still told me, that, it would be very hot and considering my personality, it would be very very difficult to complete the trek. Since my itenary was a serious one, a friend of mine told me that, if I could make it to Kallu mantap, and come back it would be great. He even told me not to register for the trek and only attempt it post monsoons. But not having trekked for sometime was making me go crazy. I had no option, hence I registered.

Prior to registering for KP Trek, I had registered for BASC trek to Nagala, but since I had no recent trek experience, the organizer rejected my entry. I nothing to prove that I could trek for 15 kilometers in two days. Also me being overweight casts a big shadow on my selection. I weigh 79 kilos for my 5  ft 7 inches height.  The organizer for Nagala trek told me, I would be slow and make the entire team wait since I had no recent experience. When I told him, I could do it, he told me to start off with one day treks.

It was more like a slap on my face and confidence. I felt bad, I feel bad whenever I get rejected. Its difficult to face rejections, but I had to swallow it and move ahead (as always and as with many of my interviews). Hence my only option left was to keep on checking BMC India page for the current week's trek events.

I think, whatever was bound to happen was all by God's grace. The turn of events were simply superb. Somewhere I know its because of God.

1. 14Feb 2014 BMC event was originally to Mullayanagiri.
2. But it got replaced with KP Trek.
3. I registered for KP trek.
4. There were only 12 guys for KP Trek.
5. Despite multiple people telling about the humidity  / summer season, I registered for KP trek.
6. I listened to my heart and hoped I will be able to make it....

Whatever happened next was all by God's grace.

Cheers,