How it went
Started at 5:45 from the house. Reached around 10:30 pm.
SBC -> Ramangaram. Breakfast at an idli dosa place near station. Decent. Chai near the station. Okay.
Auto to the spot. ₹200 (can haggle to ₹150 too)
Auto from Ramanagaram station
So this was the first time we were doing a planned full day out with a cookout for lunch. While most hikers around don't like to chill. It feels like they just want to tick boxes in a checklist.
I am not one of those hikers, & thankfully several folks in our community are not either. I, of course, understand who people have certain important commitments. A new father helping his wife with the baby, exams, and interviews.
But for others who come out of the city after having driven a couple of hours. And have to drive back another couple. 3-4 hours in total. Only being outdoors for a couple of hours feel like a wasted opportunity. And ironic. The whole point of being in nature for me is to escape the fast city life (Bangalore was once a chill town & now has become a bustling city, where everyone's just rushing...)
So spending less time in nature & more time driving borders on dumb to me.
Anyway, enough ranting.
On most of our hikes I was left unsatiated because we didn't spend a whole day out on the trail. One of the common reasons of ending the hike early is lunch! And one of these we had done the whole hike -> lunch -> swim thing.
But I wanted us to cook our own lunch. So made it happen! :) Also, we had planned to use public transport.
I prepped some veggies to go with the rice & just carried my camping stoves with fuel. [link to stoves & gas]
Some eggs we boiled. Had planned to make dessert with banana, dates & rice. Didn't make. Not everyone was too keen on the dessert so we didn't end up making it.
It's the wet season & the vegetation is much denser than the last time i came here. It had rained the previous night & the soil under our feet was wet. It kept sticking to our shoes as we walk through dense bushes & tried not to destroy too many spider webs. Quite a few orb weavers & wood spiders! Some quite big too.
After being off trail for a few minutes, we found the trail. And had to be careful on rock with our muddy soles.
Went up. One heavy pack on K's back. With a slackline, hammock, food, water, stove fuels & some accessories.
The entry to the cave is not visible. We overshoot the turn, go through some bushes & scramble to reach the cave. It's more a big rock shelter. A's climb here hasn't been repeated.
I told K, P, & C about A's time in the cave, camping & climbing. Run in with a bear. And how A now refuses to go out at night looking for wild animals after the incident, unless there are at least 3 people.
K told me about a new spot that doesn't have network. A temple shelter where we could camp.
P asked about a camping hammock. Knots I used to setup the hammock. Bowline.
We had rice + veggies. K missed chai, he did not have a proper system to carry the stuff.
C spoke about cooking scenes at Y.
We ate chilled. Took turns to sleep in the hammock. P pulled out her water colors. And drew something.
We spoke about sloth bears & their behaviour.
Packed everything. Hid it behind a rock. Went up. The wind was great. The sun was still up, but didn't hit hard/hot.
Went to the top. Towards KKL. Chilled for a bit. Enjoyed. No rush.
Picked the bags from the cave. Down. Exited around sunset.
Stopped to eat at Ramgad. Dosa, lassi, tea (K said it was good, not great like ginger tea), mushroom pepper dry was good. mushroom munchurian was not that good.
C, K & P left in C's car. To be dropped off at metro stations.
I walked to the Ramangara bus station (400 m from Ramgad). Express Bus to Kengeri (₹45). Bus to Magestic (bus no 220?, ₹?)
So bus is a good option as well. Other than train.
We were also speaking about Sholay Betta & Vulture Sanctuary
What went well
A couple who was coming by car & has to pick C en route. But they had to cancel because of medical emergency.
C still came in his car. Because he was psyched about looking at A's route.
What could be better next time
- My plan of taking the motorcycle in the morning turned out to be not such a great idea. Lost flexibility. I snapped at the railway station parking guy for not giving me a token. I told him I parked in the morning (12 hours) He asked me to pay 300 in fine. I just bolted. He cursed in the background.
- Bug spray (odomos/insect repellant)
- K wanted to make chai.