Naveen’s Travel Blog

Mission Dead or Alive (DOA8) - Day3

Monday, January 11, 2010 – 2:20 pm

Day 3 – Dec 27, 2009

[ Continued from Day 2... ]

Day 3 dawned with parched throats and hungry stomachs. But the sleep had definitely recharged our spirits, so after a group pic recording our survival status, we started off as early as 6.30am!

By 8am, we reached a side valley where we found patches of clear water in shallow rocks possibly collected after a rain. We skimmed the surface, quenched our thirst, ate some rusks and  refilled our bottles.

The 4th and 5th attempts, all ended in steep verticals. For the 6th attempt, we descended via a side stream with several steep drops.

At one moment, my sleeping bag unhooked and rolled down precisely into crevice under a pile of massive rocks. The shallow depth was powdered with fresh rock dust probably from the effect of falling rocks and definitely a place where one shouldn’t be beneath. I quickly retrieved my Quecha and proceeded to next the steep drop.

The adventurous gang we are, thought ropes were making it easy, so after a few got down they removed the rope and let others to themselves.

Guna, Gowri, Viki and Kannan went Tarzan style and got down grabbing roots.

Around 9am, after several steep vertical climbdowns, the side stream went vertical with a steep waterfall. During every attempt that we made,  at the last dead-end vertical drop, we can see the Galloping StoneHorse in the opposite mountain. The Horse had galloped a few kms from an approaching view and to now well-passed-beyond-us view. The blessed view has now turned into an unlucky haunting view.

Peter along with Gowri and Guna went in search, determined to find a way to get down from the mountains.

Meanwhile, all others couldn’t tolerate their hunger anymore, we teared open a noodle packet and started eating it uncooked, sprinkled with raw masala. Ford bala got a bit overwhelmed and went searching to hunt for a pigeon, crow, rabbit, rat! or whatever thing he can get. But before that he checked with me if I’m ready to cook. Ofcourse, i said but where will you find these birds or rodents when we hadn’t come close to even a cockroach during the last 2 days in this vast jungle?

About an hour passed and thankfully before our minds could go any crazy, Peter returned with the good news that they finally found a way to descend into the valley. Instantly the team spirit rose and with happiness, we trekked along a grassy slope underneath a rocky ridge..

And there again Gowri sighted the Galloping Stone horse…

Here we are at the declining slope leading to our salvation – the V-shaped valley beneath.

On the way down, we encountered a baby Russell Viper…

Sliding down a slippery mountain side…

At 12 noon, we touched down the valley and ended our 24-hr long mountain-hopping saga!

We took a much-needed pretty long break, bathing in the stream, eating our chappaties, taking a bit of nap etc.

Ajay and Aditya, even managed to pay respects to the almighty…

thanks to someone who dedicatedly brings white and red paint in here and marks these places, OMG!?

With only half-day left for the DOA8 team to exit, we dropped our plan to enter into DOA3 valley and visit the dark 300m gorge under the DOA3 waterfalls.

So we recommenced at 1.30pm and started to exit via the stream through a narrow rocky gorge which leads east out the mountains. Initially the stream flowed like a pathway inbetween the gorge and we found some interesting limestone(?!) formations over the rocky layers of the gorge.

As the gorge took a curve, one side of the mountain base had eroded beautifully shaping it like arches of a Castle.

And ofcourse the hallways of the mountain castle are flooded with water from the  scenic waterfalls 

Amazed at the beauty of Nature, we indulged in some posed photography.

The gorge ended with the stream widening into a big pool…

through which we ferried across our bags…

It was 2.30pm, we moved on to exit the mountain range walking beside the stream over boulders. Crossing massive rock formations…

quickly sloping mountain sides covered with green carpet and natural plantations…!

When we had cleared a good distance from the mountains, around 4pm the DOA and DFS teams decided to part. We handed over our excess food and pickedup the wishlist from DFS in case they survive when the DOA9 will meet then 4 days later. Karthick and Viki got directions from Peter to exit and the other GPS device.

Now we are 11 people left to ourselves to run out to civilization and there is no time to relax, we have to cover 9kms before it gets dark. The group picked up a pretty fast pace and went literally running across the stretch through boulders over a dry stream and cutting across bamboo forest. Strangely I can sense more wildlife at this fringe of jungle than the deep insides.

By 7pm we had completely moved away from the mountains, forest and were fast moving towards the village. Our trail was severely barricaded with new thick thorny fences erected to protect farmlands and we had to crisscross to reach the village. Reaching the village we got a tractor and got dropped in the highway around 9pm.

The tractor fellow was so friendly and innocent that he refused to take any money from us which we anyway tugged into his pocket.

Then we did our usual grand finale plundering a road-side dhaba emptying all chicken, egg rack, dosa, roti and what-nots.

Altogether to summarize,  it was 3 days of pure adventure with an energetic & jovial team, lead by Peter who with his untiring spirit and relentless pursuit proved that motivated souls can overcome even the challenges of Nature. The efforts of our exploration, we discovered more deep secrets of Venkateshwara with the discovery of the stunning DOA8 twin waterfalls, 500m long DOA8 gorge (longer than DOA3 gorge), Mega Cave pool…new campsites, new possibilities to explore and new treks for the year 2010.

Last but not the least, we survived indeed to share this story of adventure to all !!

Photo courtesy: Viki, Kannan