Horagina Betta Night Trek - 7 May 2016

Time to start trekking again in preparation for my first Himalayan trek next month. And as usual, had a fun time with BTC, even though it was my third visit to Horagina Betta.

Thanks to Metro line finally thrown open at least in East-West corridor, some of us had the luxury of reaching Terminal-3 well in time. With IPL match scheduled, the train was jam packed and big queue to get tickets (not an issue if you have Metro smart card). Others though were delayed  due to the infamous Bengaluru traffic. And so we had to start about half an hour late than scheduled.

By 7:15 PM, we reached Karahalli cross (we got down at an unscheduled stop on the highway and caught two share-autos to Karahalli). We spent an hour at a hotel there for dinner (pro-tip: if you aren't too hungry, share single plate of rice for two people :P)

It had rained earlier in the day there and thunder grumbled in the distance promising more rain. Thanks to detailed mail prior to event and remainder from organizers Virander and Deepthy, we had come prepared with ponchos and stuff.

We finally started our trek on the village road leading to Nandi Hills base. About 15 minutes later, we stopped for intro session. Was good to see so many new comers as well as many regulars. The organizers re-iterated BTC rules and we were on our way again.

 

It was a different trail than my previous night trek here. Easier and fewer thorny plants. Once we hit the rocky trail, it was pretty much straight route to reach the muddy road leading to trek path towards Horagina Betta. We stopped as and when we needed a break, which was quite often :P And then the ominous grumbling from sky above would make us scurry ahead again :P.

With just 10 minutes of trek left, the heavens decided to finally open up and drenched us all. We took shelter at the peak in an enclosed structure (close to the temple) - by the time everybody arrived, the rain had stopped and wind blew away the clouds during course of the night.

We hiked past the temple to the open and wider part of the peak. With wind blowing fiercely, water on the rocky peak as well as our clothes dried quickly. After a while, we moved again near a tree to sit around in a wide circle. Wind and still wet wood meant we didn't try camp fire yet.

After much discussion, we settled down to play a game. It goes something like this - we start counting from 1-14. The person supposed to say 7 has to say 14 instead and the person supposed to say 14 has to say a phrase instead and then allocate an interesting task for a particular number. As the game continues with counting from 1 again, whenever a person has to say those particular numbers, they have to also do the task set. Next time 14 comes, another task for another number gets added and so on. We played for quite a handful rounds with tasks like 'Sing a song', 'Say a movie dialogue', 'Run around our circle once', 'Tap the next five people on head while making an irritating sound', 'Rap on a melodious song', 'Hold your torch on the head' etc

With growing chill, we then went back to temple and started preparations for camp fire. It took a while to get the fire going with not-yet-completely-dried-wood. Time being past midnight, people started going to sleep and few brave souls went up again with their cameras to capture the night sky.

Those few gathered around the fire frequently switched places to avoid smoke as well as to gather more sticks to burn. A while later hot water was prepared for hungry souls eating cup noodles. To pass time, we started with a discussion on Himalayan treks - Deepthy leading the way with interesting stories and useful anecdotes. After a failed Antakshri earlier, we now moved on to play songs on mobile instead. Mostly it was melodious hits in both Hindi/Tamil (to cater the mixed audience :P) with occasional high-energy hits from Rockstar and the like.

While the wind had cleared the clouds, we were surrounded by mists now and then. And we had a few scary moments as well. A green baby snake was spotted pretty close to our huddle around the fire and just minutes later a scorpion.

The sky started brightening around 5 AM and we could see sea of clouds clinging to Nandi hills. There was a plan to start the descent around this hour, but was dropped. Instead we prepared coffee, watched bikers on the road to Nandi hills, took pics with clouds, rising Sun and started back after 6:40 AM.

We trekked back with very few breaks. In daylight, the surrounding hills and the odd flower/insect/grass were pleasing to watch and spot. By 8 AM, we reached the hotel for refreshment and breakfast. Feedback session was positive all around as usual, with some ideas pitched-in as well. Special praise for first-timers who mingled well with the group and co-ordinated without a glitch during trek.

With no direct bus for Bengaluru, we took one to Devanahalli first. Our total expenses, including a small amount for BTC fund, came to grand total of Rs. 300/- Fun and time well spent yet again, until next time, ciao.

Moonlit trek to Horagina Betta - 4 April, 2015

For Bangalore trekkers, summer has come when BTC goes on night trekking spree. For April 4th full moon night trek, they sent out 5 event invites. Turned out only 3 were 'real' events. April fool prank was handed a day early to those lazy enough to not notice change in registration form. As if I needed a computer program to confirm my laziness :P I saw the email just in time to prevent the same fate for Karthik (who writes excellent stories on his blog, by the way), with whom I was finally trekking together.

Heat and traffic meant few of us were late to reach Terminal 3 for catching bus. Starting 5 pm for a night trek was unusual too. I forgot the charging camera batteries too. Bad omens couldn't have been clearer. Nonetheless, half an hour late everybody but one were in (with Gaurav successfully asking the conductor to wait a little extra), while the last person somehow made it ahead of bus at Hebbal.

We got down at Devanahalli and then caught another bus to Karahalli Cross. Despite our late start, we actually started few minutes earlier than what Hiren and Gaurav had in itinerary. After our customary introduction session (now that I try to remember, straight circle wasn't mentioned!), the 15 member group got the flash lights out on the trail to Horagina Betta, the lesser known trekking spot in famous Nandi range of hills. Howling village dogs, perhaps fiercer under the wild full moon, welcomed us but thankfully kept their distance and didn't follow us.

For an hour we traversed the kachcha road, its unevenness posing more challenge than a moderate hill climbing. Under the cloak of night, clouds and moon playing hide and seek, flash lights shining, Horagina Betta and Nandi Hills up ahead - the former to our left, we greeted fellow trekkers and recounted previous treks. Hiren lead the group ahead, Gaurav and Monisha brought up the rear. Now and then Hiren would stop at a short-cut, Gaurav and others with previous experience on this trail would confer and decide to just follow the wider village road. Once or twice, we tracked back to take another route. As the circuitous winding climb started, so did the dry thorny plants, waiting to scratch inattentive trekkers. I must have got 15-20 or more bites, some drawing blood enough to flinch. Not to forget the copious sweat drenching us all. Until we reached the Nandi Hills road, the overwhelming feeling was that of moving away from Horagina Betta and on the trail to Nandi Hills instead. I immediately recognized the spot (previous trek and cycling experience), about halfway from the base to Nandi Hills - vendors sell cane juice, tender coconut, etc during day time.

With empty road and eerie silence for company, we took our first long break. And with it came first round of sweets. It was only about 8:30 PM, long night ahead. Refreshed, we marched on. A low wooden barrier marked the entrance of trail to Horagina Betta. A few meters ahead, someone had parked an expensive looking motorbike. Few minutes later, we were finally climbing rocky terrain of the hill.

The moon continued to play hide and seek with clouds - bathing us in spectacular shine one moment and vanishing another moment. Airplanes from Bangalore International Airport lit the night sky now and then. After relatively flat climb, steep hill climb required frequent rest. We had plenty of time anyway. The first such stop was best of the lot. A sloped rocky surface, with trees nearby, soothing breeze drying our sweat, seductive moonlight and a good view of Nandi Hills in front of us. Chocolates and Glucose got passed around. PJs cracked. Group pic taken. It was reluctantly that we got up to continue the climb.

In another hour or so, we reached the temple at top. Continuing past the temple, amidst more thorny bushes, we reached the wide hill top and gladly settled down. Out came oranges, dates, almonds and biscuits - healthy stuff all around after a solid climb. And then it was cup noodles for dinner :P Hiren and others took up the task of getting dry branches for camp fire. Fire pit out of loose stones was already there, courtesy previous night treks. Even the large tree trunk left over by Srikanth and company was found and brought. Until then, we tried to rest our aching body and particularly back on somewhat flat rocky surface. It felt good for a while and then the pointy protrusions robbed the pleasure and got irritating.

It wasn't very windy and lighting the fire was quick enough. Soon, water was being boiled, with little bits of ash getting in (Tip: carry a filter next time) After noodles, ready to eat packs were heated in boiling water. The stuff we were carrying could have easily fed 3-4 more :D All this done and still time was around 10 PM only if memory serves right.

And so we started favorite BTC pastime - Dumb Charades. 'Howrah Bridge Pe Latakti Hui Laash' promptly made the first appearance - funny thing is online search is returning only Dumb Charades reference to this movie!! After one round (where I managed to help the opposition team rather than distract them with false clues) we moved on to Anthakshri. That went for a while as two teams and then to just singing what came to mind. The night was still young. So we sat about and starting sharing ghost stories - Sneha and Gaurav (with his famous anti-climax fish story) leading the way. Others pitched in hostel death stories and the likes.

Scorpion pays us a visit

We were so immersed that a scorpion almost passed us unobserved, moving towards camp fire or perhaps to trees and bushes beyond. I first thought it was a mouse moving near the boot of Karthik and said so. And then slowly everyone noticed that it was a Scorpion! Everybody were up on their feet in a hurry. For about hour or so, we tried to chase it away. It wasn't brandishing it's poisonous sting until it got pissed by our flashing lights and attempts to climb on wooden sticks. We left it some yards away from us and returned to check our bags and surrounding for more of its kind. For a long time we refused to even sit, sleeping there driven away as unimaginable. Few took a stroll towards the temple, while others crowded by the camp fire (standing, mind you). Wind and chill had also picked up by then.

Some of us kept busy and warm by scourging around for more wood - small and big, dry bushes and branches alike. Slowly, fear lessened and people began resting in sleeping bags. The scorpion had left from last known location and wasn't spotted any more. We flashed around us now and then, just to be safe. The few of us awake discussed whatever topic came to mind, mostly in small groups of 2-3. By the time sky brightened, we managed to burn most of the very uneven left over tree trunk.

Sunrise was marred by clouds again, but for a few moments it was a spectacular sight, nestled within clouds. After sprinkling water over remaining fire, we started our way down. Past the temple, with Nandi Hills in background, we took a parting group pic. Climbing down was of course faster, a bit trickier though. As we reached the mud road, we saw a bunch of daredevil school kids on two wheelers revving up the hill, without safety helmets.

Day light drew a very contrasting picture of the hills - dry, arid and burnt hill sides. Underside of shoes turned black by the time we reached the kachcha village roads. We took every possible short-cuts and only once Gaurav and Hiren had to confer which path to take. It took about hour and half to reach Karahalli Cross, the summer Sun was already harsh. We had idly-vada and tea after freshening up. Feedback was again very positive from everybody. We didn't take the bus to Devanahalli, waiting for direct bus to Bangalore instead. Turned out, that bus wasn't going all the way to Majestic despite it's scheduled itinerary! So, we got down at Devanahalli after all and caught another bus to Bangalore (thankfully, got seats to sit). All in all, yet another awesome trek with BTC, a frightening encounter with scorpion and good bunch of trekkers - experienced and newbies alike. A tad long itinerary for a night trek though.

Photo Credits: Gaurav and Dishang