Week end at kodaikanal -

Cold , Mist , Drizzling rain , clouds , Chillness,Freezing water  - these are the things associated with winter climate .  Now rethink again , we went through  this winter climate on this peak summer season . While Chennai /Bangalore  people switched on their Fan's & Ac's on Friday evening , to cool themselves form the heat & sweat , 40 people , got themselves on a super cool charted vehicle to enjoy  a WINTER .  After a dinner stop  in between , we reached  KODAI in the early morning  .  After having a BIG break fast  at MEENAKSHI BHAVAN , we were joined by Bangalore people  & stove Ashok . We all started waiting for KODAI mani . We were transported to our Trek start place , the cap valley by open truck   . The chillness in the air should be equivalent to 1000's A/c's . We made all sounds as per our CTC dictionary while we were driven to the spot , making sure that entire KODAI looked at us . At caps valley – entry point of MATHIKETTAN Forest , we were welcomed with heavy mist  , that chilled us like a cola . After lunch distribution , we started walking , trees , trees & trees .No dehydration would have been reported since sun was hiding all the time  behind the clouds . The lunch spot was cool with near freezing small stream of water . We kept walking , during the evening , we started getting the effects of human civilization . We started walking on Paved road . We stopped  by the side of BERIJAM lake for night stay . 5 -6 tents grew between the lake bed & the paved road in a place which is a  well established camping spot . Camping spot had  well maintained camp fire spot, place to dry things , a super cool stove made for barbeque . We started making our established menu , SOUP & MAGGIE . Camp fire & fire from the wooden stove kept all of us from freezing . We tucked our selves in jerkins , shawls etc . The temperature started dipping & there was few drops of rain with good amount of thundering , threatening us to make wet . After  our dinner , all of us scrolled in to tents , blue ones , yellow ones , green ones . Tent did gave us protection  from the dipping temperature , but that did not prevented the ill prepared people like me to stay warm . There are few souls who are too ill prepared ( at least i had a woolen shawl & thick blanket ) began to realize the effect of chillness . By 3 or 4  am in the morning , when the temperature would have been lowest , the entire campfire area  with  burning wood was  surrounded by people  like me , we kept rolling side by side like chicken kebabs to keep us warm . We realized how a apple will feel ,when it was put in a freezer . we also realized how a chicken will feel when it was barbecued ,any way It was such a great experience & learning ( If u r not following the preparatory E mail ,  you are Making a very big mistake , the hazard includes freezing / Barbequed  ). Morning bought us warm sun , some people found enticing  coffee & tea in the near by cottages , but people like me, who were sleeping , just got the stories of good tea . Second morning ,sun was shining high , we started to trek by 9 am . We climbed  steep rock , that was good , after two hours of trekking we climbed down to the cottages which was just 10 min from our camping site .we went through a fantastic place which offered best view of the entire KODAI ranges . We climbed to THALAIVETTI  Falls . Water was very very less , but the climb down was really good . We bathed in the available water , although it was freezing . By this time around noon  the clouds gathered on the sky & stayed with us for the entire trek , drizzling rain . Imagine a super chill drizzle  during march Month . We went through forest where people were cutting trees ( legal or illegal !!!!) any way , cutting of trees was witnessed & it was really sad to note that . Then we started our march through paved TAR road to MANNAVANUR . The view was very good, forest , grass land & we ended our trek with vegetable briyani  & chicken . The lunch (!!) spot was grass land & we were surrounded by mist , cold , Chillness , stillness , freezing water . Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm , no words to describe . We ended our trek with a sizzling chai in a small hotel in the MANNAVANUR .

I am not going to give OSCAR winning speech thanking the organisers , but ORGANISERS can feel proud for having organized such a wonderful trek & participants should realize the amount of planning & time the ORGINISERS  would have  in making this a memorable TREK

Pro's :
Climate – Imagine 1000's of A/c .Pure unadulterated , non polluted air .
Climate – Winter effect in Summer
Climb down at THALAIVETTI falls & lunch(!) spot .
Freezing water bath .
Cool gang & lots of experienced trekkers in the team. Lots of friend made , lots of friendship strengthened.

Con's :
Very less water – Water , pools & falls  being a part of all our treks  , we missed all the diving , swimming & actions
Seeing paved Tar road on day one of the trek.
Seeing human intervention in cutting forest . Lots of chain saw , lorry's  - Exploiting mother nature , too sad to see
This Con is purely my individual opinion – I was just a participant & I am totally ignorant about the administrative, legal & safety  aspects of not having a guide  – The trail is too easy  for CTC 'ians & I don't think there is any necessity of a guide, who I think is bit costly.
It is really freezing in the night & under-prepared guys had tough time sleeping in the night.

Our contribution to EARTH HOUR :

Total fuel saved : 100 litres
( 40 individuals X atleast 100 kms driving in two days , considering 4o km mileage )
Pollution not created due  to non usage of fossil fuel
Energy saved for processing , distributing & selling of fossil fuel

Total electricity saved: 2600 units of Electric power
( 40 individuals X 65 units )

Per Individual :
Fan @ 40 hrs                                                                       =25 units
Light @ 25 hr                                                                       =20 units
electricity for other uses                                                        =25 units
Total Electricity saved / individual                                          =65 units
Pollution prevented due to usage of electricity
Energy saved for processing , distributing & selling of fossil fuel

I think we made a big impact for the last two days against the 1 hr requested by the WWF as EARTH HOUR. 


TThanks to my friends for sharing some of the most beautiful pics